Frenchman In Charge Of Cultural Heritage

December, 19, 1928 A.D.:
Frenchman In Charge Of Cultural Heritage

By: Mir M.Hosseini

Iranian Ministry of Culture appointed a French national named André Godard as the head of national museum for a period of 5 years, with a salary of 12,000 Tomans per year, by an agreement on December, 19, 1928. Godar was invited to Iran for archeological studies and organization of related affairs within the ministry. After the end of his term in 1933, he became the head of the Ancient Iran Museum. During 32 years of residence in Iran, Godar served in other related fields such as the faculty of fine arts in Tehran University while supervising affairs related to antiques and cultural heritage.
Despite limitations of the time, Andre Godar travelled to almost every historical site in Iran. With help from his wife, he took notes and made records with a great precision that have been used in academic studies to date.
He designed the Mausoleum of Saadi and Hafez in Shiraz, and Ferdowsi in Toos. He also made the master plan for Tehran University, Museum of Anthropology, and National Library.

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KEY TERMS:Ancient Iran Museum , Andre Godar , André Godard , Anthropology , Ferdowsi , French , Hafez , Iran , Iranian , Shiraz , Tehran , Tehran University , Toman , Toos

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