# Karl Parker

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English art historian and museum curator

For the Australian rower, see [Karl Parker (rower)](/source/Karl_Parker_(rower)).

Sir Karl Parker CBE FBA Keeper of the Ashmolean Museum In office 1945–1962 Preceded by Edward Thurlow Leeds Succeeded by Robert Hamilton Personal details Born 2 July 1895 Died 22 July 1992(1992-07-22) (aged 97) Alma mater University of Freiburg University of Zürich

**Sir Karl Theodore Parker**, [CBE](/source/Commander_of_the_Order_of_the_British_Empire), [FBA](/source/Fellow_of_the_British_Academy) (2 July 1895 – 22 July 1992), occasionally known as **KTP**, was an English [art historian](/source/Art_historian) and [museum curator](/source/Museum_curator). He was Keeper of the [Ashmolean Museum](/source/Ashmolean_Museum), [Oxford](/source/Oxford) from 1945 to 1962 and Trustee of the [National Gallery](/source/National_Gallery) from 1962 to 1969.

## Early life and education

Parker was born on 2 July 1895 in [Marylebone](/source/Marylebone), [London](/source/London), England. He was the younger son of Robert William Parker, a surgeon, and Marie Amélie Parker (née Lüling). He was educated at the [private](/source/Private_schools_in_the_United_Kingdom) [Bedford School](/source/Bedford_School), and the [Lycée](/source/Lyc%C3%A9e) [Saint-Louis](/source/Lyc%C3%A9e_Saint-Louis), [Paris](/source/Paris). He then studied [chemistry](/source/Chemistry) at the German [University of Freiburg](/source/University_of_Freiburg). He went on to study at the [University of Zürich](/source/University_of_Z%C3%BCrich) where he presented a [doctoral thesis](/source/Doctoral_thesis) on "Oliver Cromwell's reputation traced through English literature."[1][2] He was awarded an [honorary](/source/Honorary_degree) [Doctor of Letters](/source/Doctor_of_Letters) (DLitt) degree by the [University of Oxford](/source/University_of_Oxford) in 1972.[3]

## Career

Having spent much of his time while at university in [print rooms](/source/Print_room) and art galleries, Parker began volunteering in the print room of the [British Museum](/source/British_Museum) upon his return to England in 1924.[2] In 1925, he achieved employment at the British Museum as an assistant keeper in its print room.[2] He became an expert in [Old Master](/source/Old_Master) drawings,[2] and served as general editor of the *Drawings of the Masters* series from its inception in 1926 until it ended in 1940.[2][3]

In 1934, Parker joined the [Ashmolean Museum](/source/Ashmolean_Museum), [University of Oxford](/source/University_of_Oxford), as keeper of the Department of Fine Art.[1] During the [Second World War](/source/Second_World_War), he oversaw the movement of the works held by the museum to [Chastleton House](/source/Chastleton_House), a country house in Oxfordshire.[3] He additionally served as [Keeper of the Ashmolean Museum](/source/Keeper_of_the_Ashmolean_Museum) (i.e., head of the whole museum) between 1945 and 1962.[4] Having then retired, he maintained a link with the art world as a [trustee](/source/Trustee) of the [National Gallery](/source/National_Gallery), serving as such between 1962 and 1969.[1]

## Personal life

On 14 January 1928, Parker married Audrey Isabel James (born 1906 or 1907), daughter of Henry Ashworth James, of [Herstmonceux Place](/source/Herstmonceux_Place), Herstmonceux, Sussex. They had two daughters, Lavinia and Caroline. Together they had two daughters, Lavinia and Caroline.[2] His wife predeceased him, dying in 1976.[1]

## Honours

In the [1954 Queen's Birthday Honours](/source/1954_Queen's_Birthday_Honours), he was appointed a [Commander of the Order of the British Empire](/source/Commander_of_the_Order_of_the_British_Empire) (CBE) in recognition of his service as Keeper of the [Ashmolean Museum](/source/Ashmolean_Museum), [University of Oxford](/source/University_of_Oxford).[5] In the [1960 New Year Honours](/source/1960_New_Year_Honours), he was appointed a [Knight Bachelor](/source/Knight_Bachelor), in recognition of further service as Keeper of the Ashmolean Museum, and therefore granted the [title](/source/Title) *[sir](/source/Sir)*.[6] He [received the accolade](/source/Accolade) from [Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh](/source/Prince_Philip%2C_Duke_of_Edinburgh) (acting on behalf of [Queen Elizabeth II](/source/Queen_Elizabeth_II)) during a ceremony at [Buckingham Palace](/source/Buckingham_Palace) on 9 February 1960.[7]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Independent_-_obit_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Independent_-_obit_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Independent_-_obit_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Independent_-_obit_1-3) Lowe, Ian (27 July 1992). ["Obituary: Sir Karl Parker"](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-sir-karl-parker-1535879.html). *[The Independent](/source/The_Independent)*. Retrieved 6 July 2013.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Oxford_DNB_bio_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Oxford_DNB_bio_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Oxford_DNB_bio_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Oxford_DNB_bio_2-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-Oxford_DNB_bio_2-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-Oxford_DNB_bio_2-5) Harrison, Colin (May 2006). "Parker, Sir Karl Theodore (1895–1992)". *[Oxford Dictionary of National Biography](/source/Dictionary_of_National_Biography#Oxford_Dictionary_of_National_Biography)* (online ed.). Oxford University Press. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1093/ref:odnb/51272](https://doi.org/10.1093%2Fref%3Aodnb%2F51272). (Subscription, [Wikipedia Library](https://wikipedialibrary.wmflabs.org/partners/88/) access or [UK public library membership](https://www.oxforddnb.com/help/subscribe#public) required.)

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-bio_DAH_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-bio_DAH_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-bio_DAH_3-2) ["Parker, Karl Theodore, Sir"](https://arthistorians.info/parkerk/). *Dictionary of Art Historians*. Retrieved 2 November 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-WWW_4-0)** 'Parker, Sir Karl (Theodore)', *[Who Was Who](/source/Who_Was_Who)*, A & C Black, an imprint of [Bloomsbury Publishing](/source/Bloomsbury_Publishing) plc, 1920–2016; online edn, [Oxford University Press](/source/Oxford_University_Press), 2014; online edn, April 2014 [accessed 12 Sept 2017](http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/article/oupww/whowaswho/U174674)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-LG_40188_5-0)** ["No. 40188"](https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/40188/supplement/3267). *[The London Gazette](/source/The_London_Gazette)* (Supplement). 1 June 1954. pp. 3267–3268.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-LG_41909_6-0)** ["No. 41909"](https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/41909/supplement/2). *[The London Gazette](/source/The_London_Gazette)* (Supplement). 29 December 1959. p. 2.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-LG_41953_7-0)** ["No. 41953"](https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/41953/page/41953). *[The London Gazette](/source/The_London_Gazette)*. 12 February 1960. p. 41953.

## External links

- MacAndrew, Hugh (December 1992). "Karl Parker 1895-1992". *[The Burlington Magazine](/source/The_Burlington_Magazine)*. **134** (1077): 810. [JSTOR](/source/JSTOR_(identifier)) [885355](https://www.jstor.org/stable/885355).

- [Biography](http://www.dictionaryofarthistorians.org/parkerk.htm), *[Dictionary of Art Historians](/source/Dictionary_of_Art_Historians)*

- [Obituary](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-sir-karl-parker-1535879.html), *[The Independent](/source/The_Independent)*

v t e Keepers and Directors of the Ashmolean Museum Keepers: Robert Plot (1683) Edward Lhuyd (1690) David Parry (1709) John Whiteside (1714) George Shepheard (1730) Joseph Andrews (1731) George Huddesford (1732) William Huddesford (1755) William Sheffield (1772) William Lloyd (1796) Thomas Dunbar (1815) William Philipps (1822) John Shute Duncan (1823) Philip Bury Duncan (1826) John Phillips (1854) John Henry Parker (1870) Sir Arthur Evans (1884) David George Hogarth (1909) Edward Thurlow Leeds (1928) Sir Karl Parker (1945) Robert W. Hamilton (1962) Directors: Sir David Piper (1973) Professor Sir Christopher White (1985) Roger Moorey (1997, acting) Christopher Brown (1998) Alexander Sturgis (2014)

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