Dunster House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dunster House |
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The central tower of Dunster House
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| University | Harvard University |
| Location | 945 Memorial Drive |
| Coordinates | 42°22′07″N 71°06′58″W / 42.3686°N 71.1162°W |
| Full name | Henry Dunster House |
| Established | 1930 |
| Named for | Henry Dunster |
| Sister college | Berkeley College |
| Faculty Deans | Sean Kelly and Cheryl Chen |
| Dean | Michael Uy |
| HoCo chairs | Bella Beckett and Dylan Zhou |
| Tutors | 19 |
Dunster House is one of twelve special living areas for students at Harvard University. It was built in 1930. It was one of the first two dorms built as part of Harvard's "House Plan." This plan helped create smaller communities for students. Edward Harkness helped fund seven of these Houses, including Dunster.
In the past, the rent for rooms changed based on their size and floor. Dunster House was special because it had a sixth floor that you had to walk up to. There were no elevators for these rooms. Students who needed more affordable rooms often rented these spaces. One famous student who lived there was Norman Mailer.
The House is named after Henry Dunster. He was the very first President of Harvard University.
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Discovering Dunster House History
The tall tower of Dunster House looks a bit like the famous Tom Tower at Christ Church, Oxford in England. It is a little smaller, though.
Above the east side of the building, you can see the Dunster family's coat of arms. On the west side, there is the coat of arms for Magdalene College, Cambridge. Henry Dunster studied at Magdalene College in 1627. To celebrate their connection, Magdalene College sent old stone carvings called tracery to Harvard. You can see these stones set into the wall near the J-entry doors of Dunster House.
Dunster House is located right by the Charles River. It is also next to the John W. Weeks Footbridge. This bridge connects Harvard's Allston and Cambridge campuses. If you look at Dunster House from above, its shape is quite unique. It looks like a branching flowchart. This is because of the unusual shape of the land it was built on.
In 2016, Dunster House went through a big renovation. This was called a "full House renewal." It was the first of Harvard's student houses to get such a complete update.
Fun Traditions at Dunster House
Like many Harvard Houses, Dunster has many fun yearly traditions.
- In the fall, students enjoy "Keg Races."
- In the winter, they have a sing-along for Messiah.
- In the spring, there is a "Goat Roast."
- The House also puts on a yearly Dunster House Opera.
Dunster is known as one of the more social Houses at Harvard. Students enjoy popular "Stein Clubs" and formal events. These events are held in the beautiful dining hall or courtyard.
Who Leads Dunster House?
As of the 2017-2018 school year, the Faculty Deans of Dunster are Sean Kelly and Cheryl Chen. They help guide the students and the House community. The first leader of the House was Chester Noyes Greenough. He was an English Professor and a former Dean of Harvard College.
Other past leaders include Roger Porter and Ann Porter, Raoul Bott, and Sally Falk Moore and Cresap Moore. Michael Uy is currently the Allston Burr Resident Dean. He helps students with their daily lives and academic questions.
Meet the Dunster House Mascot
Dunster's mascot is the moose. This mascot was inspired by the three golden elk on the Dunster family crest.
Famous People Who Lived at Dunster House
Many well-known people have lived at Dunster House.
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Susan Faludi -
Roger Rosenblatt
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Al Gore and Tommy Lee Jones were even roommates at Dunster House in the late 1960s. Other notable alumni from Dunster include Tatyana Ali, Christopher Durang, Lindsay Hyde, Dan Wilson, and Jean Kwok.
Images for kids
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Susan Faludi -
Roger Rosenblatt
