Return to Table of ContentsMay 1998
Charles Merrill speaks, donates painting Charles Merrill, son of the founder of Merrill Lynch & Co., shared his philanthropic and educational philosophies April 9 with students enrolled in "Introduction to African American Studies" and with students, faculty and administrators at a luncheon in his honor.
"The scholarship of Charles Merrill is of the greatest importance to an institution like UMass Boston," Chancellor Sherry Penney said at the luncheon. "Obviously, we rely on philanthropy to fulfill our missions. And conversely, much of what we do is philanthropy as well," she said.
Robert Karam, chairman of the UMass Board of Trustees, served as master of ceremonies for the luncheon.
Merrill talked about major influences on his philosophies on life, including an encounter with death while serving in the Fifth Army in Italy during World War II and his contact as a Fulbright teacher with Austrian students who had been bombed by Allied Forces.
Founder of the Commonwealth School in Boston, Merrill also spoke at length about his commitment to educating African American students. The great-grandson of a slaveholder, Merrill said he was struck by "the claustrophobic atmosphere" of blacks in education in the South. Among many efforts, he has served on the board of directors of Morehouse College and has established scholarships at Spellman College.
The philanthropist also supports several universities in Poland. In addition to annual visits to the country, Merrill provides an opportunity for 15 Polish students to study in colleges and universities in the United States. During his visit, Merrill donated a 23-by-33-inch painting by Polish artist Anna Kulczycka for the Arts on the Point project.