While it might not have been before, some say Radcliffe became a bigger part of their lives following graduation.

“I’ve heard many alumnae say this: it was more after we left Harvard that the Radcliffe tie became meaningful and important,” says Oliver, who serves as president of Chicago’s Radcliffe Club.

Similarly, Anne Fletcher Grizzle ’77, who heads up a Radcliffe Alumnae group in Houston, says that her relationship with Radcliffe solidified only after she graduated.

“I didn’t have a strong sense of Radcliffe when I was there,” she says. But her alumnae group has “been a wonderful interesting group of women to stay connected with here in Houston.”

Members of the class of ’77 are solicited by both Harvard and Radcliffe for donations, and while some say they will only give to Radcliffe, many say that they give mostly to Harvard in order to support the College.

Hall says that she was “surprised” and a “little sad” to see Radcliffe College dissolved in the 1999 merger.

“I felt affection for this thing called Radcliffe,” Hall says. “Plus there were all these resources for women, none of which I used, but I was glad that they were there.”

Hall says that she’s “not even sure where the money goes” when she gives to Radcliffe, and she gives to Harvard to support the institution responsible for her education.

“I feel like the money that I give to Harvard is supporting male and female students,” Hall says.

For the first time this year, donations that alums make to Radcliffe count toward class funds—a change which McDonald says is “about time.”

Karen Firestone ’77 says, in her mind, the merger had happened before she arrived.

“I sort of assumed it had all happened,” Firestone says. “In my mind, Radcliffe was a part of Harvard.”

And Firestone has donated accordingly.

“I’ve given a small amount to Radcliffe,” Firestone says. “My greater investment had been with Harvard.”

—Staff writer Lauren R. Dorgan can be reached at dorgan@fas.harvard.edu.