Kittredge Hall
Address79, Garden Street, Cambridge, MA, United States of America, 02138
Site Number495
Alternate Names
Harvard University Press,
Gray Herbarium,
Kidder Herbarium
Building Root Number
00470
Architect (Original)
William L. Mowll
Constructed
1909
Building Acquired 1909
Building Acquired 1909
StatusActive
Site Name HistoryThe site is named for George Lyman Kittredge (1860–1941), professor of English literature at Harvard. The previous names of the building reflect its historic use as the original Harvard Herbarium and the names of the donors who made its original construction possible: George Robert White Laboratories, Benjamin L. Robinson Wing, the Gray Herbarium, and the Kidder Herbarium.Historical NotesKittredge Hall was initially built by Harvard in 1909 for Gray Herbarium and Harvard botany collections that then occupied the site, which faced onto the original Harvard Botanic Gardens. The building was designed by local architect William Mowll. The building has separate wings which were constructed at different times and have been referred to by different names over the years. The building now serves as the home of the Harvard University Press, which moved to this location in 1965. Funds for the building were contributed by the Visiting Committee and from Herbarium income. The Benjamin L. Robinson Wing, completed in 1942 was a gift of Francis Wells Hunnewell (A.B. 1902).
Additional Information
“New Facade Built on Gray Herbarium to Be Done in April: Harvard Improvement Nears Finish.” The Christian Science Monitor, 29 Jan. 1913, p. 1.
“Ready June 1. Gray Herbarium Has Been Enlarged to Meet the Demands of a Growing Harvard Department.” Cambridge Tribune, 20 Apr. 1912.
“Gray Herbarium Is Ready to House Great Collection: Steel and Concrete Structure at Harvard Is Completed After Nearly Five Years’ Work.” The Christian Science Monitor, 18 Mar. 1915, p. 5.
“The Reconstructed Gray Herbarium.” Cambridge Chronicle, 20 Mar. 1915, p. 10.
“New Gray Herbarium Nearing Completion.” Cambridge Chronicle, 13 Apr. 1912, p. 13.
“Important Sale on Garden Street.” Cambridge Tribune, 17 Dec. 1910.
“Gray Herbarium at Botanic Gardens.” Cambridge Tribune, 20 Mar. 1915, p. 4.
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
“A New Gray Herbarium.” Boston Evening Transcript, 8 Apr. 1912, p. 14.
General Information by and about Kittredge Hall. Harvard University Archives HUB 1486
“Name New Quarters of Harvard Press for Prof. Kittredge.” Cambridge Chronicle, 5 July 1956, p. 3.