Ursula McCracken memorial - 2:00 to 4:00pm, May 10th at The Textile Museum

MCCRACKEN, URSULA NAYLOR ELAND

Published: April 2, 2008

McCRACKEN--Ursula Naylor Eland, 66, died at home in Baltimore, March 17. A Wellesley College graduate (BA 1963, cum laude, Wellesley Scholar), held two MAs from Johns Hopkins University. A career in arts and education: Albright Knox Gallery; Walters Art Museum and College of Notre Dame in Baltimore. For 18 years she was Director of the Textile Museum in Washington DC where she brought the Museum up to current standards in every area from collections management to financial management while diversifying the exhibitions and educational programs, and building local, national and international audiences and membership. She increased the endowment seven-fold to over $17 million. Survived by her husband, Edward; siblings: Timothy Eland of New York City, Jane Donahue of Wellesley, MA and Faith Shepard of New Canaan, CT. Family and friends will hold a gathering of remembrance from 2:00 to 4:00pm, May 10th at The Textile Museum in Washington. Ursula requested contributions to the American Pain Foundation, Suite 710, 201 N. Charles St. Baltimore, MD 21201 or the Textile Society of America, P.O. Box 193, Middletown, DE 19709.

Ursula McCracken Obituary Baltimore Sun

Ursula McCracken: [ Age 66 ] The 18-Year Director of the Textile Museum in Washington Enhanced Her Education and Resume...
The Baltimore Sun, Maryland

Mar. 21--Ursula N. McCracken, former director of the Textile Museum in Washington who earlier had been director of development at the College of Notre Dame of Maryland, died Monday of brain cancer at her West University Parkway home. She was 66.

Ursula Naylor Eland was born in New York City, and raised in England and Stamford, Conn. She earned a bachelor's degree in the history of art from Wellesley College in 1963 and received two master's degrees from Johns Hopkins University.

Mrs. McCracken received a master's degree in the history of ideas in 1984 and, two years later, a master's in administrative sciences, or nonprofit management.

She was working at the Albright Knox Gallery in Buffalo, N.Y., when she met her future husband, Edward P. McCracken. After their 1965 wedding, they moved to Baltimore and joined the staff of what was then the Walters Art Gallery.

In 1977, Mrs. McCracken was named director of development for the College of Notre Dame of Maryland, a position she held until 1986, when she was named director of the Textile Museum in Northwest Washington.

"'Steadfast' and 'determined' are two words I'd use to describe her. She was a powerful force," said Carol M. Bier, president of the Textile Society of America who is also a lecturer in humanities at San Francisco State University.

"She came to the museum not with a lot of experience in textile history but had a wide range of experience in nonprofit management. That's why the board appointed her," Ms. Bier, a former Textile Museum staff member, said yesterday.

"Edwin Zimmerman, past president of the museum's board, said when the trustees were searching for a new director, he was told, 'Ursula McCracken could run an army,'" Ms. Bier said.

"She was equitable in sharing authority and responsibilities. Decisions were not made unilaterally and were reached only after deliberate discussion," she said.

"Ursula certainly worked with consistency and determination to professionalize the museum in all its operations, and to provide for the professional development of her staff," Ms. Bier said.

Other accomplishments during Mrs. McCracken's tenure included increasing the museum's endowment from $2 million to $17 million, retiring its debt and doubling its operating budget from $1.2 million to $2.7 million.

She oversaw several critically acclaimed exhibitions, including Woven from the Soul, Spun from the Heart: Textile Arts of Safavid and Qajar Iran in 1986; and Costume and Identity in Highland Ecuador in 1999.

Her professional memberships included the Association of Art Museum Directors.

After stepping down as museum director in 2004, Mrs. McCracken was director of major gifts for the American Pain Foundation in Baltimore.

She was an avid reader and world traveler.

Plans for a memorial service were incomplete yesterday.

In addition to her husband, Mrs. McCracken is survived by a brother, Timothy B.B. Eland of New York City; and two sisters, Jane B. Donahue of Wellesley, Mass., and Faith Shepard of , Conn.

Ursula McCracken Obituary Baltimore Sun

Ursula McCracken: [ Age 66 ] The 18-Year Director of the Textile Museum in Washington Enhanced Her Education and Resume...
The Baltimore Sun, Maryland

Mar. 21--Ursula N. McCracken, former director of the Textile Museum in Washington who earlier had been director of development at the College of Notre Dame of Maryland, died Monday of brain cancer at her West University Parkway home. She was 66.

Ursula Naylor Eland was born in New York City, and raised in England and Stamford, Conn. She earned a bachelor's degree in the history of art from Wellesley College in 1963 and received two master's degrees from Johns Hopkins University.

Mrs. McCracken received a master's degree in the history of ideas in 1984 and, two years later, a master's in administrative sciences, or nonprofit management.

She was working at the Albright Knox Gallery in Buffalo, N.Y., when she met her future husband, Edward P. McCracken. After their 1965 wedding, they moved to Baltimore and joined the staff of what was then the Walters Art Gallery.

In 1977, Mrs. McCracken was named director of development for the College of Notre Dame of Maryland, a position she held until 1986, when she was named director of the Textile Museum in Northwest Washington.

"'Steadfast' and 'determined' are two words I'd use to describe her. She was a powerful force," said Carol M. Bier, president of the Textile Society of America who is also a lecturer in humanities at San Francisco State University.

"She came to the museum not with a lot of experience in textile history but had a wide range of experience in nonprofit management. That's why the board appointed her," Ms. Bier, a former Textile Museum staff member, said yesterday.

"Edwin Zimmerman, past president of the museum's board, said when the trustees were searching for a new director, he was told, 'Ursula McCracken could run an army,'" Ms. Bier said.

"She was equitable in sharing authority and responsibilities. Decisions were not made unilaterally and were reached only after deliberate discussion," she said.

"Ursula certainly worked with consistency and determination to professionalize the museum in all its operations, and to provide for the professional development of her staff," Ms. Bier said.

Other accomplishments during Mrs. McCracken's tenure included increasing the museum's endowment from $2 million to $17 million, retiring its debt and doubling its operating budget from $1.2 million to $2.7 million.

She oversaw several critically acclaimed exhibitions, including Woven from the Soul, Spun from the Heart: Textile Arts of Safavid and Qajar Iran in 1986; and Costume and Identity in Highland Ecuador in 1999.

Her professional memberships included the Association of Art Museum Directors.

After stepping down as museum director in 2004, Mrs. McCracken was director of major gifts for the American Pain Foundation in Baltimore.

She was an avid reader and world traveler.

Plans for a memorial service were incomplete yesterday.

In addition to her husband, Mrs. McCracken is survived by a brother, Timothy B.B. Eland of New York City; and two sisters, Jane B. Donahue of Wellesley, Mass., and Faith Shepard of , Conn.