Inez Scott Ryberg Explained

Inez Gertrude Scott Ryberg
Birth Name:Inez Gertrude Scott
Birth Date:2 November 1901
Birth Place:Grimes, Iowa
Death Place:Gainesville, Florida
Nationality:American
Occupation:Archaeologist and Professor

Inez Gertrude Scott Ryberg (November 2, 1901 – September 1980) was an American classical archaeologist and academic, who specialized in archaeology, Roman art and architecture.

Early life and education

Ryberg was born on November 2, 1901, in Grimes, Iowa as Inez Gertrude Scott. Her father was a minister in a Presbyterian church and this influence in her early life lead to a major focus in Latin studies and religion.[1]

In 1921 Ryberg enrolled at the University of Minnesota to earn her BA in Latin and also enrolled for her MA the same year.[1] In 1924 Ryberg transferred to the University of Wisconsin to study for her Ph.D. in which her thesis subject was the Grand Style in the Satires of Juvenal.[1] [2] While at UW Ryberg's Latin professor, George Converse Fiske, became her mentor, partially due to their mutual interest in Roman religion, and helped steer her onto her future career path.

After completing her Ph.D. thesis and teaching Latin at Wilson College in Pennsylvania for a year,[1] Ryberg left the US to take a fellowship at the American Academy in Rome.[3]

Academic career

American Academy in Rome

Fiske was on the advisory council for classical studies at the American Academy in Rome and encouraged her to apply for the fellowship.[1]

Ryberg was one of three applicants who received the Rome Prize fellowship in 1924. The award included an annual stipend of $1250 and was for two years.[1]

During her time at the academy Ryberg studied under Tenney Frank of Johns Hopkins and Charles Rufus Morey of Princeton.

Later in life during her time at Vassar, Ryberg took several leaves of absence to return to the academy and work in the library and various museums in Rome.[1]

Smith College and Vassar College

After returning from the American Academy in Rome, Ryberg spent a year teaching Latin at Smith College before arriving at Vassar as an assistant professor in 1927 and teaching until 1965. Ryberg accepted the position after another alumna of the academy, Lily Ross Taylor, left Vassar to accept a position at Bryn Mawr College.[4] Ryberg became chair of the classics department in 1942, when Elizabeth H. Haight retired, and held the position until her retirement, with the exception of 1949–1952 when she returned to the academy for research.[1]

Vassar recognised Ryberg's academic abilities and funded several of her publications and research sabbaticals.

Death

In March 1965 in the Vassar Miscellany News it was announced that Ryberg was resigning from the university due to recent health concerns.[5] She died in September 1980 in Gainesville, Florida.[6]

Personal life

On June 11, 1930, Inez Scott married Milton Emmanuel Ryberg. Part of Inez Ryberg's success in the academic field had been dependent on her marriage, the couple rarely lived together, focusing more on their respective careers, but never so far apart that there were not regular visits scheduled. The pair never had children.[1]

Awards and societies

American Academy in Rome

Selected works

Books

Journal articles

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Havelock. Christine M.. Inez Gertrude Scott Ryberg. Breaking Ground: Women in Old World Archaeology. Brown University.
  2. Book: Ryberg. Inez Scott. The grand style in the satires of Juvenal. 1924. University of Wisconsin. 118.
  3. Web site: Fellows - Affiliated Fellows - Residents 1910-1929 American Academy in Rome. aarome.org.
  4. Rowland. Robert J.. Review of: Ancient Marbles to American Shores. Classical Archaeology in the United States. Bryn Mawr Classical Review. 1 May 1999.
  5. News: Vassar Newspaper Archive. newspaperarchives.vassar.edu.
  6. Web site: Inez Ryberg. Ancestry.com.
  7. Web site: John Simon Guggenheim Foundation Inez Scott Ryberg. www.gf.org.
  8. Web site: History - Greek and Roman Studies Department - Vassar College. greekandromanstudies.vassar.edu.
  9. Web site: APS Member History. 2021-01-28. search.amphilsoc.org.
  10. Web site: Bulletin - Archaeological Institute of America. Archaeological Institute of America.. en. 1 January 1914.