Lauriston Ward (1882-1960) was a journalist, businessman, and anthropologist. As a scholar, Ward studied the origins of the Neolithic Age in the Middle East and its spread to Northern Asia and the Far East. After graduating from Harvard College in 1903, Ward spent several years as a newspaper reporter, publicity writer, and free lance contributor to newspapers and magazines. In 1914, he abandoned journalism and joined the travel agency, Raymond and Whitcomb Company, serving as secretary, director, and personnel manager. Ward returned to the academic world in 1932 as a graduate student in Anthropology at Harvard; receiving his Master of Arts in 1934. Ward remained at Harvard as a Lecturer and Tutor in Anthropology until his retirement from teaching in 1948. At the Harvard Peabody Museum, Ward became Curator of Asiatic Archaeology in 1937 and chairman of the American School of Prehistory in 1954. In 1953, Ward helped establish the Council of Old World Archaeology, an organization dedicated to publishing surveys and bibliographies of current archaeology research.
From the guide to the Papers of Lauriston Ward, 1900-1955 and undated., (Harvard University Archives)
Lauriston Ward received his BA from Harvard College in 1903 and his AM from Harvard University in 1934 . Ward was Curator of Asiatic Archaeology at Harvard from 1937-1960 and served as President and Founder of the Council for World Archaeology from 1953-1960 and Chairman of the American School of Prehistoric Research from 1954-1960.
Ward was very involved in archaeology, not as a dirt archaeologist per se, but as a creative organizing force. His main interests focused on establishing the major outlines in prehistoric Asiatic archaeology and linking the archaeology of several sub-areas of Asia.
From the guide to the Ward, Lauriston. Lauriston Ward, 1882-1960, Papers, inclusive: A Finding Aid, 1936-1960, (Peabody Museum Archives, Harvard University)
