Under Albright’s leadership, archaeological and other activities expanded, and he secured the school’s future in ways that had not been possible before. In 1922, he led the school’s fellows in excavations at Tell el-Fûl, just north of Jerusalem. The following year, he directed work at the four mounds of Malhah, southwest of Jerusalem. During this time, one of the senior fellows at the school, Melvin Grove Kyle—President of Xenia Theological Seminary (later Pittsburgh Theological Seminary)—formed a close friendship with Albright.

Kyle raised funds to support another modest excavation project, and together they chose the site of Tell Beit Mirsim. Between 1926 and 1932, they conducted four excavation seasons at the site. Thanks to Albright’s scholarly skill, the project became one of the period’s most significant excavations and established his reputation as a leading archaeologist. He published the final reports in the ASOR Annuals, setting new standards for the field, particularly in ceramic chronology.