Evening star., 1939-10-08
Smithsonian Prints Reveal Beauty Quarter New Orleans
Great Figure
In Red Cross
Is Pictured
Miss Roardnian Has
Been Painted by
Miss Burdette
By Florence S. Berrvman.

The American Red Cross, which
is in the midst of its annual men,
bership drive, has always empha-
sized impersonal service and
achievement. What the public has
been able to learn of the great per-
sonalities responsible for the or
ganization's magnificent work has
been in spite of them, as they have
been inclined to keep themselves in
the background.
Paradoxically, one of the most
-effacing officers of the Red
Cross, Mabel T. Boardman, secre-
tary and member of the Central
Committee and national director of
volunteer service, has become al
most a synonym of the organization
in the eyes of many people. Hence
it seems appropriate at this time to
call to the attention of Washing
tonians superb portrait of Miss
Boardman, painted by Hattie E.
Burdette of this city, which was
hung in the District of Columbia
Chapter Building of the Red Cross
last May. The portrait had been
commissioned by large group OF
Miss Boardmans admirers. It was
presented, with an address summar-
izing her career, by Col. George B.
Mcclellan.
The portrait is an excellent work
on several counts. 1t is a remark
able likeness, as faithful as a good
photograph in its fidelity to Miss
Boardman's appearance, and i'm
measurably superior in transcribing
the essence of her personality and
character. 1t also is a beautiful
composition. The figure is we'll
placed on the canvas, and painted
in an unobtrusive style and a quiet
color scheme.
Miss Boardman's gown is gray
satin, in a tone matching her hair.
She is seated against a background
OF blue and gold brocade, and a dark
maroon velvet cloak is draped over
the back of the chair. In view of
the fact that these colors are grayed
tones of red, white and blue, Miss
Burdette was asked whether she had
Intentionally chosen this patriotic
color scheme. She denied any con-
sclous intent, but conceded that
Miss Boardman's career might very
well have subconsciously inspired it.
The portrait was painted at Miss
Boardman's home, as she was too
busy to go to the artists studio for
sittings.
Red Cross Expansion.
For nearly 40 years Miss Board
man has been identified with the
Red Cross. She was chiefly respon-
slble for its reorganization in 1905
under congressional charter. At
that time, the Red Cross was estab-
nshed in one room, with one en-
ploye and a few hundreds each of
donors and dollars. Largely through
her efforts, the Red Cross now has
between 5,000,00 and 5000 900 mem
bers, a S14,000,000 endowment fund
and an equal amount in securities
and cash. in addition to its impress
sive -pillared home and the
city square on which it stands. She
raised 100000 (half from the public,
half from Congress- for the irst
building, and started fund of $780,
600 for subsequent addition. She
was responsible for the postwar ex-
tension of the Red Cross work and
also for keeping the organization out
of politics.
But considered greatest of her many
achievements is the development of
the volunteer service, of which she
herself is the outstanding exponent.
She has never received a penny of
salary from the Red Cross, but has
worked as indefatigably as any
highly paid director, because she
believes that inherited wealth car
ries obligslons. When in Washing
ton, she works daily from to 4. She
has also travelled extensively, paying
her own expenses. in her develop
ment Of the organization.
Creator of Portraits.
Hattie Burdette, who painted the
portrait, is, like Miss Boardman, so
well known in Washington that it
seems almost superfuous to give in
formation about her. She has long
been member of local artists or
ganizations, the Society of WASH
ington Artists, the Water Color Club,
the Arts Club and the Miniature
Painters, Sculptors and Gravers, of
which she has been president. She
is also affiliated with the national
American Artists Professional
League. One can see her portraits
at Arlington, the United States Cap
itol, the Navy Department, the
George Washington Masonic Ma
tlonal Memorial, Alexandria; the
Young Women's Christian Home.
Others are hanging in many cities,
from Cambridge, Mass, to Florida
and Mississippi. Many of these are
copies of famous early portraits,
such as Peale's washington as a
Young Colonel" and the same
painters Lafayette" Miss Burdette
is able to paint facsimiles of such
portraits, rare feat, as one may
discover by studying most of the So
called copies" of masterpieces.
But it is of greater Importance
that Miss Burdette can also paint
portraits of her contemporaries with
a high degree of accuracy, as many
a Washington home can testify. Her
penetrating captures of personalities
are we'll exemplifled by the quiet,
dignif1ed presentation of Miss
Boardman now at the District Red
Cross