Robinson Hall
Address35, Quincy Street, Cambridge, MA, United States of America, 02138
Site Number376
Alternate Names
Nelson Robinson, Jr. Hall,
Harvard Architectural School
Previous Building Number
115
Building Root Number 04415
Building Root Number 04415
Architect (Original)
McKim, Mead & White
Constructed
1900
Building Acquired 1900
Building Acquired 1900
StatusActive
Site Name HistoryThe site is named after Nelson Robinson Jr., (1878-1899), late son of Nelson and Eliza Sevey Robinson of Buffalo, New York, who provided funds for construction of the building.Historical NotesRobinson Hall was designed by the prominent New York architecture firm of McKim Mead and White and completed in 1902 to house Harvard's department of architecture. The building was a gift of the parents of Nelson Robinson, Jr (Class of 1900) who died unexpectedly from illness in 1899. Robinson was said to have an interest in architecture and landscape architecture. Today it is home to Harvard's history department. Robinson Hall was built of the site of the Walker House, home of James Walker (A.B. 1814). Walker house was moved to the site now occupied by the Sackler Museum.
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 Notes.” Cambridge Tribune, 23:45, 12 Jan. 1901.
“New Buildings.” Harvard Crimson, 8 May 1900, https://www.thecrimson.com/article/1900/5/8/new-buildings-pthe-plans-and-specifications/.
"Rising Walls of New College Buildings." Cambridge Chronicle. 18 Aug 1900, p.9-10.
"Finishing Touches." Cambridge Tribune. 24 Aug 1901, p. 5.
“Harvard’s Architectural Hall. Memorial Gift For an Only Son.” Springfield Republican, No. 6, 20 Oct. 1901, p. 12.
“New Architectural Hall.” Cambridge Tribune, 23 June 1900, p. 9.
Massachusetts Daughters of the American Revolution. Hannah Winthrop chapter, Cambridge. An Historic Guide to Cambridge. 2nd ed., rev. ed., Cambridge, Mass., 1907
“New Buildings at Harvard of Architectural Beauty.” Boston Post, 6 Oct. 1901, p. 26.
“Architectural Hall at Harvard.” Boston Globe, 20 June 1900, p. 5.
“Nelson Robinson Jr. Hall at Harvard.” The Brickbuilder, vol. 11, no. 5, 1902, p. 106, usmodernist.org/AF/AF-1902.pdf.
Harvard University Archives. Construction Management Records, ca. 1953-1986. Harvard University Archives call number UAV 298.8000
"More Than 500." Boston Daily Globe. 27 Sep 1900, p. 2.
"Harvard Improvements." Boston Daily Globe. 17 Mar 1901, p.37.
Hale, Herbert D. “Recent Buildings at Harvard University.” The Architectural Review, vol. 8:6, June 1901, pp. 65-75, illus.
General Information by and About Robinson Hall. Harvard University Archives call number HUB 1750.2.
Plans for Proposed Additions to Robinson Hall, 1935-1961. Loeb Design Library call number NA 6602 Camb-Harv H 1935.
Edgell, George Edward. "Suggested Addition to Robinson Hall." Harvard Alumni Bulletin. June 18, 1931, vol. 33:37, p. 1137-1141.
Carey, Aidan B. and Luthra, Yasmin. “Robinson Hall to Undergo Accessibility-Focused Renovation.” The Harvard Crimson, 11 Apr. 2018, https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2018/4/11/robinson-hall-renovations/.
“The New Buildings.” Harvard Crimson, 24 Sept. 1901, https://www.thecrimson.com/article/1901/9/24/the-new-buildings-pnone-of-the/.
This building has been designated by the University Planning Office as having a Notable Interior.