Murray's gift is the first donation to qualify for the matching monies from Harvard since the matching gift fund got up and running on Oct. 1. The fund, with $30 million for matching large gifts, was a component of the $150 million Harvard gave Radcliffe in the schools' merger agreement.

Only donations that fund half a fellowship or five-year professor appointment, which cost $750,000 and $1.5 million respectively, qualify for the matching funds from Harvard.

Suzanne Murray, in whose honor the chair is named, took part in the merger negotiations with Harvard and was one of the only trustees to attend last April's announcement of Harvard and Radcliffe's intention to merge.

Terrence Murray said in a press release that he hoped the professorship would encourage intellectuals to conduct research in Radcliffe's unique environment.

"In its new incarnation, Radcliffe will become a hub of cutting-edge scholarship and research and, I believe, the source of many solutions to challenges facing the world," Murray said.

Dunn said the Murray gift indicates strong support for Radcliffe as it sorts out what its goals and initiatives will be post-merger.

"A very significant donation has come in and it symbolizes a special kind of confidence and optimism in the Radcliffe Institute," Dunn said. " It's carrying this wonderful weight of approval and optimism."