Mary Brodrick 1858 – 1933
Egyptologist, archaeologist.
5 April 1858 – 13 July 1933
Education
Studied Egyptology under Gaston Maspero at the Sorbonne and Paul Pierret, Curator at the Louvre, and Hebrew and Semitic archaeology under Ernest Renan at the Collège de France.
1888 Began archaeology studies at University College London (UCL) while taking a course in Egyptology.
1893 Earned a Doctorate of Philosophy from the College of the Sisters of Bethany at the University of Kansas.
Some Key Achievements and Interests
1880s Lectured at the British Museum gaining a reputation for her expertise in Egyptology.
Served as English Honorary Secretary for the Egypt Exploration Fund in the United States of America .
1897-1908 Alternated her work in Egypt as an archaeologist with lecturing at the British Museum.
1897-1903 Worked under Gaston Maspero.
1894 – 1896 Held a Pfeiffer fellowship awarded by the Council of College Hall.
Translator and editor of Egyptian travel work.
Committee member of the Egypt Exploration Society.
Active member of the Society of Biblical Archaeology.
Involved with the Society for the Preservation of the Monuments of Ancient Egypt.
Involved with the British Society in Egypt.
Elected member of the Royal Geographical Society.
Lectured in Cairo, England, Scotland and Italy.
1916 Elected an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and in 1925 Honorary Fellow of the American Geographical Society.
Issues
Had little family support and had to earn a living.
No women had ever been taught Egyptology or archaeology as universities only allowed male students to attend. She faced opposition from tutors and fellow students.
She approached the Sorbonne to study under Professor Gaston Camille Charles Maspero but was, reportedly, told, ‘But we don’t take little girls here.’ On the suggestion of Maspero, she approached Joseph Ernest Renan at the Collège de France who responded, ‘I have never taught a woman in my life, and I never will!’ (Egypt Papers) However, Maspero did then succeed in securing permission for her to attend lectures at the Sorbonne and Collège de France.
Connection to Bloomsbury
Was an ‘occasional student’ at the British Museum receiving further training from the Keeper of Antiquities, Peter le Page Renouf.
Attended lectures in archaeology at UCL and from 1888 lived at College Hall, Bloomsbury and from 1900 Chenies Street Residential Chambers when in London.
1893–94 and 1894–95 Lectured at the British Museum and studied Egyptology under Flinders Petrie.
1924 Established Mary Brodrick prize in geography at UCL.
1929 Provided funds to allow the completion of an extension to College Hall and bequeathed her archaeological library to the Hall. Her support of College Hall was acknowledged by Dr Louisa Macdonald, ‘It is not only as a benefactor that we commemorate her, she was among the most distinguished that belonged to us. She was one of the best-known pioneer women Egyptologists.’ (Egypt Papers)
Female networks
College Hall and Chenies Residential Chambers associates, fellow Egyptologists such as Anna Anderson Morton.
Friend Eversley Chaning Robinson.
Writing/Publications include:
1891 Translated and edited Egypt under the Pharaohs by Heinrich Ferdinand Karl Brugsch.
1892 Translated and edited Aperçu de l’histoire ancienne d’Egypte by Auguste Mariette.
1896 Edited Murray’s Handbook for Travellers in Egypt 9th Edition.
1900 Edited Murray’s Handbook for Travellers in Egypt 10th Edition.
See selection of works republished in Egypt (1937) edited by Eversley Robinson
Further reading:
Archaeologists-in-Print Amara Thornton.pdf
Brodrick, Mary (1858–1933), archaeologist | Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (oxforddnb.com)
https://www.nature.com/articles/132196b0
https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Mary_Brodrick
Egypt: papers and lectures by the late Mary Brodrick, ed E Robinson (1938)
Photo By Unknown author – Book scan Janssen, Rosaling & Jac. (1999) “Excavating in the Petrie Museum” in A. Leahy & J. Tait (Eds.) Studies on Ancient Egypt in Honour of H.S. Smith. London: Egypt Exploration Society, pp. 151-156. ISBN 0856981516, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=37853499
Mary Brodrick: https://beyond-notability.wikibase.cloud/wiki/Item:Q812