Friends of the University of Missouri

Dear friends,

We are reaching out to you because you are one of us: faculty, students, and friends whose lives have intersected with the University of Missouri and our mutual love of Greece. Many of us have enjoyed the benefits of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens (ASCSA), whether spending time at the Blegen Library, days on a bus trip, hours in excavation trenches, or nights at Loring Hall. Others have passed through Greece as study abroad students, researchers, and tourists. But in our own ways, we’ve all waved the banner of Missouri and came there through its great archaeology and classics programs. 

You may be surprised to learn just how deeply our connections into Greece extend. Since the early years of the American School, Missouri has been a co-operating institution, beginning in 1887. Our own Walter Miller led the first American-sponsored excavation of a classical site in Greece at the Theater of Thorikos in 1886. In 1891 John Pickard joined a small team tackling the ancient site of Eretria. These pioneering scholars joined the faculty of MU in 1891 and 1892, respectively, Miller as professor of Classics and Pickard to head what was for a while a one-man department of Classical Archaeology and the History of Art. 

Since that time, there has been a steady flow of “Missourians” following the path to Greece and contributing to its ever-growing body of knowledge. For well over a century, through different iterations of our programs, changes of names, and departmental reconfigurations, we have continued to send students to the School and to see others come to Missouri. In the face of new challenges that are facing not only our own university but also humanities and ancient studies everywhere, we are again at a point of change. We believe that whatever the future brings to our current programs, it is important to commemorate the significant contributions the University of Missouri has made to the understanding and appreciation of Greece, both ancient and modern. 

The moment is timely. As many of you know, the American School is in the midst of extensive renovations to Loring Hall. The bedrooms are available for naming in honor of outstanding scholars and institutions. We would like to create the University of Missouri Room to commemorate our historical relationship. To that end, we have begun raising funds to participate in this drive. The Missouri Room has already been reserved. It is on the second floor of Loring, with a window that looks out onto Souidias Street. 

We are asking for your help. The fundraising target for a named space in the renovated center is $50,000 (USD), which is a great deal of money, but we are confident that we can meet this goal with your support. We suggest a gift of $500, but even $100 would be very much appreciated and would help us achieve our goal (donate here). Loring Hall is scheduled to reopen in June 2021. In addition to a plaque identifying our room, the School is hosting this webpage. Below, we have included a selection of photos of our past luminaries, a list of everyone we can identify with connections to Missouri and the School, and a list of donors. We would also like to add a selection of memories. Please send us (along with your donation!) a sentence or two about what the School means to you, a person who inspired you to travel, an anecdote or reflection on your time in Greece, or your participation in the University of Missouri’s archaeology or classics programs. There is a link below to make a donation and another to share memories and photos.

Missourians have spent time at 54 Souidias for more than a century. Please join us in creating a permanent record of the archaeology and classics programs at the University of Missouri and the long and fruitful association between Missouri and Greece.

Thank you very much for your time and consideration.

Sincerely yours,

Missouri People at the School and at Missouri, 1887–2021

Gold = University of Missouri (MU)

• Elizabeth Courtney Banks: 1954–1957, 1952–1957 (Lerna excavations), 1973, 2009, Lecturer at MU (1964–1965)
• Barbara Barletta: 1977–1978, 1980–1981, Visiting Professor of Art History and Archaeology at MU (1982–1983)
• Tristan Barnes: 2010–2011, M.A. and Ph.D. from MU (2016)
• Amy Benedict: 2002–2003, graduate student at MU
• Anna Benjamin: 1948–1950, 1959–1960, instructor in Classics at MU (1955–1964)(later Rutgers)
• Danielle Smotherman Bennett: 2014–2015, summer 2016, B.A. from MU (2009)
• Lisa V. Benson: 1991–1995 (Miller, Weinberg, Colburn, and Thompson Fellowships), M.A. and Ph.D. from MU (1999)
• Jane Chitty Biers: 1964–1968, summers 1970–1973 (Phlius excavations), 1975–1976, Curator of Ancient Art, Interim Director of the Museum of Art and Archaeology at MU (2004–2006)
• William R. Biers: Summer 1960, 1963–1968, summers 1970–1973 (Phlius excavations), 1975–1976, 1981 (Ikarion in Attica), Whitehead Professor (1989–1990), Professor of Art History and Archaeology at MU (1968–2001)
• Cathy Callaway: S1985, 1988–1989, summers 1991–1993, 1995–1996, 2005–2006, Curator of Education, Museum of Art and Archaeology at MU
• Scott de Brestian: Assistant to Kathleen Warner Slane at Corinth (summer 1997), M.A. and Ph.D. from MU (1997)
• Liz DeRidder (Raubolt): Assistant to Kathleen Warner Slane at Corinth and Kythera (2007, 2009), M.A. and Ph.D. from MU (2019)
• Marie Farnsworth: 1938–1939, 1958–1964 (Agora excavations, Corinth), Visiting Professor at MU (1965–1968)
• Steve Friesen: Summer 2004 (Corinth excavations), Professor of Religious Studies at MU (1993–2005)(now UT-Austin)
• Stephen C. Glover: 1979–1980, graduate student at MU
• J. Walter Graham: 1930–1931, B.A. from MU (1930), Assistant Professor of Classical Languages and Archaeology at MU (1935–1947), where he published Olynthus VIII on the Hellenic House (later Toronto)
• Robert L. Gordon, Jr.: 1972–1973 (McFadden Fellow), 1973–1974, Ph.D. from MU (1977)
• William E. Gwatkin, Jr.: Annual Professor 1955–1956, Professor of Greek at MU (1948–1960)(later Trent University)
• Adnan Hadidi: S1970, Ph.D. from MU (1970)
• Leslie Hammond: 1995–1997, Ph.D. from MU (1998)
• Mark D. Hammond: Summers 2007, 2008, and 2010–2012; spring 2013; fall 2015; Ph.D. from MU (2015)
• Pamela Berich Haskell: Summer 1973 (Phlius excavations), 1975–1976, 1977–1981, summer 1981 (Ikarion in Attica), M.A. and Ph.D. from (1986)
• Jeanine Hines (Ragunathan): 1996 (Agora excavations), B.A. from MU (1996)
• Johanna Hobratschk (Boyer): 2010–2011, summers 2009–2013 (Agora excavations), Ph.D. from MU (2017)
• Michael C. Hoff: 1981, 1982 (Agora excavations), 1985–1987, B.A. from MU (1977)
• Mary Folse Hutchinson: 1935–1936, M.A. and Ph.D. from MU (1934)
• Michael H. Jameson: 1949–1950, 1965–1966, 1977–1978, 1979–1980, Assistant Professor of Classical Languages at MU (1950–1953)
• Stephanie R. Jernigan (Maloney): Summer 1973 (Phlius excavations), M.A. and Ph.D. from MU (1974)
• Barbara L. Johnson: Summer 1968, 1973–1975, 1982–1983, M.A. and Ph.D. from MU (1973), Visiting Assistant Professor of Art History and Archaeology at MU (1985–1986)
• Naomi Kaloudis: 2006–2008 (Agora excavations), M.A. in Art History and Archaeology from MU (2007), Ph.D. in Classical Studies from MU (2013), Lecturer in Classical Studies at MU (2013–2015)
• J. Benton Kidd: S1990, 1997–1998, Ph.D. from MU (2003), Curator of Ancient Art at MU (2006–present)
• Karl Kilinski, II: Summers 1972–1973 (Phlius excavations), 1973–1974, 1978–1979, Ph.D. from MU (1974)
• Stephanie Kimmey: 2013–2014 (John Pickard Fellow), 2016, summers 2008–2021 (Nemea excavations), Ph.D. from MU (2017)
• Nancy Klein: 1988–1990, summers 1985, 1987, and 1988 (Nemea), summers 1989–1993 (Kavousi), summers since 2006, Visiting Assistant Professor at MU (2002–2003)
• Eugene N. Lane: 1961–1962, 1979–1980, Professor of Classics at MU (1966–2000)
• Susan H. Langdon: 1975–1980 (Halieis excavations) 1980–1982, summers 2012–2020 (Corinth excavations), Professor of Art History and Archaeology at MU (2003–2019)
• Albert Leonard, Jr.: 1973–1975, Associate Professor of Art History and Archaeology at MU (1976–1984)
• Gloria S. Merker: 1963–1964, 1966–1967, summers 1979–89, M.A. from MU (1963)
• Rebecca Mersereau: 1987–1989, M.A. from MU (1982)
• Walter Miller: 1885–1886 (Thorikos), Annual Professor (1925–1926), Associate Professor of Greek at MU (1891–1892), Professor of Classical Languages and Archaeology at MU (1911–1936), first Dean of the Graduate School at MU (1914–1930) and originator of the plan for the MU Memorial Union
• Fordyce W. Mitchel: 1961–1962, Annual Professor (1972–1973), Professor of History at MU (1968–1986)
• Michael D. Muchow: 1980–1981, Humanities Librarian at MU (2001–present)
• Laura Ursprung Nerling: 2017–2019, Ph.D. from MU (2021)
• Victoria Nevius (Skoog): 1990?, M.A. and Ph.D. from MU (1998) 
• James Newhard: 1999 (Weiner Laboratory Fellow), B.A. in Art History and Archaeology and Classical Languages from MU (1994)
• John Pickard: 1889–1892, 1891 (Eretria excavations), Professor of Greek and Art History at MU (1892–1935)
• Marcus Rautman: 1981–December 1982, Professor of Art History and Archaeology at MU (1986–2019)
• Nancy B. Reed (Eals): 1971–1972, (Phlius excavations, summer 1972), M.A. and Ph.D. from MU (1973)
• Andrew D. Reinhard: 1996 (Isthmia excavations), Director of Publications (2010–2015), M.A. from MU (1996)
• Guy Sanders: Director of Corinth Excavations (1997–2017), M.A. from MU (1987)
• Jan Motyka Sanders: 1982–1983, M.A. and Ph.D. from MU (1989)
• Cynthia J. Schwenk: S1970, 1972–1973, 1973–1974 (2), Ph.D. in History from MU (1977)
• Robert A. Seelinger, Jr.: S1976, 1988–1989, summers 1991–1993 (Isthmia NEH seminar), 1995–1996 (Isthmia UCLA excavations), 2005–2006, Ph.D. in Classics from MU (1981)
• Kathleen Warner Slane (Wright): 1973–1977, 1977–1978 (Kachros Fellow), 1980–1981 (Hirsch Fellow), 1985–1986, 1991–1992, 1997–1999, 2005–2006, 2010–2011, Professor of Art History and Archaeology at MU (1982–2014)
• Dawn Smith-Popielski: S1994, summers 1995 (Isthmia excavations), 1996, 1997 (Agora excavations), B.A. from MU (1996)
• Joseph Stumpf: 2001–2003, summers 2007–2010 (Kenchreai excavations), Ph.D. from MU (2003)
• Meghan Thompson: 2008–2009, graduate student at MU
• Loeta Smith Tyree: 1965, 2010–present, M.A. and Ph.D. from MU (1974)
• Erin Walcek (Averett): 2002–2004 (Ridgway Fellow, Thompson Fellow), M.A. and Ph.D. from MU (2007)
• Gladys Davidson Weinberg: 1932–1939, 1946–1948, 1954–1955, 1958–1959, 1963–1964 (Tarrha excavations), Curator of Ancient Art, Museum of Art and Archaeology at MU (1961–1976)
• Saul S. Weinberg: 1936–1939, 1946–1947 (Wheeler Fellow), 1954–1955, 1958–1959 (Elateia excavations), Annual Professor (1963–1964), Professor of Art History and Archaeology at MU (1948–1976), Director of the Museum of Art and Archaeology at MU (1961–1976)
• H. Anne Weis: S1970, summers 1970, 1972 (Phlius excavations), B.A. and M.A. from MU (1971)
• James M. Wiseman: 1959–1960, 1967–1968, 1971–1972, 1967–1972 (excavations of the Gymnasium area in Corinth), B.A. from MU (1954)
• Brandon Woodruff: Summer 19??, B.A. in Classics from MU
• Brandon Worrell: Summer 1997? (Agora excavations), summer session?, M.A. from MU (1998)