Palfrey House
Address46, Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA, United States of America, 02138
Site Number413
Building Root Number
06025
Architect (Original)
Unknown
Constructed
1831
Building Acquired 1919
Land Acquired 1919
Building Acquired 1919
Land Acquired 1919
StatusActive
Site Name HistoryThe site is named after John Gorham Palfrey, professor at Harvard Divinity School.Historical NotesPalfrey House was built in 1831 for John Gorham Palfrey, a clergyman, professor at Harvard Divinity School and U.S. Representative. During World War I the building housed activities related to the United States Naval Radio School, which occupied a portion of Cambridge and Harvard's campus from 1917 to 1919. It was acquired by Harvard in 1919. Originally facing south, in 2003, Palfrey House was relocated to face north toward Hammond Street to accomodate the construction of the Northwest Building. Today it houses the Laboratory for Particle Physics and Cosmology.
Additional Information
“The Harvard House Is on the Move Again!” Cambridge Chronicle, 1 Oct. 2003, p. 21.
Sorokin, Elena. “Parking Your House Near Harvard Yard.” Harvard Crimson, 6 Oct. 2003, https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2003/10/6/parking-your-house-near-harvard-yard/.
Harvard University Archives. Construction Management Records, ca. 1953-1986. Harvard University Archives call number UAV 298.8000
2005 winner of the Cambridge Historical Commission Preservation Award.