Description:Three quarter portrait of Chancellor Heard dressed in academic regalia wearing the Vanderbilt chain of office. With his right on his hip, his left hand rests on the back of a chair.
History:Commissioned by the Vanderbilt Board of Trust, this portrait was unveiled at the fall Board meeting in 1976. It hangs in Kirkland Hall.
Notes:Alexander Heard became Vanderbilt's fifth chancellor in 1963 and served in that position until 1982. While there was much campus unrest at many colleges across the county during the years of Heard’s tenure, due to his wisdom in holding regular meetings with student leaders and even campus radicals, Vanderbilt experienced only peaceful demonstrations. Heard also boldly upheld the policy of an open forum in the University. In honor of Chancellor and Mrs. Heard’s many contributions to Vanderbilt, the Central Library building was named the Jean and Alexander Heard Library in 1983.
