Collector · Consul / diplomat
William Rex Crawford Jr.
1928–2002 · United States
US diplomat who collected Cypriot pottery in 1968-72, later served as Ambassador to Cyprus (1974-78) and backed the American research institute that became CAARI.
Biography
William Rex Crawford Jr. collected Cypriot pottery in Cyprus between 1968 and 1972 and later served as the United States Ambassador in Nicosia. He was born in Philadelphia in 1928, took a Harvard BA in 1949 and a Pennsylvania MA in 1950, and spent 1950 to 1980 in the Foreign Service. His postings included Jeddah, Venice, Beirut, Aden and Morocco, and a post as deputy ambassador to Cyprus. He was Ambassador to Yemen from 1972 to 19741.
The Michael C. Carlos Museum at Emory University holds objects whose credit lines read "Collected by Ambassador William R. Crawford (1928-2002), Cyprus, 1968-1972. Thence by descent." They include a Late Cypriot flattened bottle (2004.054.021) and two Middle Cypriot jugs with an incised zig-zag on the body (2004.054.009 and 2004.054.010)2.
Rodger Davies was assassinated in 1974, and Crawford became Ambassador to Cyprus that year, serving until 19781. As ambassador he strongly supported the proposal by the American Schools of Oriental Research for a research institute in Cyprus; the institute was named CAARI in 19783.
He died on 4 August 2002 in Greensboro, Vermont1.
Life and work
- 1974Appointed US Ambassador to Cyprus after Rodger Davies was assassinated; served to 1978.
NicosiaWilliam R. Crawford Jr.
- 1978CAARI formally named; Crawford's strong support as ambassador is credited in Rupp's chapter for the ASOR approach to the Cyprus government.
NicosiaStewart et al. 2014
Through their hands
1 record- n.d.Export
ExportCrawford collected antiquities in Cyprus and exported them to the US in the year he was recalled to Yemen.
some antiquitiesGatzsche 2023, p. 28
Connections
2 peopleColleagues & contacts
- Connected with Alexander Malios
- Helped Anita WalkerThe Honorable William R. Crawford secured a Fulbright Fellowship for Anita Walker, enabling her to remain on the scene. Harris 1989, p. 159
Recording and study
1 record- Helped1
Crawford strongly supported ASOR as it approached the Republic of Cyprus government about the proposed institute.
Helped American Schools of Oriental Research (ASOR)proposed Cyprus Archaeological Research InstituteDavis 2008, p. 18
Objects
Flattened bottle, Late Cypriot
Michael C. Carlos Museum, Emory University 2004.054.021c. 2004Michael C. Carlos Museum…
Jug with incised zig-zag on body, Middle Cypriot
Michael C. Carlos Museum, Emory University 2004.054.009Michael C. Carlos Museum…
Jug with incised zig-zag on body, Middle Cypriot
Michael C. Carlos Museum, Emory University 2004.054.010Michael C. Carlos Museum…
Large Red Polished jug, 60 cm, formerly in the 'Fondation Crawford' in Washington, now on permanent loan to the Cyprus Museum
Cyprus Museum, Nicosia 1983/X-11/11983Karageorghis 1984
Sources
- 1.“William R. Crawford Jr.”. Wikipedia (English). Wikimedia Foundation. Online
- 2.Michael C. Carlos Museum (Emory) online collection records 2004.054.009, .010, .021, .038.
- 3.C. A. Stewart (ed.), T. W. Davis (ed.), A. Weyl Carr (ed.) (2014). Cyprus and the Balance of Empires: Art and Archaeology from Justinian I to the Coeur de Lion. CAARI / ASOR.
- 4.V. Karageorghis (1984). “Chronique des fouilles et découvertes archéologiques à Chypre en 1983”. Bulletin de correspondance hellénique 108.
- 5. (2023). Christie's sale 21709, lot 168.
- 6.Thomas W. Davis (2008). “What's in a Name: CAARI at 30”. Near Eastern Archaeology 71, 16-20.
- 7.Charles U. Harris (1989). “The Role of CAARI in Cyprus”. Biblical Archaeologist 52, 157-162.
- 8.Alexander Gatzsche (2023). “From Cyprus to Leipzig: Provenance Research”. Alexander Malios Collection, Volume 1: Cypriot Antiquities, 20-31. Leipzig, AMRICHA.