Mary Zelia Pease Philippides passed away in Athens Friday morning, January 23, 2009. Her
daughter,
Dia Philippides of Boston, was at her side. Mrs. Philippides had celebrated her 103rd
birthday
earlier this week on January 19. Philippides served as Librarian of the American School of
Classical
Studies at Athens from 1958 until her retirement in 1971.
She studied at Bryn Mawr College receiving her AB in 1927 and her Ph.D. in 1933 with a
dissertation
entitled, “A Catalogue of the Greek Vases in the Collection of Albert Gallatin in New York
City.” A
long-time member of the School, Philippides was a Student of the School and Fellow from
Bryn Mawr
College 1927-1928, Fellow of the Archaeological Institute of America 1928-1929, Special
Fellow in
Archaeology 1932-1933, and a member of the excavation staff at the Ancient Athenian Agora
in 1933.
She was a Member of the School 1932-1934, 1935-1937, 1957-1958, 1959-1961, 1966-1967,
1977-1980. She
was appointed Librarian of the School in 1958. She also served in UNRWA (United Nations
Relief and
Works Agency) in Greece after World War II.
The full obituary appears at
http://www.ascsa.edu.gr/index.php/news/newsDetails/maria-zelia-pease-philip…