George Ade Portrait Finds New Home

A full-length portrait of George Ade was donated by Delta Delta to the George Ade Historic Preservation Commission in September 2026 for display at Hazelden, George Ade’s home in Brook, Indiana. Krissy Wright and Mike Davis, who are leading the Hazelden restoration project, met Ralph Bline ’71 and Phil Steele ’77 at Ade’s home to take possession of the painting.

Phil Steele ’77 (L) and Ralph Bline ’71 present the George Ade portrait to Krissy Wright.

Exact Replica of 1911 Ade Portrait

The donated portrait of George Ade was painted in 2004 to replace the original full-length 50 ½” x 32 ¼” oil on canvas portrait of George Ade painted by well-regarded regional artist Robert Grafton in 1911. The original 1911 painting had been displayed in the Sigma Chi chapter house at Purdue from 1913 to 2004.  After residing in the fraternity house for ninety-one years, the original portrait was in poor condition. The lack of air conditioning in the house meant that the painting was subjected to fluctuating temperatures and humidity that led to significant deterioration.

1911 Portrait Appraised and Restored

In November 2003, the Delta Delta House Corporation had the original Ade portrait appraised and a restoration plan proposed.  The painting’s replacement value was appraised at $50,000.00 and it was noted that without immediate conservation, it would continue to deteriorate. The 1911 portrait was sent to the Intermuseum Conservation Association in Cleveland, Ohio, where it was repaired, cleaned, and reframed.  The restored painting was returned to Delta Delta in June 2004.

Following its restoration, the 1911 portrait was deemed too valuable to hang in the chapter house.  Arrangements were then made to loan the portrait to Purdue.  The original 1911 portrait is now on display at Ross-Ade Stadium with some of Ade’s original books and a description of his contributions to Purdue and Sigma Chi.

2004 Ade Portrait

In July of 2004 a new full-length portrait of Ade was commissioned to replace the original 1911 Ade portrait. The 2004 replacement portrait was hung in the chapter library in the same location as the original painting until all the items in the chapter were removed in May 2007 at the start of the total renovation of the chapter house.

The 1911 original George Ade portrait encased and on display at Ross-Ade stadium.

Upon completion of the chapter house renovation in August 2008, the 2004 full-length portrait of Ade was replaced by a head and shoulders portrait of Ade that was the same size as the other portraits hanging on the library wall. Since 2008 the 2004 portrait of Ade has been safely stored in the chapter’s Archive Room.

2004 Ade Portrait Finds New Home

With the restoration of George Ade’s home, Hazelden, in progress, it seemed appropriate to offer the 2004 Ade portrait to a place that would appreciate it and display it prominently. We can also confirm that George is much happier gazing out upon his historic home, than being locked away in a closet in the chapter house.