Kirk Delman in his office at the Ruth Chandler Williamson Gallery.By Caitlin Antonios
While thousands of students, faculty, and staff have passed through Scripps鈥� gates over the past 38 years, Collections Manager and Registrar for the Ruth Chandler Williamson Gallery Kirk Delman has remained a steadfast and giving presence. His knowledge of the Scripps community, diligent safekeeping of the the College鈥檚 collection, and care for his colleagues will be deeply missed as he transitions into retirement at the end of June.
鈥淎s a member of the gallery staff, Kirk has worn many hats,鈥� says Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculty Mary Hatcher-Skeers. 鈥淭he definition of a team player, he simply does whatever tasks are needed to care for the collection and support student, faculty, and guest artists as they bring their visions to life in the gallery space. There are not sufficient words to describe all that Kirk has been to the Williamson Gallery and how much he means to Scripps.鈥�
Described as 鈥渇rustratingly humble,鈥� Delman gives without expectation. He joined the galleries of The Claremont Colleges in 1987, which included both the Lang Gallery at Scripps and the Montgomery Gallery at Pomona. When the joint program was separated in 1990, Delman continued his work at Scripps. As collections manager and registrar, he was responsible for the care of the Scripps Permanent Collection and enriched art engagement by successfully loaning hundreds of works from the collection to other institutions.
Kirk Delman at the Ruth Chandler Williamson Gallery.Following the retirement of Professor of Art History and Gabrielle Jungels- Winkler Director of the Ruth Chandler Williamson Gallery Mary Davis MacNaughton 鈥�70, Delman stepped in as interim director to ensure the gallery remained in skilled hands. He and his wife, Dana, a Scripps alum from the Class of 1982, also provided a generous seed gift to establish an endowed fund in MacNaughton鈥檚 honor鈥攁 gift that will benefit the College in perpetuity.
鈥淗e is one of the rare people who combines many talents, as an artist, administrator, and fundraiser, which enriched the experience of art at Scripps,鈥� MacNaughton says. 鈥淜irk has left his imprint. We thank him for our memories of unforgettable exhibitions and the genuine care he has given to the arts at Scripps, which students will continue to enjoy.鈥�
As an artist himself, Delman鈥檚 impact can be appreciated on campus. In 2009, he carved the College鈥檚 Commencement podium and diploma table out of the 鈥渂est of the old wood鈥� from the original trees on Elm Tree Lawn, his handiwork on display each May for the Scripps community to enjoy. And while Delman鈥檚 seen a great deal of change as the gallery has grown, he鈥檚 been gratified to see it expand into a space for education, exchange, and enlightenment.
鈥淥ur art inventory went from index cards housed in boxes and cabinets to a database that is accessible anywhere in the world,鈥� he says, reflecting on the evolution of his role. He hopes the gallery will continue to flourish as a hub for artistic life on campus鈥攚ork he is fully committed to supporting.
鈥淗aving an academic community of young women, living and learning shoulder to shoulder, is for many a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,鈥� says Delman. 鈥淪trong, talented, confident women are what our future needs.鈥�
This story originally appeared in the spring 2025 Scripps magazine issue.聽