Mangelsdorf, the other retired faculty member receiving an honorary degree today, is best known for his studies on hybrid corn seeds, which have opened up new areas of basic and applied research on this major food crop.

He played a major role in helping develop hybrid seed corn that does not require the costly process of removing corn tassels by hand, and in developing winter wheat with rustresistant stems.

A native of Atchinson, Kan., Manglesdorf has taught at Harvard since the 1930s. Between 1945 and 1967, he served as director of Harvard's Botanical Museum.

His citation reads: "By his teaching and leadership, he has notably advanced botanical studies; by his painstaking research, he has found new seed to feed the world's hungry."

Jordan, who was first elected to the House of Representatives from Texas's 18th District in 1972, was the first black Congresswoman to come from the deep South. Before that, she had served in the state senate since 1966.

Jordan gained national prominence in 1974 as a member of the House Judiciary Committee, which was charged with evaluating evidence bearing on the possible impeachment of then President Richard M. Nixon.

At that time, Jordan's position that "impeachable offenses" included "subversion of the system of government" received a great deal of publicity.

More recently, Jordan stepped into the spotlight when she served as a keynote speaker at the Democratic National Convention in New York last July.

Throughout her career, Jordan has taken strong positions on civil rights, but has consistently argued that blacks must stay within the legal political system in their struggle for equal opportunities.

Jordan, who was born in Houston, Tex., in 1936, has backed legislation aimed at raising the living standard of and increasing opportunities for impoverished Americans, and vigorously supported efforts to extend aid to the elderly and disabled throughout her career.

Jordan's citation: "Powerful, outspoken champion of the downtrodden, she skillfully uses the political and legislative process to make our plenty fairly serve the needs of all."

Gordon, the only businessman in the group, is widely known at Harvard as one of the University's most generous alumni, and has been particularly involved in developing the varsity athletic program here.

He does not always limit his involvement to his extremely generous gifts. This spring, Gordon was one of several alumni who requested that the University committee charged with finding a new director of athletics reconsider its favored candidate for the post.

The alumni and other members of the community who objected to the candidate apparently felt he would have placed too much emphasis on intramural--rather than intercollegiate--sports.

Although the committee had apparently voted unanimously in favor of the candidate, he eventually withdrew his application, citing outside political pressures on the selection committee.