ALLIOT, Hector
ALLIOT, Hector (1862-1919) born and educated in France, he received his PhD at the University of Lombardy. He immigrated in 1879 and met and married his American wife in Chicago in 1893, and in 1908 they moved to Los Angeles where he was Professor of Art History at USC.
Alliot was the first curator for the Southwest Society of the Archaeological Institute collections in 1901, and in 1912, he oversaw its transfer to the Southwest Museum, founded by Charles Lummis, where he became Director in 1909. They opened to the public on August 1, 1914.
Alliot did minor work on San Clemente Island.
Alliot died of unexpected heart failure at age 57.
Hector Alliot = [1893] Laurena Elixabeth Moore (1868-1955)
- son
- 1916. Alliot, H. Burial Methods of the Southern California Islanders Southern California Academy of Sciences Bulletin 15(1):11-15, 1916
- 1917. Alliot, H. Prehistoric Use of Bitumen in Southern California Southern California Academy of Sciences Bulletin 12(2):41-44, 1917
In the News~
August 7, 1915 [SBMP]: “Artistic race dwelt on Santa Barbara Channel Isles: Dr. Alliot says relics found indicate form of culture… evidence of the artistic temperament of this prehistoric race is shown in the collection of whistles and pipes, presumably used in the ceremonial rites of the tribe, and in the large collection of clubs, fight implements and even crude statuary gathered by Dr. Alliot. The deposits of asphaltum were advantageously used by the inhabitants. Practically every object collected has been treated with a coating of asphaltum, with broken bits of abalone shell inlaid in fantastic designs… casks were coated with asphaltum and, in some cases, decorated with abalone shells.”
February 16, 1919 [SBMP]: “Hector Alliot, Noted Archaeologist Dies. Los Angeles, Feb. 15.—Hector Alliot, noted archaeologist, died suddenly here today. Alliot first gained prominence in the scientific world through his association with Farah Pasha in explorations in Tyre, Asia Minor, in 1891. He was active a little later in explorations among the ruins of the cliff dwellers habitations in the southwestern part of the United States and in 1893 was in charge of the exhibition at the Chicago exposition of the relics found by him and associates. Alliot had written a great deal on art and in 1908 and 1909 was professor of art history at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, and since 1909 had been a curator at the Southwest Museum here. For his work in the advancement of science, he was decorated by the government of France, his native land, in 1907. Alliot was born November 20, 1862. He had resided here about 20 years. He is survived by his wife and son, both living here.”
