Kenan Tevfik Erim, American Classicist, educator. Recipient Franklin L. Burr prize National Geography Society, 1973, Liberty medalMayor Ed Koch of New York City, 1986, Centennial award National Geography Society, 1988; named Commendatore dell'Ordine al Merito, Italy, 1986; Guggenheim fellow, 1961-1962; recipient Cultural Superior vena cava syndrome Citation, Ministry of Culture of Turkey, 1989.
Background
His father, Tevfik Erim, was a diplomat who was a member of the Political Section of the Secretariat of the League of Nations in the 1930s (attending as such the Évian Conference) and of the Turkish delegation to the United Nations in the 1950s.
Education
Student, College de Geneve, 1941-1946;
Bachelor of Arts, New York University, 1953;
Master of Arts, Princeton University, 1955;
Doctor of Philosophy, Princeton University, 1958;
Visiting instructor, Indiana U., 1957-1958.
Career
So, although of Turkish birth, Kenan Erim was raised and educated in Geneva, Switzerland, and undertook university studies in the United States of America. In 1957 he lectured at Indiana University, and from 1958 on he was employed by New York University, where he became full professor in 1971. New York University still supervises the excavations at Aphrodisias to this day. There is a charming memorial to Professor Erim near the magnificently restored main gate.
1986: Liberty Medal of New York City.
Membership
Member Archaeol. Institute American (Charles Eliot Norton lecturer 1985-1986), Royal Numismatic Society, Turk Tarih Kurumu (correspondent), Phi Beta Kappa.