Back Bay history lesson

THE FINE Sept. 15 obituary of sculptor Tina Allen recalls the excitement of selecting the statue of A. Philip Randolph for Back Bay Station. The choice was complicated because the station's architect felt (rightly) that the station design was already both art and architecture and shouldn't be cluttered up. He came to meetings to make sure.

The first two artists' presentations were OK. Then Allen presented hers, and spirits soared. Her sculpture was magnificent and simple. Its placement on an existing platform solved the architect's concern. Its boldness honored the towering achievements of Randolph, whose Pullman porters union provided the only good and secure jobs for blacks. Who would have guessed it was Allen's first major commission?

Everyone should go to Back Bay Station, look at Allen's sculpture, and read about the union and the settling of porters in the South End.

ANN HERSHFANG
Boston
The writer managed the sculpture project as undersecretary of transportation in the mid-1980s.