>>About ARCE
Organization
The American
Research Center in Egypt (ARCE) is a private, nonprofit
organization founded in 1948 by a consortium of educational
and cultural institutions to support research on Egyptian
history and culture, foster broader knowledge about Egypt
among the general public, and promote and strengthen
American-Egyptian cultural ties.
ARCE facilitates research by individuals and American
institutions in Egypt. It provides a permanent base of
operations in Cairo for scholars studying Egypt from
prehistory to the present day. More than a dozen
archaeological teams sponsored by leading U.S. and Canadian
museums and universities are assisted annually by our Cairo
Center.
The scope of programs and activities conducted or supported by
ARCE and its U.S. chapters includes research fellowships
(coordinated by our U.S. office at Emory University), seminars
and public lectures, short courses, educational excursions,
archaeological expeditions, conservation projects, and the
operation of a research library. ARCE sponsors educational and
training opportunities in the United States for Egyptian
scholars, conservators, and students.
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>>Beginning
ARCE Chicago
James H. Breasted, who founded the institute in 1919
and was the leading American Egyptologist of his time,
helped Howard Carter establish that the undisturbed
tomb of Tutankhamen by
identifying the Pharaoh's seal on the tomb door and
reading the inscriptions inside. Therefore, it is only
fitting that there should be an ARCE chapter for this
region of the country. |
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Started in October 2004 to provide an outlet for Egypt
enthusiasts in the Midwest.
The inspiration
for this began with Sandra Polley, of
Up & Running Computer
Services in Bloomington, Illinois. Sandra, since
childhood had an affinity for Egypt in general. She
first traveled to Egypt as a college student on a budget.
She vowed that someday she would return and tour it with
professional guides and Egyptologists. In 2003, while
surfing the Internet Sandra came across a web site for a tour
called "Walk with Egyptologists" on
Seven Wonders
Travel web site owned by Janice Brannon.
This particular
tour featured lectures and activities with the following world
renowned Egyptologists:
-
Zahi Hawass, Secretary General, Supreme
Council of Antiquities
-
W. Raymond Johnson, Field Director,
Chicago House, Luxor
-
Mark Lehner, Director of the Giza Mapping
Project
-
Kent Weeks, Director of the Theban
Mapping Project
This trip just
happen to be an ARCE Orange County Group. While on tour
Sandra spoke to ARCE members about their chapter. Upon
returning to the states Sandra began looking into ARCE as an
outlet for supporting Egypt and her desire to share her
experiences with like minded individuals. Sandra found
to her surprise that despite Chicago's deep connection to
Egyptology through the Oriental Institute there was not an
ARCE chapter in the area.
It was at that
time she contacted Janice Brannon to inquire if she would be
interested in working together to form a candidate chapter.
Several month's
later Sandra and Janice connected with a third person that had
interest in forming a Chicago Chapter for some time ARCE
member Jim Westerman, President of Carver Paint and
an Egyptologist working at Abydos. The three communicated
via email and phone.
As
luck would have it, Dr. Emily Teeter, Research Associate and
Egyptologist, agreed to meet with us at Oriental Institute,
University of Chicago her role was to be a mentor and
facilitator in getting the Chicago Chapter formed. Chicago ARCE Chapter would not have become a reality Dr. Teeter's
involvement.
