WTTW to feature programs highlighting scholarship of University’s Oriental Institute

WTTW-TV, Channel 11, will present two documentaries this week that will explore the history and accomplishments of the Oriental Institute.

At 9 p.m. Thursday, May 27, the station will present “Breaking Ground: The Story of the Oriental Institute,” with footage of artifacts in the collection, interviews with scholars, and scenes from current projects in Egypt and Turkey.

This one-hour documentary, produced by Emmy Award-winner Leonard Aronson, attempts to capture the spirit of patient, rigorous inquiry that distinguishes the institute in the scholarly world. Repeat broadcasts currently are scheduled for 3:30 a.m. Saturday, May 29, and 10:00 p.m. Wednesday, June 2.

On Friday, May 28, at 8:30 p.m., the station will present a companion half-hour documentary, “Pioneer to the Past: The Life and Times of James Henry Breasted,” which will look at the accomplishments of the founder of the institute.