UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT
     Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934


Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): January 13, 2009


                           TRI-CONTINENTAL CORPORATION
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)


          Maryland                      811-00266              13-5441850
(State or other jurisdiction   (Commission File Number)    (I.R.S. Employer
     of incorporation)                                      Identification No.)

                                100 Park Avenue,
                            New York, New York 10017
               (Address of principal executive offices, zip code)


Registrant's telephone number, including area code    (212) 850-1864

                                 Not Applicable
         (Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

Check  the  appropriate  box  below  if the  Form  8-K  filing  is  intended  to
simultaneously  satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

|_|  Written  communications  pursuant to Rule 425 under the  Securities Act (17
     CFR 230.425)

|_|  Soliciting  material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
     240.14a-12)

|_|  Pre-commencement   communications  pursuant  to  Rule  14d-2(b)  under  the
     Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

|_|  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule13e-4(c) under the Exchange
     Act (17CFR 240.13e-4(c))


SECTION 7 - REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE

Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.

Registrant  is  furnishing  as Exhibit  99.1 the  attached  Press  Release as of
January 13, 2009 for Tri-Continental Corporation.

SECTION 9 - FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

Exhibit  99.1 -  Press  Release  dated  January  13,  2009  for  Tri-Continental
Corporation.




                                    SIGNATURE


Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934,  the
Registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


                                                     TRI-CONTINENTAL CORPORATION


Date: January 13, 2009


                                                     By: /s/ Joseph D'Alessandro
                                                         -----------------------
                                                             Joseph D'Alessandro
                                                             Assistant Secretary