Cronkhite Center
Address84-86, Brattle Street, Cambridge, MA, United States of America, 02138
Previous Address6, Ash Street, Cambridge, MA, United States of America, 02138
Site Number531
Building Root Number
03022
Architect (Original)
Perry Shaw Hepburn Kehoe & Dean
Land Acquired
1905-1906
Building Acquired 1959
Constructed 1959
Dedicated 1960
Building Acquired 1959
Constructed 1959
Dedicated 1960
StatusActive
Site Name HistoryThe site is named for Bernice Brown Cronkhite (1893 – 1983), dean of Radcliffe College from 1923.Historical NotesCronkhite Center was built as a graduate student dormitory in 1959 for Radcliffe College. It was designed by Boston-based Perry Shaw Hepburn Kehoe and Dean. The building was built in three parts over four years beginning in 1955 with the western section along Ash Street referred to as "Step A". The section along Ash Street Place began in 1957 and was referred to as "Steps B &C". The final section along Brattle Street, which contained the kitchen and dining room, was referred to as "Refectory - Step D" and completed in 1959.Additional Information
Radcliffe College Architectural Drawings, 1885-2006. (1885). Schlesinger Library call number RGXXXIII
Harvard University Archives. Construction Management Records, ca. 1953-1986. Harvard University Archives call number UAV 298.8000
“Mrs. Cronkhite Is Praised at Hall Dedication.” Cambridge Chronicle, 17 Nov. 1960, p. 8.
“Radcliffe Lays Cornerstone for Cronkhite Hall.” Cambridge Chronicle, 14 May 1959, p. 3.
“Radcliffe Names Grad Center for Bernice Brown Cronkhite.” Cambridge Chronicle, 24 June 1971, p. 11.
Lauenow, R. Deborah. “Annex Plans $3,500,000 Grad Center for Women Scholars.” The Harvard Crimson, 19 Oct. 1950, https://www.thecrimson.com/article/1950/10/19/annex-plans-3500000-grad-center-for/.
This building has been designated by the University Planning Office as having a Notable Interior.