Scripps College has established an endowed fund celebrating the outgoing Director of the Ruth Chandler Williamson Gallery, Mary MacNaughton ’70.
By Emily Glory Peters
To honor the accomplishments of recently retired Mary Davis MacNaughton ’70, professor of art history and Gabrielle Jungels-Winkler Director of the Ruth Chandler Williamson Gallery, Scripps College has created a new fund to advance the arts program at the Williamson Gallery.
“It is our privilege to celebrate Mary’s legacy with the establishment of the Mary Davis MacNaughton Endowment for the Ruth Chandler Williamson Gallery Program,” says Vice President for External Relations and Institutional Advancement Binti Harvey. “Gifts to this endowment will support different projects at the Williamson, such as but not limited to the internship program, opportunities for faculty and student research, catalog production, and a lecture series.”
MacNaughton first arrived at Scripps in 1966 as an art history major, later returning in 1985 to share her passion for the visual arts as professor and gallery director. The Williamson Gallery’s arts program flourished under her skillful guidance, with MacNaughton helping to raise millions in grants, private donations, and gifted works. Through her leadership, the Williamson Gallery also created a vibrant roster of paid internships to mentor and equip Scripps students for future careers in the arts, business, and law.
Established through a generous seed gift made by Williamson Gallery Interim Director Kirk Delman and Dana Delman ’82, the MacNaughton fund will give the new gallery leadership the freedom to implement new, creative ideas that will have a lasting impact on Scripps students. With ongoing support, the fund will ensure the gallery’s treasured collections remain accessible across The Claremont Colleges and to our broader community.
“The excellence of the Williamson’s offerings continues to inspire donors to make significant gifts of art to Scripps, which are rich resources for teaching students now and in the future,” says MacNaughton. “It has been an honor to return to my alma mater and work over the past 35 years with our marvelous group of alumnae and supporters to build one of the best arts programs in Southern California.”
Mary MacNaughton ’70 shaped Scripps’ influential arts program for more than three decades. To make a gift honoring her retirement and legacy, please click here, select “Other” and enter “Mary Davis MacNaughton Fund.”