Harold Hayden Nelson (1878-1954) received his BA degree at the University of Chicago in 1901 and his PhD in 1913, working under James Henry Breasted. He began teaching as Instructor in English at the Syrian Protestant College (later the American University of Beirut) in 1904 and was Professor of History and Chairman of the Department in 1924 when he departed the College. He then served as the Field Director of the Oriental Institute Epigraphic and Architectural Survey at Luxor from 1924 until his retirement in 1947. During WWII he served as Acting Director of the Oriental Institute in 1942-1943. He was decorated by the Belgian Government and was appointed a Notable of Egypt by the Egyptian Government.