Born: May 28, 1898 (Frankfurt am Main)
Biography:
Hermine Erminia Speier, born on May 28, 1898, in Frankfurt am Main, was a German archaeologist who made significant contributions to her field. Growing up in a wealthy Jewish family, she received a high-quality education from Frankfurt’s Viktoriaschule before enrolling at the University of Frankfurt in 1918. There, she studied history, German literature, and philosophy. In the following year, she transferred to the University of Giessen and then studied at the University of Heidelberg, where she changed her major to archaeology.
Under the guidance of renowned teachers such as Eberhard Gothein, Karl Jaspers, and Ludwig Curtius, Speier honed her skills and developed a deep passion for archaeology. In 1925, she graduated with a doctorate in archaeology, along with minors in ancient history and classical philology. Her dissertation, titled Die Gruppen angelehnter Figuren im V. und IV. Jahrhundert (Two figure groups in the fifth and fourth century BC), focused on analyzing the differences in images between the Archaic and Hellenistic periods of Greek art. Using scientific analysis, she showed that art reflected the historical development of culture and government.
Speier’s research and academic achievements impressed Ludwig Curtius, who declared that she deserved the highest mark for her excellent performance, though he acknowledged that such accolades were typically reserved for men. She became the only woman to have achieved a doctorate under Curtius’s guidance. After completing her studies, she started her career as an assistant to Bernhard Schweitzer in Königsberg until 1928, when Curtius recruited her to assist with the photographic archive at the German Archaeological Institute (DAI) in Rome.
The photographic archive at the DAI, under Curtius’s direction, aimed to systematically catalog and preserve archaeological photographs. Speier played a crucial role in this pioneering initiative and is credited as one of the first archaeological photo-archivists. Her expertise in this field led to her becoming the first female employee of the Vatican Museums, a remarkable achievement given the male-dominated academic and cultural landscape of the time.
Throughout her career, Speier contributed significantly to the collections of archaeological photographs, documenting and preserving invaluable historical artifacts and sites. Her meticulous work and expertise helped enhance our understanding of ancient civilizations and their artistic expressions. Her contributions to the field of archaeology, as well as her groundbreaking role as a female professional in a traditionally male-dominated industry, have left a lasting impact on the discipline.
Hermine Speier’s dedication and passion for archaeology paved the way for future generations of women in academia and the field of archaeology. Her achievements continue to inspire and motivate aspiring female archaeologists, highlighting the importance of gender equality and encouraging the pursuit of knowledge and excellence.