SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

                Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Filed by Registrant                         [x]
Filed by a Party Other than Registrant      [ ]

Check the Appropriate Box:

[ ] Preliminary Proxy Statement
[ ] Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only as listed by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)0
[X] Definitive Proxy Statement
[ ] Definitive Additional Materials
[ ] Soliciting Material Pursuant to Exchange Act rule 14a-11(c) or 14a-12

                           Tri-Continental Corporation
                (Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

            (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than
                                 the Registrant)

Payment of Filing fee (Check the appropriate  box)
[x] No Fee  Required
[ ] Fee computed on table below
    Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
Aggregate Number of Securities to which transaction applies:
Per unit price or the underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to
Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which the filing fee is
calculated and state how it is determined):
Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: $
Total fee paid: $
[ ] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
[ ] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by
    Exchange  Act  Rule  0-11(a)(2)  and  identify  the  filing  for  which  the
    offsetting fee was paid previously.
Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or
Schedule and the date of its filing:
Amount Previously Paid:  $_______________.
Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:  ________
Filing Party:

===============================================================================




                           Tri-Continental Corporation
                    100 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10017

                     New York City Telephone (212) 850-1864
                       Toll-Free Telephone (800) 221-2450

                    NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
                           TO BE HELD ON MAY 16, 2002

To the Stockholders:

     The 72nd Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the "Meeting") of  Tri-Continental
Corporation,  a Maryland  corporation (the  "Corporation"),  will be held at the
Hilton Hotel,  200 Tice  Boulevard,  Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey 07677 on May 16,
2002 at 8:30 A.M., for the following purposes:

          (1)  To elect four Directors;

          (2)  To act on a proposal to ratify the selection of Deloitte & Touche
               LLP as auditors of the Corporation for 2002; and

          (3)  To transact  such other  business as may properly come before the
               Meeting or any  adjournment  thereof,  including  acting upon one
               shareholder  proposal presented under the heading "Other Matters"
               in the Proxy Statement  accompanying this Notice, if the proposal
               is brought before the Meeting;

all as set forth in the Proxy Statement accompanying this Notice.

     The close of  business  on March 21, 2002 has been fixed as the record date
for the determination of Stockholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the
Meeting or any adjournment thereof.

                                      By order of the Board of Directors,

                                      /s/ Frank J. Nasta

                                      Secretary

Dated:  New York, New York, April 19, 2002


                                   ----------

                             YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT
                        NO MATTER HOW MANY SHARES YOU OWN

 PLEASE INDICATE YOUR VOTING INSTRUCTIONS ON THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD, DATE AND
    SIGN IT, AND RETURN IT IN THE ENVELOPE PROVIDED, WHICH IS ADDRESSED FOR
     YOUR CONVENIENCE AND NEEDS NO POSTAGE IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES.
       IN ORDER TO AVOID THE ADDITIONAL EXPENSE OF FURTHER SOLICITATION,
        WE ASK YOUR COOPERATION IN MAILING YOUR PROXY PROMPTLY. A PROXY
               WILL NOT BE REQUIRED FOR ADMISSION TO THE MEETING.




                                                                  April 19, 2002


                           Tri-Continental Corporation
                    100 PARK AVENUE, NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10017

                                 PROXY STATEMENT
                                     FOR THE
            ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON MAY 16, 2002

     This  Proxy   Statement  is  furnished  to  you  in  connection   with  the
solicitation of Proxies by the Board of Directors of Tri-Continental Corporation
("Tri-Continental"  or the  "Corporation") to be used at the 72nd Annual Meeting
of Stockholders  (the "Meeting") to be held in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey on May
16, 2002. It is expected that the Notice of Annual Meeting,  Proxy Statement and
form of Proxy will first be mailed to Stockholders on or about April 19, 2002.

     If the accompanying form of Proxy is executed properly and returned, shares
represented by it will be voted at the Meeting.  If you give instructions,  your
shares will be voted in accordance  with your  instructions.  If you return your
signed  Proxy  without  instructions,  your  shares  will be  voted  (i) for the
election  of four  Directors,  (ii) for the  ratification  of the  selection  of
auditors,  (iii) against the stockholder proposal and, (iv) at the discretion of
the Proxy  holders,  on any other matter that may properly  have come before the
Meeting or any  adjournment  thereof.  You may revoke your Proxy or change it by
written  notice to the  Corporation  (Attention:  Secretary) or by notice at the
Meeting at any time prior to the time it is voted.

     The close of  business  on March 21, 2002 has been fixed as the record date
for the determination of Stockholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the
Meeting  or  any  adjournment   thereof.  On  that  date,  the  Corporation  had
outstanding  752,740 shares of $2.50 cumulative  preferred stock (the "Preferred
Stock"),  each share being  entitled  to two votes,  and  131,113,657  shares of
common stock, par value $0.50 (the "Common Stock"), each share being entitled to
one vote.  For all matters to be voted upon, an  abstention  or broker  non-vote
will not be considered a vote cast.

     In the event that a quorum is not  represented at the Meeting or, even if a
quorum is so  represented,  in the event that  sufficient  votes in favor of any
management  proposal  are not  received by May 16,  2002,  the persons  named as
Proxies may propose  and vote for one or more  adjournments  of the Meeting if a
quorum is not represented  or, if a quorum is so represented,  only with respect
to such  management  proposal,  with no notice other than an announcement at the
Meeting,  and further  solicitation may be made.  Shares  represented by Proxies
indicating  a  vote  against  a  management   proposal  will  be  voted  against
adjournment in respect of that proposal.

                                       1



     The  Corporation's  manager  is J. & W.  Seligman & Co.  Incorporated  (the
"Manager").  The Corporation's  stockholder service agent is Seligman Data Corp.
The address of each of these  entities is 100 Park Avenue,  New York,  NY 10017.
The Corporation  will furnish,  without charge, a copy of its most recent annual
report and most  recent  semi-annual  report,  if any, to any  Stockholder  upon
request to Seligman Data Corp. at 1-800-221-2450.

     If you have  elected  to  receive  one  Proxy  Statement  for all  accounts
maintained by members of your household,  the Corporation  undertakes to deliver
promptly upon written or oral request a separate copy of the Proxy Statement for
a separate account.

                            A. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
                            ------------------------
                                  (Proposal 1)

     The Board of  Directors is presently  comprised  of twelve  Directors.  The
Board is divided into three  classes,  and the members of each class hold office
for a term of three years unless  elected in the interim.  The term of one class
expires in each year.

     At the Meeting this year,  four  Directors are to be elected.  Ms. Betsy S.
Michel and Messrs.  John E. Merow and James N. Whitson,  each of whose term will
expire at the 2002 Annual Meeting, and Mr. Paul C. Guidone,  replacing Mr. James
C.  Pitney,  who having  reached  the age of 75, is  retiring  pursuant to Board
policy  at the 2002  Annual  Meeting,  have  been  recommended  by the  Director
Nominating  Committee of the Board of Directors of the  Corporation for election
to the class whose term will expire in 2005.

     It is the intention of the persons named in the accompanying  form of Proxy
to nominate  and to vote such Proxy for the  election of Ms.  Michel and Messrs.
Guidone,  Merow and Whitson.  Ms. Michel has been a Director of the  Corporation
since 1985, Mr. Merow has been a Director of the Corporation  since 1991 and Mr.
Whitson  has been a Director  of the  Corporation  since  1993.  Ms.  Michel and
Messrs.  Merow and Whitson were last elected by  Stockholders at the 1999 Annual
Meeting.

     Each nominee has agreed to serve if elected.  There is no reason to believe
that any of the nominees will become  unavailable  for election as a Director of
the  Corporation,  but if that should occur before the Meeting,  Proxies will be
voted for the persons the Board of Directors recommends.

     Background information regarding Ms. Michel and Messrs.  Guidone, Merow and
Whitson, as well as the other Directors of the Corporation, follows.

                                       2





                           TERM OF                                               NUMBER OF     OTHER DIRECTORSHIPS
                          OFFICE IF                                            PORTFOLIOS IN     HELD BY NOMINEE
                         ELECTED AND                                           FUND COMPLEX       NOT DISCLOSED
NAME (AGE) AND POSITION   LENGTH OF       PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION(S) DURING      TO BE OVERSEEN     UNDER PRINCIPAL
   WITH CORPORATION*     TIME SERVED    PAST 5 YEARS AND OTHER INFORMATION      BY NOMINEE        OCCUPATION(S)
-----------------------  -----------    ----------------------------------    --------------   ------------------
                                                                                           
INDEPENDENT DIRECTOR NOMINEES

  John E. Merow (72)     2002-2005;     Retired   Chairman   and   Senior            61                None
       DIRECTOR         1991 to Date    Partner,  Sullivan   &   Cromwell,
  [Photo Omitted]                       New  York,     NY      (law firm).
                                        Mr. Merow   is  a    Director   or
                                        Trustee of each of the  investment
                                        companies of the Seligman Group of
                                        Funds.+ He is also a  Director  of
                                        Commonwealth   Industries,    Inc.
                                        (manufacturers  of aluminum  sheet
                                        products),   the  Foreign   Policy
                                        Association,   the  Municipal  Art
                                        Society  of  New  York,  the  U.S.
                                        Council for International Business
                                        and     New      York-Presbyterian
                                        Hospital;  Vice  Chairman  of  New
                                        York-Presbyterian       Healthcare
                                        System,  Inc.; and a Member of the
                                        American Law Institute and Council
                                        on Foreign Relations.

 Betsy S. Michel (59)    2002-2005;     ATTORNEY,   GLADSTONE,   NJ.   Ms.           61              None
       DIRECTOR         1985 to Date    Michel is a Director or Trustee of
 [Photo Omitted]                        each  of  the investment companies
                                        of the  Seligman  Group of Funds.+
                                        She  is  also  a  Trustee  of  The
                                        Geraldine   R.  Dodge   Foundation
                                        (charitable  foundation) and World
                                        Learning,  Inc.  She was  formerly
                                        Chairman  of the Board of Trustees
                                        of St. George's  School  (Newport,
                                        RI);  and Director of the National
                                        Association of Independent Schools
                                        (Washington, DC).


                                       3





                           TERM OF                                               NUMBER OF     OTHER DIRECTORSHIPS
                          OFFICE IF                                            PORTFOLIOS IN     HELD BY NOMINEE
                         ELECTED AND                                           FUND COMPLEX       NOT DISCLOSED
NAME (AGE) AND POSITION   LENGTH OF       PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION(S) DURING      TO BE OVERSEEN     UNDER PRINCIPAL
   WITH CORPORATION*     TIME SERVED    PAST 5 YEARS AND OTHER INFORMATION      BY NOMINEE        OCCUPATION(S)
-----------------------  -----------    ----------------------------------    --------------   ------------------
                                                                                           
 James N. Whitson (67)   2002-2005;     RETIRED  EXECUTIVE  VICE PRESIDENT           61                None
       DIRECTOR         1993 to Date    AND  CHIEF  OPERATING  OFFICER  OF
 [Photo Omitted]                        SAMMONS ENTERPRISES, INC., DALLAS,
                                        TX (DIVERSIFIED HOLDING  COMPANY).
                                        Mr.   Whitson  is  a  Director  or
                                        Trustee of each of the  investment
                                        companies of the Seligman Group of
                                        Funds.+ He is also a  Director  of
                                        C-SPAN (cable television networks)
                                        and CommScope,  Inc. (manufacturer
                                        of coaxial cable).


INTERESTED DIRECTOR NOMINEE

Paul C. Guidone** (44)   2002-2005     MANAGING    DIRECTOR   AND   CHIEF           60                None
   DIRECTOR NOMINEE                     INVESTMENT    OFFICER,    J.   &W.
 [Photo Omitted]                        SELIGMAN &  CO. INCORPORATED,  NEW
                                        YORK,  NY. Mr. Guidone is a member
                                        of the  Association  of Investment
                                        Management  and Research,  the New
                                        York Society of Security  Analysts
                                        and   the   London    Society   of
                                        Investment  Professionals.  He was
                                        formerly Deputy Chairman and Group
                                        Chief  Executive  Officer  of HSBC
                                        Asset  Management  and,  prior  to
                                        that,  Managing Director and Chief
                                        Investment  Officer of  Prudential
                                        Diversified Investments.


                                       4



OTHER DIRECTORS

     The other Directors of the Corporation  whose terms will not expire in 2002
are:



                           TERM OF                                               NUMBER OF     OTHER DIRECTORSHIPS
                           OFFICE                                              PORTFOLIOS IN     HELD BY DIRECTOR
                             AND                                               FUND COMPLEX       NOT DISCLOSED
NAME (AGE) AND POSITION   LENGTH OF       PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION(S) DURING         OVERSEEN        UNDER PRINCIPAL
   WITH CORPORATION*     TIME SERVED    PAST 5 YEARS AND OTHER INFORMATION      BY DIRECTOR        OCCUPATION(S)
-----------------------  -----------    ----------------------------------    --------------   ------------------
                                                                                           
INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS

  John R. Galvin (72)    2000-2003;     DEAN EMERITUS,  FLETCHER SCHOOL OF           61                None
       DIRECTOR         1995 to Date    LAW   AND   DIPLOMACY   AT   TUFTS
                                        UNIVERSITY, MED- FORD, MA. General
                                        Galvin is a Director or Trustee of
                                        each of the  investment  companies
                                        of the  Seligman  Group of Funds.+
                                        He is also  Chairman  Emeritus  of
                                        the  American  Council on Germany;
                                        and a Director of Raytheon Company
                                        (defense      and       commercial
                                        electronics), the National Defense
                                        University  and the  Institute for
                                        Defense Analyses.  He was formerly
                                        a  Governor   of  the  Center  for
                                        Creative Leadership; a Director of
                                        USLIFE      Corporation      (life
                                        insurance); Ambassador, U.S. State
                                        Department  for   negotiations  in
                                        Bosnia;    Distinguished    Policy
                                        Analyst at Ohio State  University;
                                        and Olin  Distinguished  Professor
                                        of  National  Security  Studies at
                                        the   United    States    Military
                                        Academy.  From  June  1987 to June
                                        1992,  he was the  Supreme  Allied
                                        Commander,    Europe    and    the
                                        Commander-in-Chief,  United States
                                        European Command.

 Alice S. Ilchman (67)   2001-2004;     PRESIDENT EMERITUS, SARAH LAWRENCE           61              None
       DIRECTOR         1990 to Date    COLLEGE,   BRONXVILLE,   NY.   Dr.
                                        Ilchman is a  Director  or Trustee
                                        of   each   of   the    investment
                                        companies of the Seligman Group of
                                        Funds.+  She is also  Director  of
                                        the     Jeannette     K.    Watson
                                        Fellowship;   a  Trustee   of  The
                                        Committee       for       Economic
                                        Development; and a Director of the
                                        Public Broadcasting Service (PBS).
                                        She was  formerly  the Chairman of
                                        The     Rockefeller     Foundation
                                        (charitable foundation); a Trustee
                                        of    The    Markle     Foundation
                                        (philanthropic organization);  and
                                        a  Director  of the  International
                                        Research   and   Exchange    Board
                                        (intellectual  exchanges)  and New
                                        York Telephone Company.


                                       5





                           TERM OF                                               NUMBER OF     OTHER DIRECTORSHIPS
                           OFFICE                                              PORTFOLIOS IN     HELD BY DIRECTOR
                             AND                                               FUND COMPLEX       NOT DISCLOSED
NAME (AGE) AND POSITION   LENGTH OF       PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION(S) DURING         OVERSEEN        UNDER PRINCIPAL
   WITH CORPORATION*     TIME SERVED    PAST 5 YEARS AND OTHER INFORMATION      BY DIRECTOR        OCCUPATION(S)
-----------------------  -----------    ----------------------------------    --------------   ------------------
                                                                                           
Frank A. McPherson (68)  2001-2004;     RETIRED  CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD AND           61                None
       DIRECTOR         1995 to Date    CHIEF    EXECUTIVE    OFFICER   OF
                                        KERR-MCGEE  CORPORATION,  OKLAHOMA
                                        CITY,  OK  (A  DIVERSIFIED  ENERGY
                                        COMPANY).   Mr.   McPherson  is  a
                                        Director or Trustee of each of the
                                        investment    companies   of   the
                                        Seligman  Group of  Funds.+  He is
                                        also a  Director  of  Conoco  Inc.
                                        (oil  and  gas   exploration   and
                                        production),    Integris    Health
                                        (owner of various hospitals),  BOK
                                        Financial (bank holding  company),
                                        Oklahoma  Chapter  of  the  Nature
                                        Conservancy,    Oklahoma   Medical
                                        Research   Foundation,   Boys  and
                                        Girls Clubs of Oklahoma,  Oklahoma
                                        City Public Schools Foundation and
                                        Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence
                                        in  Education.   He  was  formerly
                                        Chairman  of  the  Oklahoma   City
                                        Chamber  of   Commerce,   Integris
                                        Health  and  the   Oklahoma   City
                                        Public   Schools   Foundation;   a
                                        Director     of     Kimberly-Clark
                                        Corporation   (consumer  products)
                                        and the Federal  Reserve  System's
                                        Kansas City  Reserve  Bank;  and a
                                        Member of the Business Roundtable.

 Leroy C. Richie (60)    2001-2004;     CHAIRMAN   AND   CHIEF   EXECUTIVE           60                None
        DIRECTOR        2000 to Date    OFFICER,  Q  STANDARDS  WORLDWIDE,
                                        INC.,  BIRMINGHAM, MI (LIBRARY  OF
                                        TECHNICAL  STANDARDS).  Mr. Richie
                                        is a  Director  or Trustee of each
                                        of the investment companies of the
                                        Seligman Group of Funds,+ with the
                                        exception    of   Seligman    Cash
                                        Management Fund, Inc. He is also a
                                        Director of Kerr-McGee Corporation
                                        (a diversified energy company) and
                                        Infinity,   Inc.   (oil   and  gas
                                        services     and     exploration);
                                        Chairman of Highland Park Michigan
                                        Economic Development Corp; Trustee
                                        of New York  University Law Center
                                        Foundation;  and Vice  Chairman of
                                        the Detroit Medical Center. He was
                                        formerly    Chairman   and   Chief
                                        Executive   Officer   of   Capital
                                        Coating     Technologies,     Inc.
                                        (applied  coating   technologies);
                                        and  Vice  President  and  General
                                        Counsel, Automotive Legal Affairs,
                                        of Chrysler Corporation.


                                       6





                           TERM OF                                               NUMBER OF     OTHER DIRECTORSHIPS
                           OFFICE                                              PORTFOLIOS IN     HELD BY DIRECTOR
                             AND                                               FUND COMPLEX       NOT DISCLOSED
NAME (AGE) AND POSITION   LENGTH OF       PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION(S) DURING         OVERSEEN        UNDER PRINCIPAL
   WITH CORPORATION*     TIME SERVED    PAST 5 YEARS AND OTHER INFORMATION      BY DIRECTOR        OCCUPATION(S)
-----------------------  -----------    ----------------------------------    --------------   ------------------
                                                                                           
 James Q. Riordan (74)   2000-2003;     DIRECTOR,  VARIOUS  ORGANIZATIONS,           61                None
       DIRECTOR         1989 to Date    STUART,   FL.  Mr.  Riordan  is  a
                                        Director or Trustee of each of the
                                        investment    companies   of   the
                                        Seligman  Group of  Funds.+  He is
                                        also a Director  or Trustee of The
                                        Houston  Exploration  Company (oil
                                        exploration), The Brooklyn Museum,
                                        KeySpan  Corporation  (diversified
                                        energy and  electric  company) and
                                        the    Committee    for   Economic
                                        Development.  He was formerly Vice
                                        Chairman   of  Mobil   Corporation
                                        (petroleum  and   petrochemicals);
                                        Co-Chairman  of the Policy Council
                                        of the Tax Foundation;  a Director
                                        and     President    of    Bekaert
                                        Corporation    (high-grade   steel
                                        cord, wire and fencing  products);
                                        and a Director of Tesoro Petroleum
                                        Companies,   Inc.,   Dow  Jones  &
                                        Company,    Inc.   (business   and
                                        financial  news)  and  the  Public
                                        Broadcasting Service (PBS).

 Robert L. Shafer (69)   2000-2003;     RETIRED  VICE  PRESIDENT OF PFIZER           61                None
       DIRECTOR         1991 to Date    INC.,           NEW       YORK, NY
                                        (PHARMACEUTICALS).  Mr. Shafer  is
                                        a  Director  or Trustee of each of
                                        the  investment  companies  of the
                                        Seligman  Group of  Funds.+ He was
                                        formerly     a     Director     of
                                        USLIFE Corporation           (life
                                        insurance).


                                       7





                           TERM OF                                               NUMBER OF     OTHER DIRECTORSHIPS
                           OFFICE                                              PORTFOLIOS IN     HELD BY DIRECTOR
                             AND                                               FUND COMPLEX       NOT DISCLOSED
NAME (AGE) AND POSITION   LENGTH OF       PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION(S) DURING         OVERSEEN        UNDER PRINCIPAL
   WITH CORPORATION*     TIME SERVED    PAST 5 YEARS AND OTHER INFORMATION      BY DIRECTOR        OCCUPATION(S)
-----------------------  -----------    ----------------------------------    --------------   ------------------
                                                                                           
INTERESTED DIRECTORS

William C. Morris** (64) 2000-2003;     CHAIRMAN,  J. & W.  SELIGMAN & CO.           61                None
 DIRECTOR, CHAIRMAN OF  1988 to Date    INCORPORATED,  NEW YORK,  NY.  Mr.
  THE BOARD AND CHIEF                   Morris  is   Chairman   and  Chief
   EXECUTIVE OFFICER                    Executive  Officer  of each of the
                                        investment    companies   of   the
                                        Seligman Group of Funds;+ Chairman
                                        of  Seligman  Advisors,  Inc.  and
                                        Seligman  Services,  Inc.;  and  a
                                        Director of Seligman Data Corp. He
                                        is also Chairman of Carbo Ceramics
                                        Inc.   (manufacturer   of  ceramic
                                        proppants    for   oil   and   gas
                                        industry);   and  a  Director   of
                                        Kerr-McGee      Corporation     (a
                                        diversified energy company).

Brian T. Zino** (49)    2001-2004;      DIRECTOR  AND  PRESIDENT,  J. & W.           61                None
    DIRECTOR AND     Dir.: 1993 to Date SELIGMAN & CO.  INCORPORATED,  NEW
      PRESIDENT      Pres.:1995 to Date YORK, NY. Mr. Zino is President of
                                        each  of the investment  companies
                                        of the  Seligman  Group of Funds,+
                                        with  the  exception  of  Seligman
                                        Quality  Municipal  Fund, Inc. and
                                        Seligman  Select  Municipal  Fund,
                                        Inc.  He is  also  a  Director  or
                                        Trustee of each of the  investment
                                        companies of the Seligman Group of
                                        Funds;  Chairman of Seligman  Data
                                        Corp.;  and a Director of Seligman
                                        Advisors,    Inc.   and   Seligman
                                        Services, Inc. He is also a Member
                                        of the Board of  Governors  of the
                                        Investment Company Institute;  and
                                        Vice   Chairman   of  ICI   Mutual
                                        Insurance Company.



----------

 + The Seligman Group of Funds consists of twenty-three registered investment
   companies, including the Corporation.

 * The address for each Director or Nominee is 100 Park Avenue, New York,
   New York 10017.

** Mr. Guidone, Mr. Morris and Mr. Zino are considered "interested persons" of
   the Corporation, as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended
   ("1940 Act"), by virtue of their positions with the Manager and its
   affiliates.

                                       8



BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SHARES OF THE CORPORATION AND FUNDS OF COMPLEX

     As of January 31,  2002,  each  Director (or  Nominee)  beneficially  owned
shares of the Corporation and the investment  companies of the Seligman Group of
Funds as follows:

                                                      AGGREGATE DOLLAR RANGE OF
                                    DOLLAR RANGE       SHARES OWNED BY DIRECTOR
                                  OF COMMON SHARES     OR NOMINEE OF ALL FUNDS
                                 OWNED BY DIRECTOR    OVERSEEN OR TO BE OVERSEEN
                                   OR NOMINEE OF      BY DIRECTOR OR NOMINEE OF
NAME OF DIRECTOR (OR NOMINEE)     THE CORPORATION      SELIGMAN GROUP OF FUNDS
-----------------------------     ---------------      -----------------------

INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS/NOMINEES

John R. Galvin                    $10,001-$50,000         $50,001-$100,000
Alice S. Ilchman                    Over $100,000            Over $100,000
Frank A. McPherson                  Over $100,000            Over $100,000
John E. Merow                       Over $100,000            Over $100,000
Betsy S. Michel                   $10,001-$50,000            Over $100,000
Leroy C. Richie                   $10,001-$50,000          $10,001-$50,000
James Q. Riordan                    Over $100,000            Over $100,000
Robert L. Shafer                 $50,001-$100,000            Over $100,000
James N. Whitson                    Over $100,000            Over $100,000

INTERESTED DIRECTORS/NOMINEES

Paul C. Guidone                        None               $50,001-$100,000
William C. Morris                  Over $100,000             Over $100,000
Brian T. Zino                      Over $100,000             Over $100,000

     As  of  January  31,  2002,   all  Directors  (and  Nominees)  as  a  group
beneficially owned more than $9 million of the Corporation's Common Stock.

                                       9



     At March 21, 2002, all Directors and officers of the Corporation as a group
owned beneficially less than 1% of the Corporation's Common Stock.

BOARD COMMITTEES

     The Board of Directors met seven times during 2001. The standing committees
of the Board  include  the  Board  Operations  Committee,  Audit  Committee  and
Director  Nominating  Committee.   These  Committees  are  comprised  solely  of
Directors who are not  "interested  persons" of the  Corporation as that term is
defined in the 1940 Act. The duties of these Committees are described below.

     BOARD  OPERATIONS  COMMITTEE.  This  Committee has  authority  generally to
direct the operations of the Board, including the nomination of members of other
Board  Committees  and the selection of legal counsel for the  Corporation.  The
Committee met five times in 2001.  Members of the Committee are Messrs.  Riordan
(Chairman),  Galvin,  McPherson,  Merow, Pitney, Richie, Shafer and Whitson, Dr.
Ilchman  and Ms.  Michel.  As a result of Mr.  Pitney's  retirement  at the 2002
Annual  Meeting,  he will no longer serve as a Committee  member  following this
Meeting.

     AUDIT COMMITTEE.  This Committee  assists the Board in its oversight of the
Corporation's  financial  reporting  process and operates  pursuant to a written
charter most recently  amended on March 15, 2001.  The Committee met three times
in 2001. Members of this Committee are Messrs. Whitson (Chairman), Galvin, Merow
and Richie and Ms.  Michel.  The report of the Audit  Committee,  as approved on
March 21, 2002, is attached to this Proxy Statement as Appendix 1.

     DIRECTOR  NOMINATING  COMMITTEE.  This  Committee  recommends  to the Board
persons to be  nominated  for  election as  Directors  by the  Stockholders  and
selects and proposes nominees for election by the Board between Annual Meetings.
The Committee will consider  suggestions from Stockholders  submitted in writing
to the Secretary of the Corporation. The Committee met one time in 2001. Members
of this Committee are Messrs. Shafer (Chairman),  McPherson,  Pitney and Riordan
and Dr.  Ilchman.  As a result of Mr.  Pitney's  retirement  at the 2002  Annual
Meeting, he will no longer serve as a Committee member following this Meeting.

                                       10



EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE CORPORATION

     Information with respect to Executive Officers,  other than Messrs.  Morris
and Zino, is as follows:

NAME (AGE) AND POSITION    TERM OF OFFICE AND         PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION
 WITH THE CORPORATION    LENGTH OF TIME SERVED*      DURING PAST FIVE YEARS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ben-Ami Gradwohl (43)         2001 to Date      Mr.   Gradwohl   is  a  Managing
VICE PRESIDENT AND CO-                          Director  of  the   Manager,   a
PORTFOLIO MANAGER                               position   he  has  held   since
                                                January   2000.   He   is   Vice
                                                President    and    Co-Portfolio
                                                Manager of Seligman Common Stock
                                                Fund,   Inc.,   Seligman  Income
                                                Fund,    Inc.    and    Seligman
                                                Tax-Aware  Fund,  Inc.; and Vice
                                                President       of      Seligman
                                                Portfolios,   Inc.  Co-Portfolio
                                                Manager of its  Seligman  Common
                                                Stock   Portfolio  and  Seligman
                                                Income  Portfolio.  Mr. Gradwohl
                                                was formerly a Portfo Manager at
                                                Nicholas-Applegate       Capital
                                                Management from 1996 to 1999.

David Guy (43)                2001 to Date      Mr. Guy is a  Managing  Director
VICE PRESIDENT AND CO-                          of the  Manager,  a position  he
PORTFOLIO MANAGER                               has held since  January 2000. He
                                                is    Vice     President     and
                                                Co-Portfolio Manager of Seligman
                                                Common    Stock   Fund,    Inc.,
                                                Seligman  Income Fund,  Inc. and
                                                Seligman  Tax-Aware Fund,  Inc.;
                                                and Vice  President  of Seligman
                                                Portfolios,  Inc. and  Co-Portfo
                                                Manager of its  Seligman  Common
                                                Stock   Portfolio  and  Seligman
                                                Income  Portfolio.  Mr.  Guy was
                                                formerly  a  Portfolio  Manager,
                                                Systema   Investment  Group,  at
                                                Nicholas-Applegate       Capital
                                                Management from 1997 to 1999.

Charles W. Kadlec (56)        1996 to Date      Mr.   Kadlec   is   a   Managing
VICE PRESIDENT                                  Director   of  the  Manager  and
                                                Chief  Investment  Strategist of
                                                Seligman Advisors, Inc.

                                       11



NAME (AGE) AND POSITION    TERM OF OFFICE AND         PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION
 WITH THE CORPORATION    LENGTH OF TIME SERVED*      DURING PAST FIVE YEARS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lawrence P. Vogel (45)     VP: 1992 to Date;    Mr.   Vogel   is   Senior   Vice
VICE PRESIDENT AND        Treas: 2000 to Date   President     and     Treasurer,
TREASURER                                       Investment  Companies,   of  the
                                                Manager    and   is   the   Vice
                                                President  and Treasurer of each
                                                of the  investment  companies of
                                                the Seligman  Group of Funds and
                                                of  Seligman  Data Corp.  He was
                                                formerly  Senior Vice President,
                                                Finance,    of   the    Manager,
                                                Seligman   Advisors,   Inc.  and
                                                Seligman   Data   Corp.;    Vice
                                                President   and   Treasurer   of
                                                Seligman  International,   Inc.;
                                                Vice   President   of   Seligman
                                                Services, Inc.; and Treasurer of
                                                Seligman Henderson Co.

Thomas G. Rose (44)           2000 to Date      Mr.    Rose   is   Senior   Vice
VICE PRESIDENT                                  President,   Finance,   of   the
                                                Manager, Seligman Advisors, Inc.
                                                and  Seligman  Data Corp.  since
                                                May 2000. He is a Vice President
                                                of   each   of  the   investment
                                                companies of the Seligman  Group
                                                of   Funds.   He  is  also  Vice
                                                President       of      Seligman
                                                International, Inc. and Seligman
                                                Services,  Inc. Formerly, he was
                                                Treasurer   of   each   of   the
                                                investment   companies   of  the
                                                Seligman   Group  of  Funds  and
                                                Seligman Data Corp.

Frank J. Nasta (37)           1994 to Date      Mr.  Nasta is  General  Counsel,
SECRETARY                                       Senior Vice  President,  Law and
                                                Regulation     and     Corporate
                                                Secretary of the Manager.  He is
                                                Secretary   of   each   of   the
                                                investment   companies   of  the
                                                Seligman  Group of Funds.  He is
                                                also   Corporate   Secretary  of
                                                Seligman     Advisors,     Inc.,
                                                Seligman     Services,     Inc.,
                                                Seligman International, Inc. and
                                                Seligman   Data  Corp.   He  was
                                                formerly Corporate  Secretary of
                                                Seligman Henderson Co.

----------
  *  All officers are elected annually by the Board of Directors and serve until
     their successors are elected and qualify or their earlier resignation.  The
     address of each of the foregoing officers is 100 Park Avenue, New York, New
     York 10017.

                                       12



REMUNERATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

     Directors of the  Corporation  who are not  employees of the Manager or its
affiliates each receive from the Corporation  retainer fees of $13,400 per year.
In addition, such Directors are currently paid a total of $3,000 for each day on
which they  attend  Board  and/or  Committee  meetings  ($1,500  for  telephonic
attendance  at  certain  meetings),  the  amount  of  which  is  shared  by  the
Corporation  and the other  investment  companies of the Seligman Group of Funds
meeting on the same day. The Directors are also  reimbursed  for the expenses of
attending  meetings.  Total Directors' fees paid by the Corporation for the year
ended December 31, 2001 were as follows:

   NUMBER OF DIRECTORS   CAPACITY IN WHICH REMUNERATION    AGGREGATE DIRECT
        IN GROUP                  WAS RECEIVED               REMUNERATION
   ------------------    ------------------------------    ----------------

          10          Directors and Members of  Committees     $284,471

     Director's attendance, retainer and/or committee fees paid to each Director
during 2001 were as follows:






                                     PENSION OR RETIREMENT
                      AGGREGATE        BENEFITS ACCRUED      TOTAL COMPENSATION
                    COMPENSATION          AS PART OF        FROM CORPORATION AND
NAME              FROM CORPORATION   CORPORATION EXPENSES       FUND COMPLEX*
---------------  -----------------   ---------------------  --------------------

John R. Galvin         $30,794                -0-                 $94,500
Alice S. Ilchman        28,642                -0-                  88,500
Frank A. McPherson      28,628+               -0-                  90,000
John E. Merow           30,794                -0-                  94,500
Betsy S. Michel         28,664                -0-                  91,500
James C. Pitney         27,577+               -0-                  87,000
Leroy C. Richie         28,679                -0-                  90,000
James Q. Riordan        25,500                -0-                  87,000
Robert L. Shafer        27,541                -0-                  85,500
James N. Whitson        27,652+               -0-                  93,000
                     ---------
                      $284,471
                     =========

----------
  * In fiscal year 2001,  there were 23  investment  companies  in the  Seligman
    Group of Funds.

  + Mr.  Merow,  who had deferred  receiving his fees from the  Corporation  and
    other  investment  companies of the Seligman  Group of Funds from 1991 up to
    1997,  had a balance as of December 31, 2001 of $89,037 in his deferred plan
    account, including earnings. Mr. Pitney, who had deferred receiving his fees
    from the Corporation and other investment companies of the Seligman Group of
    Funds from 1983 up to 1993, had a balance as of December 31, 2001 of $64,266
    in his deferred plan account,  including  earnings.  Since 1993, Mr. Whitson
    has  elected  to defer  receiving  his fees from the  Corporation  and other
    investment  companies  of the  Seligman  Group of Funds.  As of December 31,
    2001,  Mr.  Whitson had a balance of $196,196 in his deferred  plan account,
    including earnings.

                                       13



     No  compensation is paid by the Corporation to Directors or officers of the
Corporation who are employees of the Manager.

     The  affirmative  vote of a  plurality  of the votes cast at the Meeting is
required to approve the election of each of the Nominees.

 YOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT THE STOCKHOLDERS VOTE FOR
 THE ELECTION OF EACH OF THE NOMINEES TO SERVE AS DIRECTOR OF THE CORPORATION.

                    B. RATIFICATION OF SELECTION OF AUDITORS
                    ----------------------------------------
                                  (Proposal 2)


     The Audit  Committee of the Board of  Directors  has  recommended,  and the
Board  of  Directors,  including  a  majority  of  those  members  who  are  not
"interested  persons"  of the  Corporation  (as  defined in the 1940  Act),  has
selected,  Deloitte & Touche LLP as auditors of the  Corporation  for 2002.  The
firm of Deloitte & Touche LLP has extensive  experience  in  investment  company
accounting  and  auditing.  It is expected that a  representative  of Deloitte &
Touche LLP will be present at the Meeting and will have the  opportunity to make
a statement and respond to questions.

     Deloitte & Touche LLP, in  accordance  with  Independence  Standards  Board
Standard No. 1, has confirmed to the Audit  Committee that they are  independent
auditors with respect to the Corporation.  Deloitte & Touche LLP has audited the
semi-annual  and annual  financial  statements of the  Corporation  and provided
tax-related services to the Corporation. Deloitte & Touche LLP has also rendered
non-audit services to the Manager,  Seligman Advisors, Inc., an affiliate of the
Manager  and  Seligman  Data  Corp.,  the  stockholder  service  agent  for  the
Corporation,  which  is  partially  owned  by  the  Corporation  (together,  the
"Affiliated Service Providers").

     In making its  recommendation,  the Audit Committee  considered whether the
provision by the independent  auditors to the Corporation of non-audit  services
to  the  Corporation  or of  professional  services  to the  Affiliated  Service
Providers is compatible  with  maintaining  the auditors'  independence  and has
discussed the auditors' independence with them.


                      FEES FOR SERVICES TO THE CORPORATION

     AUDIT  FEES.  For the fiscal  year ended  December  31,  2001,  the fee for
professional  services  rendered  for the audits of the  semi-annual  and annual
financial statements was $76,500.

     FINANCIAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION FEES. None.

                                       14



     ALL OTHER FEES.  For the fiscal year ended  December 31,  2001,  Deloitte &
Touche LLP was also paid approximately $2,000 for tax-related services.


              FEES FOR SERVICES TO THE AFFILIATED SERVICE PROVIDERS

     FINANCIAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION FEES. None.

     ALL OTHER FEES.  For the fiscal year ended  December 31,  2001,  Deloitte &
Touche LLP was also paid approximately $119,800 for all other non-audit services
rendered on behalf of the Manager,  Seligman  Advisors,  Inc. and Seligman  Data
Corp.  Of this amount,  $87,500  related to  attestation  and  internal  control
compliance testing,  $11,800 related to tax compliance and consultation services
and $20,500 related to other services.

     The  affirmative  vote of a majority  of the votes  cast at the  Meeting is
required to ratify the selection of auditors.


   YOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT THE STOCKHOLDERS VOTE
   FOR THE RATIFICATION OF THE SELECTION OF DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP AS AUDITORS
                              OF THE CORPORATION.

                                C. OTHER MATTERS
                                ----------------

     The  Corporation has received one proposal from a Stockholder for inclusion
in this year's proxy  materials,  which is set forth below. The Corporation will
provide the name and address of such Stockholder and the number of shares of the
Corporation's  Common  Stock  owned by him  upon  receiving  an oral or  written
request.

    YOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT THE STOCKHOLDERS VOTE
      AGAINST THE STOCKHOLDER PROPOSAL. THE BOARD'S REASONING IS SET FORTH
   FOLLOWING THE PROPOSAL IN A STATEMENT OF OPPOSITION, WHICH STOCKHOLDERS ARE
                            URGED TO READ CAREFULLY.

     Stockholder Proposal

     RESOLVED,  that the  shareholders of  Tri-Continental,  assembled in annual
meeting in person and by proxy  recommend that the board of directors  terminate
the investment advisory agreement between  Tri-Continental  Corporation and J. &
W. Seligman & Co., Inc. when the current

                                       15



agreement  expires,  and at such time solicit  offers from  selected  investment
advisors including Seligman,  to evaluate the cost and ability of the candidates
to perform for the benefit of the shareholders.

     At the same time, the  shareholders  recommend  that the board  undertake a
comprehensive  study of the cost of operating  this fund with a view to lowering
the compensation to any fund manager in the future.

     The  Stockholder  has submitted  the following  statement in support of his
proposal:

     The  market  price of  Tri-Continental  stock on  December  31,  2000,  was
$21.1875.  On  October  1st,  2001,  it was $18.25 a decline of $2.93 or 13.86%.
Dividends and capital gains paid during this period amounted to $0.21 and $0.103
per share, respectively, reducing the loss modestly.

     For the year 2001,  the total market price per share  declined  5.2%.  More
importantly,  the market price total return over the past five years to December
31, 2001, was 8.8%. The return of the S&P 500 was 10.7% for that period. For the
ten-year period ended December 31, 2001, Tri- Continental's return was 8.9%. The
S&P 500 was 12.9%.

     The S&P 500 is Tri-Continental's own benchmark, yet they can't meet or beat
that standard.

     For this management, we paid $15,389,779 in direct compensation to Seligman
and $5,748,768 for other expenses in the year 2000. About one-third of the total
investment  income of the fund.  And this  amounted  to 0.54% of the average net
investment assets.

     Adam's Express,  another similar closed-in fund, paid total annual expenses
of 0.24% for that same year.  Adam's Express  five-year annual average return to
December  31,  2001  is  12.6%  based  on  market   price.   As  stated   above,
Tri-Continental's  is 8.8%.  Remember  Mr. John C.  Bogle's  statement on mutual
funds that I included in last year's proposal.

     "THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940 WARNS AGAINST ORGANIZING  OPERATING AND
     MANAGING FUNDS FOR THE INTEREST OF THE INVESTMENT  ADVISORS RATHER THAN THE
     INTEREST OF THE SHAREHOLDERS."

     Mr. Bogle is the founder and former chairman and chief executive officer of
The Vanguard  Group,  Inc.  and a  well-known  advocate of indexing and low-cost
management fees for all mutual funds.

     While there are many reasons for less than superior performance,  I believe
we should do better.  A racehorse  performance  would be great. I'd settle for a
workhorse, but I'm afraid we have an also ran.

                                       16



     Passive shareholders make passing a management-opposed  proposal difficult.
A positive vote by active shareholders will encourage directors to fulfill their
moral and fiduciary  responsibilities  to us. A 73-year  relationship should not
influence directors to renew a contract.

     11,672,616  shares voted in favor of  essentially  the same  proposal  last
year. If we get a  substantial  increase in shares voting for this proposal this
year and  performance of the fund is inadequate,  in my opinion I will look into
the  possibility of running for a board seat myself.  Then we would have a truly
independent  director dedicated to improving the performance of the fund for the
benefit of the shareholders.

     Please vote yes.

                                   ----------
                 YOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS
                 THAT YOU VOTE AGAINST THIS STOCKHOLDER PROPOSAL
                        FOR THE REASONS SET FORTH BELOW.

     This stockholder proposal, if adopted, would recommend, among other things,
that the Board of Directors  terminate the  Corporation's  73-year  relationship
with the Manager.  For the reasons set forth below, the Board believes that this
proposal is  inappropriate  and adverse to the interests of the  Corporation and
its stockholders, and strongly urges its defeat.

     Tri-Continental  has  benefited  from  its  long  association  with J. & W.
Seligman   &  Co.   Incorporated.   Today,   Tri-Continental   is  the   largest
publicly-traded,   diversified   closed-end  equity  investment  company,   with
approximately $3.0 billion in assets. For the ten years ended December 31, 2001,
an investment in the  Corporation's  Common Stock  returned  10.18% based on net
asset value and 8.92% based on market price.  For the five years ended  December
31, 2001, the Corporation's average annual returns were 7.75% based on net asset
value and 8.78% based on market price,  and for the one year ended  December 31,
2001, the  Corporation's  average annual returns were -10.20% based on net asset
value and -5.22% based on market price.  All these returns assume the investment
of capital gains and dividends. Distributions to stockholders as a percentage of
average net asset value have  averaged  5.9%,  11.6% and 10.5% for the past 1, 5
and 10 calendar year periods, respectively.

     The proponent observes that an investment in the Corporation's Common Stock
returned -5.2% during 2001. This decline must be placed in perspective  with the
declines  experienced  across the U.S.  equity markets in 2001, in which the Dow
Jones  Industrial  Average ("DJIA")  returned -7.10%,  the Standard & Poor's 500
Index  ("S&P 500")  returned  -11.88% and the Nasdaq  Composite  Index  returned
-21.05%. Viewed in the context of this continuing downturn in the mar-

                                       17



kets, Tri-Continental's performance in 2001 was remarkably stable, outperforming
the DJIA, the Nasdaq  Composite and the S&P 500 for the year. The proponent made
certain comparisons of the Corporation's performance to Adams Express, but fails
to note that Adams  Express  returned  -24.7%  based on both net asset value and
market price in 2001. Most importantly,  however,  the  Corporation's  long-term
investment  results  continue to be  competitive,  which is consistent  with its
objective to produce future growth of both capital and income,  while  providing
reasonable current income.

     The proponent observes that  Tri-Continental's  total expense ratio in 2000
of 0.54% (which  includes  both the  management  fee paid to the Manager and all
other expenses  incurred by the  Corporation)  was higher than the total expense
ratio of Adams Express for the same period.  However, the Corporation's  expense
ratio was the  second  lowest of the nine  closed-end  investment  companies  in
Tri-Continental's peer group, the Lipper Growth and Income Funds Average. It was
also well below the highest expense ratio of 2.55% and the average expense ratio
of 1.13% for those nine investment companies.

     The  proposal  would  recommend  that the  Board  undertake  a study of the
Corporation's  operating  costs with a view to reducing the  compensation of any
future manager.  However,  the Board considers extensive amounts of information,
including comparative  information regarding the advisory fees,  performance and
expense ratios of other  closed-end  and open-end  investment  companies  having
similar  investment  objectives,  during the course of its annual  review of the
Corporation's   management   agreement   with  the  Manager   (the   "Management
Agreement").   Thus,  review  of  the  Corporation's   "operating   costs",  and
consideration of the continued appropriateness of the fee rate in the Management
Agreement in light of all relevant circumstances (including whether it should be
reduced), is already being carefully and regularly done by the Board.

     Each  November  the Board of  Directors  considers  whether the  Management
Agreement should be continued for another  one-year period,  as required by law.
Under the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Manager has a duty to provide, and
the Directors have a duty to request,  all information  relevant to making their
determination on the continuance of the Management Agreement.  This process, and
the diligence with which the Board  undertakes its  responsibilities,  ensures a
careful  and  thorough  review  of the  Management  Agreement  every  year.  The
independent Directors, who have no affiliation with the Manager and constitute a
significant  majority of the Directors,  meet and vote  separately,  and consult
with their independent legal counsel, on this important matter.

     The Directors  view their annual  consideration  of the  continuance of the
Management  Agreement to be one of their most  important  duties,  and, as noted
above, make their decision on this

                                       18



matter only after careful  consideration  of extensive  amounts of  information,
including comparative  information regarding the advisory fees,  performance and
expense ratios of other  closed-end  and open-end  investment  companies  having
similar investment objectives. Approval of this stockholder proposal, six months
in advance of the Board's  deliberations  at their November 2002 meeting,  would
inappropriately  and  prematurely  seek to  influence  the  Directors  in  their
decision,  which must be made after  exercising  their business  judgment on the
basis of the then-available relevant information.

     The  proponent  suggests  that  stockholders  second-guess  the  Management
Agreement  review by the Directors  they have elected by  recommending  that the
Directors terminate the agreement at year-end and embark on a process that would
involve soliciting bids from investment managers, selecting a manager from among
them,  negotiating a new management agreement and obtaining stockholder approval
of this  agreement.  All of  this  would  involve  considerable  expense  to the
Corporation  and a period of disruption and  uncertainty  for the  Corporation's
operations.  During  this time,  your  investment  in the  Corporation  could be
harmed.

     The  proponent  cites a statement by a  well-known  advocate of index funds
regarding one of the central concerns underlying the enactment of the Investment
Company  Act -  that  investment  companies  be  operated  in  the  interest  of
shareholders  rather than their  investment  advisers.  Indeed,  it is precisely
because of the potential for conflicts of interest between investment  companies
and their investment advisers that the Investment Company Act requires the Board
of Directors to undertake  annually the comprehensive  review described above in
connection with the continuance of the Management Agreement. As noted above, the
Directors  regard the  fulfillment of this statutory  obligation as one of their
most important duties.

     Ultimately, the proposal seeks to have the Corporation's Board of Directors
perform a review of Tri-Continental's  operating costs and its arrangements with
its  Manager  that  is  similar  in  many  respects  to  the  comprehensive  and
comparative review that they do each year, but in a manner that is significantly
more expensive and disruptive to the Corporation's  business.  Accordingly,  the
Directors  believe  that your vote  AGAINST  this  proposal  will be in the best
interests of the Corporation and its stockholders.

     This proposal will not be adopted unless it receives the affirmative  votes
of the holders of a majority of the votes cast on such proposal. Abstentions and
broker  non-votes will not be counted as either for or against the proposal.  If
not otherwise specified, proxies will be voted AGAINST approval of the proposal.

                                       19



                                   ----------

     The  Corporation  knows of no other matters which are to be brought  before
the  Meeting.  However,  if any other  matters  come before the  Meeting,  it is
intended  that  the  persons  named  in the  enclosed  form of  Proxy,  or their
substitutes,  will vote the Proxy in  accordance  with  their  judgment  on such
matters. The persons named in the form of Proxy, or their substitutes, will have
discretionary  authority  to vote  on any  Stockholder  proposal  of  which  the
Corporation  first  received  notice  after  March 3,  2002.  In  addition,  the
Corporation's  by-laws permit the Corporation to exclude from  consideration  at
the Meeting any  Stockholder  proposal  first  brought to the  attention  of the
Corporation after March 18, 2002.

     Notice  is  hereby  given  that,   under  the  Securities   Exchange  Act's
stockholder  proposal  rule (Rule  14a-8),  any  Stockholder  proposal  that may
properly  be  included in the Proxy  solicitation  material  for the next Annual
Meeting,  now scheduled  for May 2003,  must be received by the  Corporation  no
later than December 20, 2002. Timely notice of Stockholder  proposals  submitted
outside of the Rule 14a-8 process must be received by the Corporation no earlier
than  February  15,  2003 and no later than March 17,  2003 to be  eligible  for
presentation at the May 2003 Annual Meeting.

                                   D. EXPENSES
                                   -----------

     The Corporation  will bear the cost of soliciting  Proxies.  In addition to
the use of the mails,  Proxies may be solicited  personally  or via facsimile or
telegraph by Directors,  officers and employees of the Corporation, the Manager,
Seligman Advisors,  Inc.,  Seligman Services,  Inc. and Seligman Data Corp., and
the Corporation may reimburse  persons holding shares in their names or names of
their  nominees  for their  expenses in sending  solicitation  material to their
beneficial  owners.  The  Corporation  has engaged  Morrow & Co., Inc., 445 Park
Avenue,  New York,  N.Y.  10022 to assist in soliciting for a fee of $4,000 plus
expenses.


                            By order of the Board of Directors,

                                      /s/ Frank J. Nasta

                                                      Secretary

                                   ----------

     IT IS  IMPORTANT  THAT  PROXIES BE  RETURNED  PROMPTLY.  ALL  STOCKHOLDERS,
INCLUDING  THOSE WHO EXPECT TO ATTEND THE MEETING,  ARE URGED TO DATE,  FILL IN,
SIGN AND MAIL THE ENCLOSED FORM OF PROXY IN THE ENCLOSED RETURN ENVELOPE,  WHICH
REQUIRES NO POSTAGE IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES.  A PROXY IS NOT REQUIRED FOR
ADMISSION TO THE MEETING.

                                       20



                                   APPENDIX 1

                           TRI-CONTINENTAL CORPORATION
                               (THE "CORPORATION")
                             AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT

     The role of the Audit  Committee is to assist the Board of Directors in its
oversight  of the  Corporation's  financial  reporting  process.  The  Committee
operates  pursuant to a charter  that was last amended and restated by the Board
on March 15, 2001. As set forth in the charter, management of the Corporation is
responsible for the preparation, presentation and integrity of the Corporation's
financial statements,  and for the procedures designed to assure compliance with
accounting  standards  and  applicable  laws and  regulations.  The  independent
auditors are responsible for auditing the Corporation's financial statements and
expressing an opinion as to their conformity with generally accepted  accounting
principles.

     In performing  its oversight  function,  the Committee has  considered  and
discussed the audited  financial  statements with management and the independent
auditors.  The Committee has discussed with the independent auditors the matters
required  to  be  discussed  by   Statement  on  Auditing   Standards   No.  61,
COMMUNICATION WITH AUDIT COMMITTEES, as modified or supplemented.  The Committee
has also received the written disclosures from the independent auditors required
by Independence  Standards Board Standard No. 1,  INDEPENDENCE  DISCUSSIONS WITH
AUDIT COMMITTEES, as currently in effect.

     The members of the Audit  Committee are not  professionally  engaged in the
practice  of  auditing  or  accounting  and are not  experts  in the  fields  of
accounting or auditing, including the issue of auditor independence.  Members of
the Committee rely without independent  verification on the information provided
to them  and on the  representations  made  by  management  and the  independent
auditors.  Accordingly,  the Audit  Committee's  oversight  does not  provide an
independent  basis to  determine  that  management  has  maintained  appropriate
accounting and financial reporting  principles or appropriate  internal controls
and  procedures  designed to assure  compliance  with  accounting  standards and
applicable   laws  and   regulations.   Furthermore,   the   Audit   Committee's
considerations and discussions referred to above do not assure that the audit of
the Corporation's  financial  statements has been carried out in accordance with
generally  accepted  auditing  standards,  that  the  financial  statements  are
presented in accordance with generally  accepted  accounting  principles or that
the Corporation's auditors are in fact "independent."

                                      1-i



     Based upon the  reports  and  discussions  described  in this  report,  and
subject to the  limitations  on the role and  responsibilities  of the Committee
referred to above and in the charter,  the  Committee  recommended  to the Board
that the audited financial  statements be included in the  Corporation's  Annual
Report for the year ended December 31, 2001.



                        SUBMITTED BY THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
                     OF THE CORPORATION'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS

John R. Galvin
John E. Merow
Betsy S. Michel
Leroy C. Richie
James N. Whitson


As approved on March 21, 2002.


                                      1-ii



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                                                                 Tri-Continental
                                                                     Corporation






                                             NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING
                                                      OF STOCKHOLDERS
                                                      AND
                                                      PROXY STATEMENT







                                             -----------------------------------
                                               TIME:   MAY 16, 2002
                                                       8:30 A.M.
                                             -----------------------------------




                                                PLACE: HILTON HOTEL
                                                       200 TICE BOULEVARD
                                                       WOODCLIFF LAKE,
                                                       NEW JERSEY 07677


                                             PLEASE  DATE,  FILL IN AND SIGN THE
                                             ENCLOSED  FORM OF PROXY AND MAIL IT
                                             IN  THE  ENCLOSED  RETURN  ENVELOPE
                                             WHICH REQUIRES NO POSTAGE IF MAILED
                                             IN THE UNITED STATES.



    Tri-Continental Corporation


            MANAGED BY
         [SELIGMAN LOGO]
      J. & W. SELIGMAN & CO.
           INCORPORATED
 INVESTMENT MANAGERS AND ADVISORS
         ESTABLISHED 1864
100 PARK AVENUE, NEW YORK, NY 10017





PROXY                      TRI-CONTINENTAL CORPORATION                    COMMON
                      100 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017

The undersigned,  revoking previous proxies,  acknowledges receipt of the Notice
of Meeting  and Proxy  Statement  for the  Annual  Meeting  of  Stockholders  of
TRI-CONTINENTAL  CORPORATION to be held May 16, 2002 and appoints JOHN E. MEROW,
WILLIAM C.  MORRIS and BRIAN T. ZINO (and each of them)  proxies,  with power of
substitution  to attend the Annual  Meeting (and any  adjournments  thereof) and
vote all shares the  undersigned is entitled to vote upon the matters  indicated
and on any other business that may properly come before the Meeting.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[ ] To vote for all items AS RECOMMENDED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, mark this
    box, sign, date and return this Proxy. (NO ADDITIONAL VOTE IS NECESSARY.)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

THIS PROXY WHEN PROPERLY  EXECUTED  WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER  DIRECTED BY THE
UNDERSIGNED.  IF NO  INSTRUCTIONS  ARE  GIVEN,  YOUR  PROXIES  WILL VOTE FOR THE
ELECTION  OF THE  NOMINEES  TO THE BOARD OF  DIRECTORS  AND FOR  PROPOSAL  2 AND
AGAINST PROPOSAL 3.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE SOLICITATION OF THIS PROXY IS MADE ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT. COMPLETE, SIGN ON REVERSE SIDE AND RETURN THIS CARD
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. MARK EACH VOTE WITH AN X IN THE BOX.



    THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE FOR EACH OF THE NOMINEES
                   AND FOR PROPOSAL 2 AND AGAINST PROPOSAL 3.


1.  ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
    NOMINEES: Paul C. Guidone, John E. Merow, Betsy S. Michel and James N.
              Whitson

    [ ] FOR              [ ] WITHHOLD         [ ] WITHHOLDING AUTHORITY
        all nominees         all nominees         for individual nominees listed

    -----------------------------


2.  Ratification of the selection of Deloitte & Touche LLP as Auditors.

    [ ] FOR              [ ] AGAINST          [ ] ABSTAIN


3.  Stockholder proposal relating to termination of investment management
    agreement.

    [ ] FOR              [ ] AGAINST          [ ] ABSTAIN


DATED ________________________________ , 2002


_____________________________________________
Signature

_____________________________________________
Signature (if jointly held)
PLEASE SIGN EXACTLY AS YOUR NAME(S) APPEAR(S)
ON THIS PROXY. ONLY ONE SIGNATURE IS REQUIRED
IN CASE OF A JOINT ACCOUNT. WHEN SIGNING IN A
REPRESENTATIVE CAPACITY, PLEASE GIVE TITLE.


YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT: Please complete, sign and return this card as soon as
                        possible. Mark each vote with an X in the box.




PROXY                      TRI-CONTINENTAL CORPORATION                 PREFERRED
                      100 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017

The undersigned,  revoking previous proxies,  acknowledges receipt of the Notice
of Meeting  and Proxy  Statement  for the  Annual  Meeting  of  Stockholders  of
TRI-CONTINENTAL  CORPORATION to be held May 16, 2002 and appoints JOHN E. MEROW,
WILLIAM C.  MORRIS and BRIAN T. ZINO (and each of them)  proxies,  with power of
substitution  to attend the Annual  Meeting (and any  adjournments  thereof) and
vote all shares the  undersigned is entitled to vote upon the matters  indicated
and on any other business that may properly come before the Meeting.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[ ] To vote for all items AS RECOMMENDED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, mark this
    box, sign, date and return this Proxy. (NO ADDITIONAL VOTE IS NECESSARY.)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

THIS PROXY WHEN PROPERLY  EXECUTED  WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER  DIRECTED BY THE
UNDERSIGNED.  IF NO  INSTRUCTIONS  ARE  GIVEN,  YOUR  PROXIES  WILL VOTE FOR THE
ELECTION  OF THE  NOMINEES  TO THE BOARD OF  DIRECTORS  AND FOR  PROPOSAL  2 AND
AGAINST PROPOSAL 3.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE SOLICITATION OF THIS PROXY IS MADE ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT. COMPLETE, SIGN ON REVERSE SIDE AND RETURN THIS CARD
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. MARK EACH VOTE WITH AN X IN THE BOX.



    THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE FOR EACH OF THE NOMINEES
                   AND FOR PROPOSAL 2 AND AGAINST PROPOSAL 3.


1.  ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
    NOMINEES: Paul C. Guidone, John E. Merow, Betsy S. Michel and James N.
              Whitson

    [ ] FOR              [ ] WITHHOLD         [ ] WITHHOLDING AUTHORITY
        all nominees         all nominees         for individual nominees listed

    -----------------------------


2.  Ratification of the selection of Deloitte & Touche LLP as Auditors.

    [ ] FOR              [ ] AGAINST          [ ] ABSTAIN


3.  Stockholder proposal relating to termination of investment management
    agreement.

    [ ] FOR              [ ] AGAINST          [ ] ABSTAIN


DATED ________________________________ , 2002


_____________________________________________
Signature

_____________________________________________
Signature (if jointly held)
PLEASE SIGN EXACTLY AS YOUR NAME(S) APPEAR(S)
ON THIS PROXY. ONLY ONE SIGNATURE IS REQUIRED
IN CASE OF A JOINT ACCOUNT. WHEN SIGNING IN A
REPRESENTATIVE CAPACITY, PLEASE GIVE TITLE.


YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT: Please complete, sign and return this card as soon as
                        possible. Mark each vote with an X in the box.