Holworthy Hall
Address19, Harvard Yard, Cambridge, MA, United States of America, 02138
Site Number927
Building Root Number
03355
Architect (Original)
Loammi Baldwin Jr.
Building Acquired
1812
Constructed 1812
Constructed 1812
StatusActive
Site Name HistoryThe site is named after Sir Matthew Holworthy, a London merchant who bequeathed £1000 to Harvard College upon his death in 1678.Historical NotesHolworthy Hall was built as a dormitory for Harvard students, a role it continues to serve today. It forms the northern boundary of the Old Yard and was the first building to positioned east of the open quadrangles created by Harvard Hall, Hollis Hall and Stoughton Hall. The design is attributed to Loammi Baldwin (A.B. 1800). The construction of the building was funded by the proceeds of a lottery authorized by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the estate of Sir Matthew Holworthy. An 1871 renovation of the building altered its appearance at the roof line. Holworthy Hall was the first building at Harvard to be lighted by gas.
Additional Information
Weber, Paul J. Photographs of Harvard University Buildings and Grounds Taken by Paul J. Weber, Ca. 1929-1931 and 1939. Harvard University Archives call number HUV 2329
Harvard University. Corporation. Records of Early Harvard Buildings, 1710-1969. (1710). Harvard University Archives call number UAI 15.10.5
Hale, Herbert D. “Recent Buildings at Harvard University.” The Architectural Review, vol. 8:6, June 1901, pp. 65-75, illus.
Harvard. 1850-1920. Boston Public Library, Print Department., Boston. Web. Local Accession Number: 06_11_000914
The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Photography Collection, The New York Public Library. "Holworthy Hall, Harvard College." The New York Public Library Digital Collections. http://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47e0-6bc3-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99
Records of Early Harvard Buildings, 1710-1969, Harvard University Archives call number UAI 15.10.5 http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.ARCH:hua50010.
Manuscript Inventory of Personal Property of the College, 1828, Harvard University Archives call number UAI 20.828.
Wallpaper Fragments from Holworthy Hall, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, ca. 1812-ca. 1950, Harvard University Archives call number HUB 1453.6.
General Information by and About Holworthy Hall, Harvard University Archives call number HUB 1453.2.
Baldwin, Loammi. Loammi Baldwin Notes on the Construction of Holworthy Hall, [photostat Copy], circa 1812. Harvard University Archives call number HUB 1453.5 pf
Massachusetts Daughters of the American Revolution. Hannah Winthrop chapter, Cambridge. An Historic Guide to Cambridge. 2nd ed., rev. ed., Cambridge, Mass., 1907.
Hurlbut, Byron Satterlee. A Guide Book to the Grounds and Buildings of Harvard University. Cambridge: U, 1898. Print.