Unearthing Prehistoric Art: Mary Boyle (1881 – 1977) and Suzanne de Saint-Mathurin (1900 – 1991)

Two remarkable women brought humanity’s oldest stories etched in stone to light. Mary Boyle and Suzanne de Saint-Mathurin, pioneers in prehistoric art, were key collaborators of the renowned Abbé Henri Breuil. Together, they explored and documented ancient petroglyphs, spanning Europe’s caves to Africa’s cliffs. Boyle’s vivid illustrations and writings, combined with de Saint-Mathurin’s groundbreaking discoveries—such as the Magdalenian frieze in France’s Rhone Valley—transformed our understanding of prehistoric art. Both scholars, Boyle from Scotland and de Saint-Mathurin from France, resided at Reid Hall in the 1930s as members of the University Women’s Club.

The Reid Hall History Project continues to grow, enriched by the contributions of numerous collaborators. The website is regularly updated with new insights and information. Learn more about the fascinating story here: https://reidhall.globalcenters.columbia.edu/ 

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Hosts: Brunhilde Biebuyck and Marie Doezema

Production: James Allen, Brunhilde Biebuyck, Marie Doezema, Krista Faurie, Charlotte Force, and Anthony Valette

Editing: Theo Albaric

Music: Lili Boulanger’s Nocturne performed by Magdalena Baczewska and Sasha He

With thanks to the Nadia and Lili Boulanger International Centre in Paris

The Columbia Global Paris Center is part of a network of 11 global centers of Columbia University in the City of New York, one of the world's leading academic institutions. The centers serve as knowledge hubs that aim to educate and inspire through research, dialogue, and action. They advance understanding, facilitate partnerships, and build the bridges necessary to tackle our changing world.

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