Littauer Center
Address1805, Cambridge Street, Cambridge, MA, United States of America, 02138
Site Number705
Previous Building Number
180
Building Root Number 04385
Building Root Number 04385
Architect (Original)
Coolidge, Shepley, Bulfinch, and Abbott
Constructed
1938
Building Acquired 1938
Dedicated 1939
Building Acquired 1938
Dedicated 1939
StatusActive
Site Name HistoryThe site is named after Lucius N. Littauer (1859-1944, A.B. 1878), an American politician, businessman, and Harvard benefactor.Historical NotesLittauer Center was designed by Boston-based Coolidge Shepley Bulfinch and Abbott and was completed in 1938 for Harvard's Graduate School of Public Administration (now called Harvard Kennedy School of Government, renamed in 1966).In 1966, the Kennedy School of Government needed more space and considered adding a building next to Littauer, but found that the site was too small. Eventually, a new building (its current location) was constructed in 1978-79.
In 1969, a floor was added to the mezzanine level, and Shepley Bulfinch Richardson and Abbott designed the new offices for it.
In 1979, Crissman & Solomon Architects added seminar rooms by adding a mezzanine level floor above the double height library.
In 2009, with minor changes, the library space was used to house Fogg Art Fine Arts Library during its major renovation.
The building is constructed of the same Chelmsford white granite that was used to construct University Hall. Today the building is home to Harvard's Economics department.
Additional Information
“Two New Harvard Buildings : Coolidge, Shepley, Bulfinch & Abbott, Architects.” Architectural Forum, vol. 73, July. 1940, pp. 55–60. https://usmodernist.org/AF/AF-1940-07.pdf
Metcalf, Keyes Dewitt. Planning Acdemic and Research Library Buildings. McGraw Hill, 1965
"Littauer Center at Harvard Opens for Regular use: Harvard Opens another New Building Littauer." The Christian Science Monitor, 13 February 1939, p. 9.
"Dedicate Littauer Center Tomorrow: Ceremonies at Harvard Graduate School." Daily Boston Globe, 7 May 1939, p. 1.
"Harvard Plans Dedication of its New Littauer Center." The Christian Science Monitor, 27 April 1939, p. 14.
"Harvard Opens Littauer Center: Graduate School of Public Administration Now is using New Home Practical Realism Sought Twelve Fellows Provided for Eight "Workshops" Included." New York Times, 3 December 1939, p. 69.
"Littauer Center Dedicated by Harvard Donor: N. Y. Manufacturer Asserts Aim is to Train 'Wise Leaders of Free People'." New York Herald Tribune, 9 May 1939, p. 1.
"Littauer School to Stage Laying of Cornerstone: Ground Broken this Spring." The Christian Science Monitor, 6 May 1938, p. 14.
"Littauer Gives Harvard $250,000 to Double Size of New Building." Daily Boston Globe, 27 October 1937, p. 1.
"$2,000,000 Gift of Lucius N. Littauer For School of Public Administration." The Harvard Crimson. 11 December 1935. https://www.thecrimson.com/article/1935/12/11/2000000-gift-of-lucius-n-littauer/
Evans, John. "Harvard Plans to Instruct in Public Service: Gets Gift of $2,000,000 for Teaching Duties of Political Offices." Chicago Daily Tribune, 14 March 1937, pp. 1-e5.
"Littauer Gives 2 Millions for Harvard Civic School: Retired Glove Manufacturer, of Class of '78, Endows Graduate Work in Public Administration Dr. Conant Names Group to Study Plans." New York Herald Tribune, 11 December 1935, p. 1.
"For Harvard School of Public Office: Board Reports on Littauer Gift of $2,000,000." Daily Boston Globe, 27 January 1937, p. 17.
"Harvard Opens Doors of New Center may 8: $2,500,000 Littauer Hall to House Graduate Unit of Public Administration New Student Officers at Vassar College, Poughkeepsie." New York Herald Tribune, 30 April 1939, p. 1.
"Harvard Starts Littauer Center: New School Will Seek to Elevate Public Administration by Training Able Men." New York Times, 9 May 1939, p. 16.
"Donates $2,000,000 for Harvard School: Lucius Littauer '78 Provides for Public Administration Unit- Dodds to Head Survey." Daily Boston Globe, 11 December 1935, p. 1.
"L. N. Littauer Gives Harvard $2,000,000 for New School: Gift of New York Glove Manufacturer and Former Congressman Will be for Establishment of Graduate School of Public Administration." The Sun, 11 December 1935, p. 7.
"Harvard Gets $2,000,000 for Civics: Lucius N. Littauer Makes Gift to Teach Public Administration, Gift Will be Administered Under Committee, Makes Splendid Addition to Other Benevolences from Same Source. $500,000 Already in Hand Received Other Gifts Conant Appreciates Gift." The Christian Science Monitor, 11 December 1935, p. 9.
"Littauer Sees Better Future through His Gift to Harvard: Philanthropist Lays Cornerstone for Building to House School of Public Administration." Daily Boston Globe, 11 May 1938, p. 1.
"Littauer, Lucius Nathan (1859-1944)." Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. https://bioguideretro.congress.gov/Home/ MemberDetails?memIndex=L000347
"Cornerstone for Littauer Center Laid by Founder; Foresees Bright Future for Graduate School; Dean Williams Calls for New Methods," The Harvard Crimson, May 11, 1938
“New Littauer Building to Replace Hemenway.” Harvard Crimson, 12 Jan. 1938, https://www.thecrimson.com/article/1938/1/12/new-littauer-building-to-replace-hemenway/.
"Harvard Opens Littauer Center." New York Times, 3 Dec 1939, p. D5.
"Drawing of Littauer Center." Boston Daily Globe, 27 Oct 1937, p. 15
Harvard University Archives. Construction Management Records, ca. 1953-1986. Harvard University Archives call number UAV 298.8000
"To Establish School of Government at Harvard University." Cambridge Tribune, 13 December 1935, p. 1.
"Harvard to Open Littauer School Minus Students: Realistic Basis Members of Staff." The Christian Science Monitor, 29 January 1937, p.10.
Allison, Graham. Official Register of Harvard University. Report of the President of Harvard College and Reports of Departments, 1978-1979. John F. Kennedy School of Government. Harvard University, 2 July 1980, p. 378.
Bryant, Douglas W. and Laurence J. Kipp. Official Register of Harvard University. Report of the President of Harvard College and Reports of Departments, 1978-1979. Harvard University, 2 July 1980, p. 406.
"Harvard's New Littauer Center Creates Stir in Local Circles." Cambridge Tribune, 10 February 1939, p. 6.
"Harvard Grad Gives Additional $250,000." Cambridge Tribune, 29 October 1937, p. 3.
Bryant, Douglas W. and Louise E. Martin. Official Register of Harvard University. Report of the President of Harvard College and Reports of Departments, 1977-1978. Harvard University, 9 July 1979, p. 453.
Price, Don K. Official Register of Harvard University. Report of the President of Harvard College and Reports of Departments, 1965-1966. Graduate School of Public Health. Harvard University, 25 October 1967, pp. 354-357.
Pusey, Nathan. Official Register of Harvard University. Report of the President of Harvard College and Reports of Departments, 1965-1966. Harvard University, 25 October 1967, pp. 14-16.
"Littauer Center to be Dedicated on Mon. May 8--Donor to Attend." Cambridge Tribune, 28 April 1939, p. 8.
"L.N. Littauer Gives Millions to Harvard." Cambridge, MA, 13 May 1938, p. 1.
"Harvard to Dedicate Littauer Center, May 8." Daily Boston Globe, 27 April 1939, p. 11.
"Old Hemenway Gym Giving Way to Littauer School at Harvard." Daily Boston Globe, 18 January 1938, p. 3.
"'Absolutism' Hit by Littauer at Center Dedication: Dedicating a School for Public Leaders Littauer." The Christian Science Monitor, 8 May 1939, p. 1.
"Maytime Comes to Harvard: The Week at Harvard Social Diversions Maytime Comes to Harvard Socially and Scholastically Yenching Gets Cherries Littauer Dedication Widener Library Tempest." The Christian Science Monitor, 10 May 1938, p. 9.
"Lucius N. Littauer." Obituary. The Christian Science Monitor, 2 March 1944, p. 7.
"Littauer Lays Cornerstone of 'Officeholders' School: To Improve Service Plans Tentative." The Christian Science Monitor, 11 May 1938, p. 10.
"Littauer Center at Harvard Opens for Regular Use: Harvard Opens Another New Building Littauer." The Christian Science Monitor, 13 February 1939, p. 9.
"New Million Dollar Public Administration Building Nears Completion." The Harvard Crimson. 1 September 1938. https://www.thecrimson.com/article/1938/9/1/new-million-dollar-public-administration-building/
Harvard University Archives. General Information by and about the Littauer Center. Harvard University Archives call number HUB 1525.2
