Rantoul Talbot, 1912-1989

A graduate of Harvard College, '36, Talbot Rantoul served as RISD President, 1969-1975. He came to RISD from the Harvard Business School where he specialized in educational development and fund-raising, 1967-1969. Previously he worked as Director of Design, Merchandising and Sales, Roxbury Carpet Co, Saxonville, MA, Vice-President for Towle Silversmiths, Newburyport, MA, and the Director of Design for C. H. Masland Carpet Co., Carlisle, PA and Bigelow-Sanford Carpet Co., NY. In 1955 Rantoul received the American Institute of Decorators' First Prize for Carpet Design.

As President, Rantoul led the movement to restore the Woods-Gerry House (1969-1971) for use as a gallery and administrative offices. He hired the first African-American administrative officer, John Torres, who was responsible for recruiting and counseling minority students. Working with the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs, Rantoul oversaw RISD's affiliation with the Institute for American Indian Arts, a project that led to the Institute's accreditation in 1975. Rantoul expanded RISD's involvement in local affairs through Project Interface, an urban design proposal for downtown Providence, and an ecological study of Block Island. During his tenure, the faculty voted against affiliation with the American Federation of Teachers. The Centennial Campaign, a capital fund drive, resulted in the opening the Bayard Ewing Building and renovation of the Museum of Art.

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