Description:Portrait of Mr. Vanderbilt sitting with this hands crossed. Has a black suit with a gold and black striped tie and a blue hankerchief. In background are academic buildings, a train, and a yacht.
History:This portrait hung in the Board Room of the NY Central Railroad before being given to the University. Mr. Vanderbilt asked the artist to change the color of his tie from red to black and gold (the University's colors) before it came to Vanderbilt.
Notes:Harold S. Vanderbilt, the son of William Kissam Vanderbilt, was a great grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt. He served on the Vanderbilt University Board of Trust from 1950 until his death and was president of the Board from 1955 - 1968. Continued to be involved with NY Central Railroad, was an avid yachtsman (defended the Americas Cup three times), and devised the game of Contract Bridge.
