Zillah Pierce Dinsmoor Papers
COLLECTION OVERVIEW
Collection Number: GR ASCSA WBD 048b
Name(s) of Creator(s): Zillah Pierce Dinsmoor (1886-1960)
Title: Zillah Pierce Dinsmoor Papers
Date [bulk]: 1910-1940
Date [inclusive]:
Languages: English
Quantity: 0.50 linear meter
Summary: The collection contains the corresondence betwen Zillah Dinsmoor and her mother Emma Pirece revealing a great deal about life in Athens and the School during the early part of the twentieth century.
Immediate Source of Acquisition: William B. Dinsmoor, Jr. 1978.
Information about Access: The collection is available for research
Cite as: American School of Classical Studies at Athens, Archives, Zillah Pierce Dinsmoor Papers (Αμερικανική Σχολή Κλασικών Σπουδών στην Αθήνα, Αρχείο Zillah Pierce Dinsmoor)
For more information, please contact the Archives:
The American School of Classical Studies at Athens
54 Souidias Street, Athens 106 76, Greece
phone: +30 213-000-2400 (ext. 425)
Contact via E-mail
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE
Zillah Frances Pierce was born on September 1886, in Massachusetts. She married William Bell Dinsmoor in 1909 and immediately after their marriage she followed him to Greece. She gave birth to their first child, a daughter, Frances Athenais Dinsmoor, in Athens in 1919. William Jr. was born in 1923 in New York. Zillah during their long stays in Athens worked as assistant to the School Library and helped Dinsmoor with typing all his papers. Zillah had a very sociable life in Athens. She befriended many well known Athenian ladies of the time. Her active participation in School’s life is vividly depicted in her correspondence with her mother Emma Pierce. Zillah devotedly followed her husband to all his endeavours, trips, fellowships and congresses. She died of a stroke on September 28, 1960 in Rockport, Mass., having just had her 50th wedding anniversary and passed by one day her 74th birthday. About Zillah Dinsmoor, see also J. H. Clemens, "Letters From a New Home: Early 20th Century Athens Through the Eyes of Zillah Dinsmoor," From the Archivist’s Notebook, 1 February 2014; and N. Vogeikoff-Brogan, "Expat Feasts in Athens on the Eve of the Balkan Wars," From the Archivist’s Notebook, 3 January 2017.
CONTENT LIST
Note: The vast majority of the letters were stored in their original envelopes with their stamps ripped out. The envelopes had been numbered in ink or pencil by Zillah Dinsmoor (her writing). [The letters were numbered consecutively in pencil by the Archives’ staff. ZD’s numbers are placed in brackets below].
BOX 1
Folder 1 (1910)
1. [1 ] September, ? , 1910 On board Dampfer ‘König Albert’ ZD to E.E.P
2. [ ] September, ? , 1910 On board Dampfer ‘König Albert’ ZD to E.E.P
3. [ ] September, 27, 1910 ZD to E.E.P
4. [ ] October, ? , 1910 ZD to E.E.P
5. [10 ] October, 20, 1910 ZD to E.E.P
6. [11 ] October, 29, 1910 WBD to E.E.P
7. [12 ] November, 3 , 1910 ZD to E.E.P
8. [13 ] November, 12, 1910 ZD to E.E.P
9. [14 ] November, 15, 1910 ZD to E.E.P
10. [15 ] November, 23, 1910 ZD to E.E.P
11. [16 ] November, 27, 1910 ZD to E.E.P
12. [17 ] December, 2 , 1910 ZD to E.E.P
13. [18 ] December, ? , 1910 ZD to ‘Dear Folks’
14. [19 ] December, 12, 1910 ZD to E.E.P
15. [20 ] December, 17, 1910 ZD to E.E.P
16. [21 ] December, 27, 1910 ZD to E.E.P
Folder 2 (1911)
1. [22?] January, 3 , 1911 ZD to E.E.P
2. [24 ] January, 11, 1911 ZD to E.E.P
3. [25 ] January, 17, 1911 ZD to E.E.P
4. [23 ] January, 23, 1911 ZD to E.E.P
5. [27 ] February, 1 , 1911 ZD to E.E.P
6. [28 ] February, 17, 1911 ZD to E.E.P
7. [29 ] February, 25, 1911 ZD to E.E.P
8. [29 ] February, 25, 1911 ZD to E.E.P
9. [30 ] February, 28, 1911 ZD to E.E.P
10. [ ] March, 15, 1911 ZD to E.E.P
11. [31 ] March, 22, 1911 ZD to E.E.P, plus an invitation for the ASCSA Open Meeting dated March 24 1911 and the announcement for the birth of Wallace White Bames
12. [32 ] March, 28, 1911 ZD to E.E.P
13. [33 ] April, 4 , 1911 ZD to E.E.P
14. [34 ] April, 11, 1911 ZD to E.E.P
15. [35 ] April, 20, 1911 ZD to E.E.P
16. [ ] April, 27, 1911 ZD to E.E.P
17. [ ] May, 9 , 1911 ZD to E.E.P
18. [39 ] May, 30, 1911 ZD to E.E.P
19. [40 ] June, 6 , 1911 ZD to E.E.P
20. [41 ] June,13, 1911 ZD to E.E.P
21. [ ] June, 17, 1911 ZD to E.E.P
22. [43 ] June, 27, 1911 ZD to E.E.P
23. [44 ] July, 1 , 1911 ZD to E.E.P
24. [45 ] July, 11, 1911 ZD to E.E.P
25. [46 ] July, 17, 1911 ZD to E.E.P
26. [47 ] July, 25, 1911 ZD to E.E.P
Folder 3 (1911)
27. [48 ] August, 1 , 1911 ZD to E.E.P
28. [49 ] August, 7 , 1911 ZD to E.E.P
29. [50 ] August, 14, 1911 ZD to E.E.P
30. [51 ] August, 20, 1911 ZD to E.E.P
31. [52 ] August, 22, 1911 ZD to E.E.P
32. [53 ] August, 30, 1911 ZD to E.E.P
33. [54 ] September, 7 , 1911 ZD to E.E.P
34. [56 ] September, 12, 1911 ZD to E.E.P
35. [55a ] September, 19, 1911 ZD to E.E.P
36. [ ] September, 28, 1911 ZD to E.E.P
37. [57 ] October, 4 , 1911 ZD to E.E.P
38. [ ] October, 12, 1911 ZD to E.E.P
39. [59 ] October, 17, 1911 ZD to E.E.P
40. [60 ] October, 24, 1911 ZD to E.E.P
41. [61 ] October, 27, 1911 ZD to E.E.P
42. [62 ] November, 2, 1911 ZD to E.E.P
43. [63 ] November, 7, 1911 ZD to E.E.P
44. [64 ] November, 13, 1911 ZD to E.E.P
45. [ ] November, 30, 1911 ZD to E.E.P
46. [67 ] December, 4 , 1911 ZD to E.E.P
47. [68 ] December, 13, 1911 ZD to E.E.P
48. [69 ] December, 20, 1911 ZD to E.E.P
49. [70 ] December, 26, 1911 ZD to E.E.P
Folder 4 (1912)
1. [71 ] January, 2 , 1912 ZD to E.E.P
2. [72 ] January, 10, 1912 ZD to E.E.P
3. [73 ] January, 19, 1912 ZD to E.E.P
4. [74 ] January, 23, 1912 ZD to E.E.P
5. [75 ] January, 30-31, 1912 ZD to E.E.P
6. [76 ] February 5 , 1912 ZD to E.E.P
7. [77 ] February, 12, 1912 ZD to E.E.P
8. [78 ] February, 15, 1912 ZD to E.E.P
9. [79 ] February, 20, 1912 ZD to E.E.P
10. [ ] March, 1 , 1912 ZD to E.E.P
11. [81 ] March, 3 , 1912 ZD to E.E.P
12. [82 ] March, 8 , 1912 ZD to E.E.P
13. [ ] March, 16, 1912 ZD to E.E.P postcard from Kerkyra
14. [83 ] March, 20, 1912 ZD to E.E.P
15. [84 ] March, 24, 1912 ZD to E.E.P
16. [85 ] March 31, 1912 ZD to E.E.P
17. [86 ] April, 9 , 1912 ZD to E.E.P
18. [87 ] April, 14, 1912 ZD to E.E.P
19. [88 ] April, 18, 1912 ZD to E.E.P
20. [89 ] April, 29, 1912 ZD to E.E.P
21. [90 ] May, 6 , 1912 ZD to E.E.P
22. [ ] October, 9 , 1912 ZD to E.E.P
23. [92 ] October, 31, 1912 ZD to E.E.P
24. [ ] November, 7 , 1912 ZD to E.E.P
25. [94 ] November, 15, 1912 ZD to E.E.P
26. [95 ] November, 25, 1912 ZD to E.E.P
27. [96 ] November, 30, 1912 ZD to E.E.P
28. [97 ] December, 9 , 1912 ZD to E.E.P
29. [96?] December 28, 1912 ZD to E.E.P
Folder 5 (1913)
1. [97 ] January, 11, 1913 ZD to E.E.D and a visit card of WBD
2. [98 ] January, 20, 1913
3. [99 ] January, 28, 1913
4. [100] February, 5 , 1913
5. [102] February, 12, 1913
6. [103] February, 21, 1913
7. [104] February, 27, 1913
8. [106] March, 6 , 1913
9. [107] March, 12, 1913
10. [108] March, 22, 1913
11. [109] March, 31, 1913
12. [110] April, 2 , 1913
13. [ ] April, 15, 1913
14. [ ] April, 22, 1913
15. [112] May, 4 , 1913
16. [113] May, 16, 1913
17. [114] May, 19, 1913
18. [115] May, 31, 1913
19. [116] June, 12, 1913
20. [117] June, 22, 1913
21. [117] June, 30, 1913
BOX 2
Folder 1 (1913)
22. [119] July, 8 , 1913
23. [120] July, 16, 1913
24. [121] July, 21, 1913
25. [122] July, 30, 1913
26. [123] August, 4 ,1913
27. [124] August, 12, 1913
28. [125] August, 16, 1913
29. [ ] August, 20, 1913
30. [127] August, 26, 1913
31. [128] September 1 , 1913
32. [129] September 9 , 1913
33. [130] September 14, 1913
34. [131] September, 22, 1913
35. [132] September, 28, 1913
36. [133] October, 7 , 1913
37. [134] October, 12 [20], 1913
38. [135] October, 13, 1913
39. [136] October, 28, 1913
40. [137] November, 10. 1913
41. [138] November, 17, 1913
42. [139] November, 30, 1913
43. [140] December, 10, 1913
44. [141] December 16, 1913
45. [143] December 27, 1913
Folder 2 (1914)
1. [144] January, 4 , 1914
2. [145] January, 15, 1914
3. [146] January, 18, 1914
4. [147] January, 24, 1914
5. [148] February, 7, 1914
6. [149] February,14, 1914
7. [150] February, 25, 1914
8. [151] March, 1 , 1914
9. [152] March, 19, 1914
10. [153] March, 25, 1914
11. [154] March, 28, 1914
12. [155] April, 4 , 1914
13. [156] April, 16, 1914
14. [157] April, 26, 1914
15. [158] May, 4, 1914
16. [159] May, 10, 1914
17. [160] May, 17, 1914
18. [ ] May, 20, 1914
19. [161] May, 26, 1914
Folder 3 (1914)
20. [162] June, 2 , 1914
21. [163] June, 21, 1914
22. [164] June, 30, 1914
23. [165] July, 7 , 1914
24. [166] July, 18, 1914
25. [167] July, 21, 1914
26. [168] August, 11, 1914
27. [169] August, 17, 1914
28. [170] August, 29, 1914
29. [171] September, 6 , 1914
30. [172] September, 13, 1914
31. [173] September, 23, 1914
32. [174] September, 29, 1914
33. [ ] October, 6 , 1914
34. [176] October, 19, 1914
35. [177] November, 9 , 1914
36. [178] November, 28, 1914
37. [ ] December, 10, 1914
38. [179] December, 17, 1914
39. [180] December 28, 1914
40. [ ] Single page of a letter dated by ZD 1914. No other information.
Folder 4 (1915)
1. [181] January, 3 , 1915
2. [182] January, 11, 1915
3. [183] January, 19, 1915
4. [184] January, 25, 1915
5. [ ] February, 9, 1915
6. [186] February, 25, 1915
7. [187] March, 3 , 1915
8. [188] March, 14, 1915
9. [190] March, 16, 1915
10. [189] March, 24, 1915
11. [191] April, 1, 1915
12. [192] April, 9, 1915
13. [193] April, 23, 1915
14. [ ] May, 4, 1915
15. [194] May, ? 1915 ZD to William B. Dinsmoor
16. [195] May, ? 1915 ZD to William B. Dinsmoor
17. [ ] May 30, 1915
18. [196] October, 15, 1915
19. [ ] November, 30, 1915
20. [198] December, 16, 1915
21. [199] December, 22, 1915
BOX 3
Folder 1 (1916)
1. [200] January, 5, 1916
2. [201] February, 8, 1916
3. [202] February, 17,1916
4. [203] February, 25, 1916
5. [ ] May, 17, 1916
6. [205] May, 29, 1916
7. [206] Early summer (?)1916
8. [207] June, 9, 1916
9. [208] June, 26, 1916
10. [209] July, 11, 1916
11. [210] July, 15, 1916
12. [211] July, 19, 1916
13. [212] July, 31, 1916
14. [213] August, ?, 1916
15. [214] August, 16, 1916
16. [ ] September, 6, 1916
17. [216] September, 27, 1916
18. [217] October, 11, 1916
19. [218] October, 14, 1916
20. [219] November, 2, 1916
21. [220] December, 8, 1916
Folder 2 (1917)
1. [221] January, 28, 1917
2. [222] February, 28, 1917
3. [224] March, 15, 1917
4. [ ] May, 13, 1917
5. [226] June, 4, 1917
6. [228] June, 24, 1917
7. [229] July, 2, 1917
8. [230] July, 8, 1917
9. [231] July, 23, 1917
10. [ ] July, 30, 1917
11. [232] August 11, 1917
12. [233] August, 5, 1917
13. [234] October, 1, 1917
14. [235] December, 2, 1917
15. [236] December, 30, 1917
Folder 3 (1918-1919)
1. [ ] September, 29, 1918
2. [ ] October, 26, 1918
3. [ ] November, 1, 1918
4. [ ] November, 26, 1918
5. [ ] n.d possibly 1918 piled with 1918 letters in a very bad condition
6. Three visiting cards of William Bell Dinsmoor
7. [240] December, 11, 1918
8. [241] January, 21, 1919
9. [242] January, 27, 1919
10. [243] February, 5, 1919
11. [244] February, 25, 1919
12. [245] March, 8, 1919
13. [246] April, 7, 1919
14. [247] April, 20, 1919
15. [248] April, 23, 1919
16. [ ] July, 3, 1919
17. [250] July, 14, 1919 WBD to Emma Pierce
Folder 4 (1924)
1. [ ] February 25 and February 29 1924 on board T.S.S Tuscania
2. [ ] June, 21, 1924 Francis Dinsmoor to her grandmother Emma Pierce
3. [ ] April, 30, 1924
4. [ ] May, 5, 1924
Folder 5 (1925)
1. [ ] February, 13, 1925
2. [ ] March, 27, 1925
3. [ ] May, 29, 1925
4. [ ] June, 18, 1925
5. A two-page itinerary
6. [ ] July, 1, 1925
7. [ ] July, 3, 1925
8. [ ] July, 9, 1925
9. [ ] July, 12, 1925
10. [ ] July, 19, 1925
11. [ ] July, 20, 1925
12. [ ] July, 27, 1925
13. [ ] July, 30, 1925
14. [ ] August, 3, 1925
15. [ ] August, 5, 1925
16. [ ] August, 7, 1925
17. [ ] August, 14, 1925
Folder 6 (1926)
1. [ ] January, 26, 1926
2. [ ] February, 18, 1926
3. [ ] March, 6, 1926
4. [ ] March, 18, 1926
5. [ ] April, 5, 1926
6. [ ] April, 20, 1926
7. [ ] April, 27, 1926
8. [ ] May, 30, 1926
9. [ ] June, 12, 1926
10. [ ] July, 22, 1926
11. [ ] July, ?, 1926
12. [ ] August, 16, 1926
Folder 7 (1927)
1. [ ] February, 10, 1927
2. [ ] February, 19, 1927
3. [ ] February, 25, 1927
4. [ ] March, 7, 1927
5. [ ] March, 8, 1927
6. [ ] March, 25, 1927
7. [ ] June, 19, 1927
8. [ ] July, 16, 1927
9. [ ] April, 27, 1927
10. [ ] August, 17, 1927
11. [ ] Post card dated August, 17, 1927
12. [ ] September, 15, 1927
13. Two page itinerary
BOX 4
Folder 1 (1928)
1. [ ] February, 5, 1928
2. [ ] February, 18, 1928
3. [ ] April, 3, 1928
4. [ ] May, 24, 1928
5. [ ] June, 12,1928
6. [ ] July, 6, 1928
Folder 2 (1930s)
1. [ ] May, 30, 1932 to Marnie [ZD’s sister]
2. [ ] June, 23, 1932 to Marnie
3. [ ] July, 20, 1932 to Marnie
4. [ ] August, 8, 1932
5. [ ] August, 18, 1932 ZD to her aunt, attached a letter for her sister Marnie
6. [ ] September, 12, 1932 to her aunt
7. [ ] June, 28, 1939 to Marnie
8. [ ] July, 7, 1939 t o Frances [ZD’s daughter]
9. [ ] August, 22, 1939 to her sister
10. [ ] September, 3, 1939 to Frances and Bill
11. [ ] A card with season’s greetings with two photos
Folder 3
Letters with no dates
Folder 4
ZD’s Diary pages and empty envelopes
Folder 5
Post cards and Photos
BOX 5
Folder 1
• ZD Letters covering the trip from New York to Greece in September 1910 (Two type-written copies).
• ZD Letters covering the first school trip to northern Greece that WBD organized and led for the School upon his arrival in October 1910.
• ZD Letters with descriptions of life at the School covering 1910-1911.
Folder 2
Letters and Notes 1911
Folder 3
• 1912 and 1913 Letters
Folder 4
• 1913 and 1914 Letters
• Lists of photos
Folder 5
• Photos and post-cards