Massachusetts Hall
Address11, Harvard Yard, Cambridge, MA, United States of America, 02138
Site Number951
Building Root Number
03363
Designer (Original)
John Leverett
Designer (Original)
Benjamin Wadsworth
Architect (Original)
Unknown
Constructed
1720
Building Acquired 1720
Building Acquired 1720
StatusActive
Site Name HistoryThe site is named after the Massachusetts Bay Colony.Historical NotesCompleted in 1720, Massachusetts Hall is Harvard's oldest surviving building and a National Historic Landmark. It was originally built by Harvard as a dormitory containing 32 chambers, each with two smaller studies. In 1775 colonial soldiers were housed in Massachusetts Hall. At various points in history the building has held classrooms and scientific apparatus. After a fire in 1924 the building was restored to use as a dormitory and in 1939 air conditioning was added to the first and second floors which were used as offices for university administration. It currently houses offices for the Harvard President and freshman dormitory rooms. The construction of the building was funded by a grant from the Province of Massachusetts.Additional Information
Perkins Room
The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Photography Collection, The New York Public Library. "Harvard College building." The New York Public Library Digital Collections. http://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47e0-6ba6-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99
Manuscript Inventory of Personal Property of the College, 1828, Harvard University Archives call number UAI 20.828.
Room assignments, 1741-1767, Harvard University Archives call number HUB 1552.5.
General Information by and about Massachusetts Hall, Harvard University Archives call number HUB 1552.2.
“The ‘Nicest Building in the Yard.’” Harvard Magazine, Nov-Dec. 2001, https://harvardmagazine.com/2001/11/the-nicest-building-in-t.html.
Rosenberg, John S. “Icon.” Harvard Magazine, July-Aug. 2020, https://harvardmagazine.com/2020/07/jhj-icon.
Notman, William, and Lincoln, F. S. Photographic Views of Massachusetts Hall, 1795, 1850-1960s. (1795). Harvard University Archives call number HUV 30
Harvard University Archives. Construction Management Records, ca. 1953-1986. Harvard University Archives call number UAV 298.8000
Dixon, Brandon J. “A Facelift for Mass Hall.” Harvard Magazine, 6 June 2018, https://harvardmagazine.com/2018/06/mass-hall-facelift.
“The Humble Address of the President and Fellows of Harvard College in Cambridge.” Boston News-Letter, 28 Nov. 1720, p. 1.
Traughber, Rachel. “Historic Massachusetts Hall to Undergo Renovation, Preserving Legacy.” 4 May 2018, https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2018/05/historic-massachusetts-hall/.
Hurlbut, Byron Satterlee. A Guide Book to the Grounds and Buildings of Harvard University. Cambridge: U, 1898. Print.
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 University. Corporation. Records of Early Harvard Buildings, 1710-1969. (1710). Harvard University Archives call number UAI 15.10.5
Harvard Univesity: A Selection of Historic Buildings. Cambridge, Mass., 1986, page 5.
Massachusetts Hall H. C.1850-1920. Boston Public Library, Print Department., Boston. Web. Local Accession Number: 06_11_000919
Placed on the National Register of Historic Places October 15, 1966. National Register Information System ID: 66000769