Iraj Afshar produced the three-volume study Yādegār-hāye Yazd, a comprehensive record of the monuments located within that Iranian city. Active as a bibliographer, historian, and educator throughout the latter half of the twentieth century, he occupied a central position in the development of Iranology both within his native Iran and through various international academic institutions.
Academic Foundations and Early Career
Born in Tehran in 1925, Afshar received his formal education at the University of Tehran. His formative schooling took place at the Zoroastrian Shāpour Secondary School and Firouz-Bahrām High School in Tajrish. In 1945, he married Shayesteh Afsharieh, and the couple had four sons. His career trajectory combined rigorous research with editorial responsibilities across several specialized publications.
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Afshar became a prominent figure in the documentation of Persian materials, earning recognition as a leading standard Persian language bibliographer. He served as the chief bibliographer of Persian books at Harvard University and held the role of consulting editor for the Encyclopædia Iranica at Columbia University. His editorial work extended to journals such as Sokhan, Rāhnamāye Ketāb, Mehr, Farhang-e Iranzamin, and Ayandeh. Additionally, he participated in the advisory council for the Iranian Studies journal.
International Teaching and Affiliations
The scope of his professional activities reached beyond Iran, encompassing associations with UNESCO and teaching positions at the University of Bern. Within his home country, he maintained a long-standing role as a professor emeritus at the University of Tehran. These institutional ties supported his influence in the field of Persian studies until his death in Tehran in 2011, after which he was interred at Behesht-e Zahra.
Fast facts
- Born: 8 October 1925, Tehran
- Died: 9 March 2011, Tehran
- Education: University of Tehran
- Notable Work: Yādegār-hāye Yazd
- Primary Fields: Bibliography, Iranology, History
- Burial Site: Behesht-e Zahra
- Citizenship: Iran
Questions readers ask
What subjects did Iraj Afshar cover in his writing?
He focused primarily on Iranology, history, and the professional documentation of Persian literature through his work as a bibliographer.
Where did he hold academic teaching positions?
He served as a professor at the University of Tehran and held a teaching position at the University of Bern.