ANNNIVERSARY
CELEBRATION FOR THE CENTER FOR REASERCH ON WOMEN
COMMEMORATES THE CENTER'S PLACE IN HISTORY
30th
Anniversary of the Center for Research on Women
Barnard College
November 9, 2001
Remarks
by Eleanor Elliott
Seven
of us founded the Women's Center. Four are here
tonight: Jane Gould, who became the Center's
first director, Barbara Hertz, who headed Barnard's
development department, Pat Graham, who was
a professor of the history of education, and
myself.
Tonight
I am going to talk about another founder. She
is not, strictly speaking, a founder. But she
could be said to be the most important founder
of all. Helen Rogers Reid.
Many
people here know of Helen Reid today only because
of Helen Reid Hall, named in her honor. She
objected strongly to the naming. "I didn't give
the money for it," she grumbled. But the Trustees
put her name on it anyway, because of her unique
service to Barnard and also because she was
setting an example of leadership to inspire
women in a man's world - which it was then.
Helen
Reid graduated from Barnard in the class of
1903, giving her a good start in a life that
became one of worldwide influence. Her loyalty
to Barnard was complete. You might even say
feisty. Once, at a party she gave for rich New
York women I heard one of them say: "My daughter
is going to Vassar." Helen replied: "Vassar
is very nice. But if you want an education you
go to Barnard."
In mid-life she became Barnard's first woman
chairman. At the same time she was the first
woman publisher of a major American newspaper,
The New York Herald Tribune. As publisher
she became a figure in politics and international
affairs. She founded the first of the great
newspaper forums, writing and delivering the
introduction of world leaders from all walks
of life. I noticed back then, when I was lucky
and got a seat, that she gave the platform to
many accomplished women, balancing the men.
When
Barnard celebrated its 75th anniversary, Mrs.
Reid had more or less retired from running the
Herald Tribune. She accepted the role
of chairman of our celebration. I was asked
to be vice-chairman so I saw her in action and
got to know her well.
She said, "75 years is diamonds. This is a chance
for Barnard to sparkle. We must have stars at
our gala dinner." She went on: "Greece was the
cradle of democracy. The principle of equal
rights for women is fundamental. So we will
ask the Queen of Greece to be a guest of honor.
And we need someone big from Washington. I'll
ask the Secretary of State."
I thought: she's dreaming. I was wrong. The
Queen and Secretary Rusk accepted. She then
went to the president of Columbia and said:
"We must have an honorary degree for the Queen.
It has to be near the date of our party so I
know you will have a special convocation."
I
could almost hear them all saying, "Yes, Helen."
One day I did hear 'Yes, Helen", when we called
on Richard Rogers at the peak of his career
and she said: "Dick, please write a song for
Barnard's anniversary." "Yes, Helen." No wonder
we called this tiny woman "the mighty atom."
Helen
Reid died in July 1970. That was just the time
our little group was plotting to have a Women's
Center. I was honored when Helen's sons asked
me to be a pallbearer at her funeral. I blurted
out, "I didn't think women did that." And one
of the sons said: "Elly, how can you say that?
For Mother's funeral?" How indeed.
Recently
I came across a clipping with the headline:
"Two Women Pallbearers at Reid Funeral." Helen
would have loved that.
Meanwhile up here we were working toward our
goal of a Women's Center. Our president, Martha
Peterson, listened but was lukewarm. "This is
a women's college. We are a women's center,
aren't we? And besides, to do it would cost
money we don't have."
A few weeks later, word came that Mrs. Reid
had left Barnard a bequest with no strings attached.
I asked her sons about using it to start the
Center. "She would love that," was the answer.
So there was the money. President Peterson sort
of wonderingly gave her approval and we were
off and running.
The
New York Times editorial about Helen's death
opened this way: "Helen Rogers Reid, tiny, spirited,
thoroughly feminine, and every inch a newspaper
man, was a vital and constructive figure in
the life of New York and the nation." So, even
though Helen Reid had gone, she was also a vital
and constructive figure in our Center. Seven
of us had the idea. She brought it to life.
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