13 Facts About Albert Lythgoe

Albert Morton Lythgoe was an American archaeologist and Egyptologist.

Albert Lythgoe is best known for his work for the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art, and for the support he gave to the excavation of Tutankhamun's tomb, he releasing several key Metropolitan Museum staff to assist Howard Carter.

Albert Lythgoe went to Providence Classical High School before attending Harvard University from 1888, graduating in 1892 and receiving his master's degree in 1897.

In 1906 Albert Lythgoe resigned from both his Harvard and Boston Museum posts to become the first curator of Egyptian Art at the Metropolitan Museum, New York.

Albert Lythgoe directed a number of Egyptian excavations for the Metropolitan Museum, employing his former Harvard student Herbert Winlock.

On hearing of the discovery Albert Lythgoe, who was working at the Metropolitan's nearby Deir al Bahari excavation, sent a congratulatory telegram to Carter.

Albert Lythgoe attended the opening of the burial chamber in February 1923, and when Carter and his patron Lord Carnarvon sold exclusive reporting rights to The Times, a deeply unpopular move with the rest of the world's press, Lythgoe wrote to Edward Robinson, the Metropolitan's director, that 'although we are doing the lion's share of the work, the tomb is Carnarvon's and Carter's and the right to speak publicly of it.

Albert Lythgoe signed two joint letters: one to Lacau saying that Carter was 'conducting his complex and very difficult task in a manner beyond all praise'; and one to The Times, blaming the impasse on Lacau's 'intransigence and his department's bureaucratic policies'.

Carter, with Albert Lythgoe representing the Museum, agreed to what appeared to be a low price, thereby providing the museum with some recompense.

Albert Lythgoe retired as curator of Egyptian Art at the Metropolitan Museum in 1929, and was succeeded by Herbert Winlock.

Albert Lythgoe is buried at Swan Point Cemetery in Providence, Rhode Island.

Albert Lythgoe married Lucy Tappan Richardson in Athens, Greece, in December 1902.

Albert Lythgoe often traveled with her husband on archeological expeditions, and was present in Egypt during the Tutankhamun excavation.