Radcliffe Unveils Wilson Portrait

Radcliffe personalities and proponents gathered in Fay House Friday afternoon for the portrait unveiling of the last president of Radcliffe College, Linda S. Wilson.

As a pristinely white tent waited in Radcliffe Yard to host the evening's senior soiree, men sported Radcliffe ties and mingled with the women most closely involved with last spring's merger between Radcliffe College and Harvard.

Arthur L. Loeb '54 and his wife attended Friday's festivities, along with Dean of the Faculty Jeremy R. Knowles, Radcliffe College Alumnae Association President A'lelia P. Bundles '74 and a host of Radcliffe supporters, staff and alumnae.

Mary Maples Dunn, acting dean of the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, began the unveiling ceremony by welcoming the group and then reading a letter from President Neil L. Rudenstine, who was not able to attend.

Nancy-Beth G. Sheer '71, former chairman of the Radcliffe Board of Trustees said the Trustees had commissioned the portrait of Wilson last spring after she announced she would be stepping down as Radcliffe's president.

Wilson announced her intentions on the same day Harvard and Radcliffe announced their intention to merge.

Wearing a Radcliffe insignia scarf, Amey A. De Friez '49, a former chair of the Radcliffe College Board of Trustees, then gave a toast to Wilson--playfully extending her comments and forcing the eager crowd to wait before seeing the imposing portrait standing in the corner, covered with red velvet.

"Linda can't be described in one canvas, or in one set of remarks," she said.

After teasing the group long enough, De Friez raised her glass and toasted Wilson. A hush fell over the room and the portrait's artist, Ronald Frontin, let the velvet slip from the painting.

Wilson's portrait captures her wearing a Radcliffe academic robe, leaning against a piano, with a bright spray of flowers over her right shoulder.

A ripple of applause ran through the room as the group gazed at the painting, which De Freiz said captures Wilson's "confident, direct, anticipatory expression."

After the drama of the unveiling passed, Wilson gave her remarks to the group as her two young grandchildren laughed and played in front of the speaking podium.

"It makes me glad that another women's portrait will be hanging in the walls of this institution," she said.

"I like the [portrait]. Never before have I had my portrait painted and probably never again," Wilson said later at the reception.

Wilson has been traveling extensively since she left her post as Radcliffe president last spring. She serves on the Presidential appointed internet advisory committee, ICANE, and her work has taken her to Egypt, Berlin and Chile in recent months.