LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Excellent issue. I especially liked the article about Alvia Wardlaw ’69 and the feature on Callie Crossley ’73 (“Eyes on a New Prize,” spring ’10). Alvia was an inspiration to me as the only African-American art-history major during my four years at Wellesley (1974–78). I learned about her just after I’d declared my major, and I have followed her career avidly. Although I did not choose Alvia’s same career path in the art world, I truly admire her work and her dedication to contemporary AfricanAmerican art and art history. Michelle Davis Petelinz ’78 Raleigh, N.C.
Today I arrived back home in Brazil after a lovely but too short 20th reunion. As always, the Alumnae Parade makes me misty as the class of ’35 drives by, the classes of ’40 and ’45 are still walking strong, and so on down the line (up the line?). The weekend was full of fun, and I cannot help sometimes feeling more than a twinge of envy of the current students—the new sports fields, the student center, Alumnae Hall. . . . But I now have something that makes me envy them less. They will not have Professor Chip Case to cheer their games and expand their economic horizons—for this, I am grateful that I had the opportunity to be there during his 34-year career (“From the Editor,” winter ’10). Happy retirement, Chip! Hope to see you around! Kristin Dykema Barbieri ’90 São Paulo, Brazil
ALBRIGHT INSTITUTE COVERAGE Your spring issue is super! Keep up all the good work. I am especially grateful for your excellent and full coverage of the Madeleine Korbel Albright Institute for Global Affairs. Marie Vallance ’47 Newtown, Pa. RICHARD HOWARD
I loved the article on Alvia Wardlaw ’69 (“Rewriting the Story of American Art”) in the spring ’10 issue. I saw the quilts of Gee’s Bend, Ala., when the exhibit showed at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York. I’m extremely proud to know that a Wellesley woman was behind that. And Amita Parashar’s article about feminism in India was spot on (“Feminism—From India, With Love,” spring ’10). I’m also glad to know more about the Albright Institute (“A Crucible for Global Leadership,” spring ’10). Phenomenal work, Wellesley women. Amy Delamaide ’02 Wichita, Kan.
A WELLESLEY LEGEND
RICHARD HOWARD
SCIENCE CENTER IN GOOD HANDS
Alvia Wardlaw ’69
THE GEE’S BEND CONNECTION It was a wonderful treat to discover the Wellesley connection to the exhibit of quilts by the ladies of Gee’s Bend. That was a project I heard much about and followed from the start. The article on Alvia Wardlaw ’69 sent me back to the wonderful catalogue and refreshed memories of seeing the quilts and meeting some of the ladies at the opening of the exhibit when it came to the Whitney in New York. It is thanks to Alvia and to my son, John Beardsley, and Jane Livingston that the previously unknown work was shared with the world. Betty Wash Beardsley ’42 Somers, N.Y.
Thank you for the article on Cathy Summa ’83 being named director of the Science Center (“Making Science Visible,” spring ’10). She was a year behind me in geology. The fact that any woman managed to slog through the muck of gender bias in graduate programs in that field during the 1980s to get her Ph.D. is nothing less than miraculous! The Science Center will be a wonderful place with her as director, and I love her ideas! Go, Cathy! Judy Harrigan ’82 Providence, R.I.
THE ETHOS CONNECTION The legacy of African-American women at Wellesley was very much on the minds of seven graduating seniors, who posed on a Provincetown, Mass., beach in homage to Wellesley magazine’s cover photo portrait of the founders of Wellesley’s black student organization, Ethos (“The Basis of Our Ethos,” spring ’08). Pictured below from left to right are Walinda Louissaint ’10, Natacha Lorius ’10, Alaya Levi Salley ’10, Victoria Allison ’10, Carla Legros ’10, and Porsha Eden ’10. Yetunde Agbaje ’10 snapped the photo. RICHARD HOWARD
WELLESLEY PRIDE
A ROLE MODEL
YETUNDE AGBAJE ’10
Wellesley welcomes short letters (a maximum length of 300 words) relating to articles or items that have appeared in recent issues of the magazine. Send your remarks to the Editor, Wellesley magazine, 106 Central St., Wellesley, MA 02481-8203, or e-mail comments to magazine@alum.wellesley.edu.
STICKER SHOCK
CORRECTION
I want to register my appreciation of the spring ’10 issue—in spite of the shock of the “shirt-tail” announcement on the bottom corner of page 11 [that the comprehensive fee, which covers tuition, room, and board, is $51,590 for 2010–11]. Marianne Moore ’45 West Hartford, Conn.
Due to a production error, a photograph was incorrectly placed with an item in the spring ’10 “Alma Matters” column about an award-winning translation of The Weather Fifteen Years Ago by German Professor Thomas Hansen and Stephanie Gilardi ’07. The correct picture of Professor Hansen appears at right. Wellesley regrets the error. Summer 2010 Wellesley
3