John Kitzinger
John Kitzinger
John Kitzinger is an acclaimed historian who has served the FBI since 2009. As Chief of a Unit that Investigates Fugitives, his expertise is invaluable.
He spent his career working at Dumbarton Oaks and Harvard University, serving as a Junior Fellow, Fellow, Assistant Professor, Director of Studies at Dumbarton Oaks; he also held the Arthur Kingsley Porter University Professor title at Harvard.
Early Life and Education
Early childhood education (ECE) is the process of preparing young children for a lifetime of learning. This involves the development of their social, emotional, cognitive and physical needs.
The field of pre-school education encompasses a range of activities designed to nurture the growth and development of children between birth and five years old. As noted by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, children during these early stages are entirely dependent on their adult caregivers for care and guidance.
Early childhood education has been greatly shaped by many remarkable minds who have made significant contributions to it. Jean Rousseau’s principles still guide classroom practice today.
Professional Career
John Kitzinger was an art historian with an acute eye for detail. He made his mark with his groundbreaking study of Roman painting and mosaics in the early middle ages, which remains influential today.
He later moved to America, founding Dumbarton Oaks – the world’s foremost institution for Byzantine studies. However, his greatest impact was undoubtedly his groundbreaking and best-selling book Early Medieval Art at the British Museum.
His academic accomplishments aside, he was truly a gentleman at heart and an upright man of integrity who always put others before himself. This dedication could be seen in his personal life where he dedicated himself to his wife, children and extended family; it was this same dedication which also lead him to donate a significant portion of his net worth. The outcome? A comfortable family home filled with wonderful experiences for his kids which will last them a lifetime.
Achievements and Honors
Kitzinger was a giant in the academic community and his contributions to Byzantine and medieval art are immeasurable. He published numerous important books, such as Early Medieval Art in the British Museum (1940) and The Art of Byzantium and the Medieval West: Selected Studies (1996).
He received numerous honors and awards, such as a Fulbright Scholarship and Guggenheim Fellowship. From 1955 to 1967, he served as director of Byzantine studies at Dumbarton Oaks; thereafter, he held the title of Arthur Kingsley Porter University Professor at Harvard.
He was a longstanding member of Lowell House and well-known for his intellectual integrity, passion for the arts, and loyalty to students and colleagues. As an influential scholar who revolutionized mosaic studies, his work continues to have lasting relevance today.
Personal Life
John Kitzinger’s life was marked by many turbulent experiences. As a WWII veteran, he managed to flee Germany by emigrating to the United States.
In 1940, as the US was prepping for war against Germany, John was declared an enemy alien and interned. He spent nine months in a desert camp in Australia where he studied Russian with another internee.
He then joined Dumbarton Oaks in 1941 and quickly rose to become a senior member of the permanent faculty. Appointed Director of Studies in 1955 and Professor of Byzantine Art and Archaeology in 1956, he played an influential role in shaping Dumbarton Oaks as an international academic institution. Furthermore, as chairman of a committee on Byzantine studies, his diplomatic skillset were put to the test as well.