William (Tuck) Willis, Jr., Part 4
Files
Download Field Notes (128 KB)
Description
In this fourth interview, William (Tuck) Willis, Jr. discusses the challenges of property acquisition and the renovation of 700 Beacon Street, where he served simultaneously as architect and president of the Art Institute of Boston (AIB). He reflects on AIB’s NASAD accreditation, its achievement of degree-granting authority, and the school’s 75th anniversary celebration. Willis also addresses financial and organizational struggles that required fundraising and restructuring, shares his reasons for leaving AIB in 1991, and offers reflections on the institution’s later direction. The interview concludes with personal stories about his family.
Notes:
These interviews are part of a series conducted in honor of AIB’s centennial in 2012, marking 100 years since its founding.
The terms “School of Practical Art” (SPA) and “Art Institute of Boston” (AIB) are used interchangeably. The institution was founded as the School of Practical Art in 1912 and renamed the Art Institute of Boston in 1967.
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Interview Date
6-26-2013
Interview Location
Chelsea, MA
Publisher
Lesley University
Keywords
Lesley, Oral History, faculties, presidents, buildings, School of Practical Art, Art Institute of Boston (AIB), degrees, budget
Disciplines
Oral History
Recommended Citation
Pacy, Alyssa, "William (Tuck) Willis, Jr., Part 4" (2013). AIB Leadership and Faculty. 7.
https://digitalcommons.lesley.edu/oral_histories_aib_admin_faculty/7
