Centenary Award Holder 2009: William Carruthers
William Carruthers, whose research trip to Cairo in March 2010 was supported by the Society's Centenary Fund and included a vist to Emery's grave as well as uncovering some interesting source material for the history of Egyptology. Will writes:
“Much of the archival material I am interested in relates, in some way, to Emery; during an MRes in Archaeology undertaken at UCL from 2008-2009, I spent much of the year researching the material relating to him held by the EES in the Lucy Gura Archive. Emery died at Saqqara, near Cairo, whilst undertaking excavations for the Society, and I was therefore keen to visit his grave whilst I had the chance.
After a Catholic funeral mass attended by numerous dignitaries at the Church of St Joseph in ez-Zamalek, a well-heeled island in the centre of the city, Emery was buried the British cemetery in Old Cairo, near the el-Malek es-Saleh Metro station. The cemetery is under the care of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, and as the photos here attest, Emery’s grave is still in immaculate condition, no doubt thanks to the extremely attentive caretaker, who told me that he had spent over 30 years looking after the cemetery. Those connected to Emery will doubtless be pleased.”
The British Cemetery in Cairo
Headstone marking the burial place of W. B. Emery
"Serendipity often comes to the aid of researchers. Whilst in Cairo looking for archival sources relating to the history of Egyptology, I have also spent much time in libraries and bookshops. The city also possesses a second hand book market (by the Ezbekkiya Gardens) which, although currently somewhat curtailed in size due to the construction of Line 3 of the Cairo Metro, stocks a wide variety of both books and magazines, many of considerable vintage."
Cairo's second hand book market, near the Ezbekkiya Gardens
"Part of my research, as members may be aware, deals with the British archaeologist Walter Bryan Emery (1903-1971), who was once the Egypt Exploration Society’s Director of Excavations. Before my current trip to Cairo, I was aware that Emery’s death made headlines in Egypt - it was on the front page of the daily newspaper al-Ahram, for example.
I also wondered if it had been covered by any other publications, and therefore had a look through some of those for sale at the book market dating from the era in which Emery’s death took place. Luckily enough, I found some magazines dating from the week that Emery died and, in one copy of Akher Saa magazine - which featured news of the death of the Coptic Orthodox Pope Cyril VI on its cover - found a lengthy article about Emery’s death, including the publication of the last photos of him alive."
Article on W. B. Emery published in Akher Saa Magazine at the time of his death
Front cover of an issue of Akher Saa magazine from 1971, reporting the death of the Coptic Orthodox Pope Cyril VI
"There is clearly more to learn from the Arabic language press."
For further information on Will’s work, please see his article, ‘A means to an end: seeking Bryan Emery in archives’, in the most recent issue of Egyptian Archaeology (issue 36 – see here for further information).