Joan du Plat Taylor

Who was Joan du Plat Taylor?

Joan Mabel Frederica Du Plat Taylor was born in Glasgow, Scotland on 26 June 1906 and, despite no formal training, became one of the first maritime archaeologists.

Her parents were Colonel St.John Louis Hyde du Plat Taylor and Alice Home-Purves and her grandfather was Colonel John Lowther du Plat Taylor CB VD.

She campaigned to bring nautical archaeology into the academic fold. She was instrumental in establishing the Council for Nautical Archaeology and was founder editor of the International Journal of Nautical Archaeology from 1972-1980. She also recognised that amateurs could play an important role in archaeology and established systems to educate and encourage them. She was the first president of the Nautical Archaeology Society.

She personally funded a grant to support publication of nautical archaeological research. Since her death, the award has continued to be given by the Nautical Archaeology Society as the Joan du Plat Taylor Award.