Argenti
Philip
P. Argenti was the greatest benefactor of the Library of Chios.
Son of Pantelis Argenti and Fani Skilitzi, he was born in Marseilles in 1891 and
died in London in 1974. Besides of his well-rounded education, he studied
Philosophy in Oxford and Law in Athens, and was also fluent in languages.
These characteristics brought him
to serve as a diplomat in various Greek embassies, although his cultural
interests and his love for Chios turned his attention to the investigation of
the island's modern history. At the time of his death, his legacy of published
and unpublished works represent an obliged reference for any researcher of Chian
modern history. Some of the most noteworthy books or manuscripts by Argenti are
the following:
The
Expedition of the Florentines to Chios (1599), 1934.
The Occupation of Chios by the Venetians (1694), 1935.
Chius Vincta or The Occupation of Chios by the Turks (1566), 1941.
Diplomatic Archive of Chios (1577-1841), 1954.
The Occupation of Chios by the Genoese (1346-1566), 1958.
The Religious Minorities of Chios, 1970.
Argenti’s significance for the Library is obvious.
He donated over 10.000 volumes of books and manuscripts, and got involved in the
addition of a second floor to the library building. His family also financed the
enlarging of the building right after his death and donated an important amount
of works that are now exposed in the museum of the library at the Argenti
Collection.
