Lillian Lincoln Lambert

At our first stop in Boston, a detailed tour of my alma mater Harvard Business School, where I graduated forty years ago, I approached it with mixed feelings. Mixed because not only am I a graduate but I have been back to the campus a number of times. So why would I want a tour? What a mistake I would have made if I had passed this up!

Jim Aisner, Director of Media Relations gave us a detailed walking tour. He was full of information – size of the property, number of buildings, how the school started, how buildings were named and/or changed, what alterations occurred and why, the admission and selection process and many other topics. In addition we got to meet some students, first and second year. It was fascinating to compare notes on how the school is now and how it was when I attended. Just as if it was planned, in one of the buildings we ran into Jim Cash, a retired African American professor who was hired subsequent to my graduation. Again, just as on cue, as we were walking across the campus who appeared but Dean Jay Light. The group had lunch in the fabulous Sprangler Center, a wonder in itself. As I was leaving the dining hall I ran into a friend who graduated two years after I did. I was beginning to think that they were all expecting my visit. It felt great to be back on campus!

To top off the trip, before retiring for the day we went to the dormitory where I lived. What was once the Graduate Radcliff e Dormitory for women from various Harvard and Radcliffe schools now houses the Harvard College admission and financial aid office on the first floor but dormitory rooms are on the second and third floors. The cafeteria still exists on the first floor but set up quite different from the days I was there. It was a thrill to reminisce.