Dorothy Adlow

Dorothy Adlow (1901-1964) was a nationally known art critic and lecturer from Boston.

Early life and education

She was born in Boston on June 7, 1901, to Jewish immigrant parents. Her father, Nathan Adlow, emigrated as a youth from Kazarez, Poland, and opened a furniture store in the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston. Her mother, Bessie (Bravman) Adlow, was born in Dauge, Lithuania. Her brother, Elijah Adlow, eventually became chief justice of the Boston Municipal Court. and taught at the Katharine Gibbs School. Jean Gibran, wife of the artist Kahlil Gibran, names Adlow in her memoir as one of those who contributed to the "flowering" of Boston Expressionism.

Personal life

In 1931, at the age of 30, Adlow married composer-conductor Nicolas Slonimsky. She kept her maiden name and continued working, providing a small, but steady income for the household while her husband's fortunes fluctuated. Her daughter, Electra, was born in 1933.

Adlow corresponded frequently with her husband, who traveled a great deal. She carefully saved his letters, but her letters to him have been lost. Her daughter published a posthumous collection of Slonimsky's letters titled Dear Dorothy: Letters from Nicolas Slonimsky to Dorothy Adlow (University of Rochester Press, 2012).

She died of a heart attack on January 11, 1964, at her home on Beacon Street in Boston, aged 62.

Awards and honors 1947: Honorary Phi Beta Kappa membership, Radcliffe College 1953: Art Critic Award, American Federation of Arts 1957: Art Citation of Merit, Boston University

A room is named in her honor at Hilles Library, Radcliffe College.