Maxwell Sommerville

Born in 1829 and raised in Philadelphia, Maxwell Sommerville developed an early interest in engraved gems through his grandfather. That interest grew into a serious specialty: he became known for his work on glyptology, the study of carved gems, and assembled an important collection over the course of his life.

Sommerville also wrote books that reflected both his scholarly side and his taste for travel, including works on gems as well as travel writing connected with Asia. Sources from the Penn Museum describe him as one of the more eccentric figures associated with the institution's early history, and note that his knowledge of gems was significant enough that he was named Professor of Glyptology at the University of Pennsylvania in 1894.

He died in 1904 in Paris, but his name remained closely tied to Philadelphia through the collections and writings he left behind. Today he is remembered less as a conventional literary figure than as an energetic collector, author, and museum benefactor whose enthusiasm helped preserve and interpret objects from many cultures.