Radcliffe Quadrangle (Harvard) facts for kids
The Radcliffe Quadrangle is a special part of Harvard University's campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It's often called the Quad by students. This area used to be the main living space for students of Radcliffe College. It's a traditional college quad, which means it's a square or rectangular area surrounded by buildings. It's a bit separate from the main Harvard campus. Remember, the Quad is a place, not the same as Radcliffe College itself!
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What is the Quad?
The name "the Quad" can mean a few things. It can refer to the big green field surrounded by Cabot and Pforzheimer Houses. Or, it can mean the whole area bounded by Garden, Linnaean, Walker, and Shepard Streets. This larger area includes the green field and all of Pforzheimer, Cabot, and Currier Houses. These are known as the "Quad Houses." The Hilles building is also part of this area. It used to have a library and now holds student groups.
Getting Around the Quad
Currier House and the Hilles building are separated from the rest of the Quad. There's a special path and road between them. This road is mostly used by campus shuttle buses. Other nearby places are also often considered part of the Quad. These include the Botanic Gardens, Kittredge, and the Quadrangle Recreational Athletic Center (Q-RAC).
Buildings at the Quad
Many important buildings are located in the Radcliffe Quadrangle. These buildings are mostly student dorms, where students live after their first year at Harvard.
- Hilles Library
- Pforzheimer House
- Wolbach Hall (built 1938)
- Moors Hall (built 1947)
- Holmes Hall (built 1951)
- Comstock Hall (built 1957)
- Jordan House North (built 1960)
- Jordan House South
- Cabot House
- Bertram Hall (built 1901)
- Eliot Hall (built 1906-1907)
- Barnard Hall (built 1911-1912)
- Whitman Hall (built 1911-1912)
- Briggs Hall (built 1923)
- Cabot Hall (built 1936)
- Currier House (built 1969)
Who are the Quadlings?
The three "Quad Houses" are Cabot, Currier, and Pforzheimer. These are three of the twelve residential houses where most Harvard students live. Students who live in these houses are often called Quadlings. This fun nickname comes from the Quadlings in the famous Oz books.
Quad Houses vs. River Houses
The Quad is about half a mile northwest of the main Harvard campus. The main campus includes Harvard Yard, where most classrooms and offices are. The other nine Harvard Houses are called "River Houses." They are all close to each other, south of Harvard Yard, near the Charles River.
History of the Quad
The Radcliffe Quadrangle started as a place for female students to live. This began in 1901 with the building of Bertram Hall.
Becoming Co-Ed
Male students first moved into the Quad around 1970. This was part of a student exchange program between Radcliffe and Harvard. Female students from Radcliffe also moved into Harvard's Winthrop House at that time. By 1972, the Quad became fully co-ed. This means both male and female students could live there. This happened when Radcliffe College and Harvard University agreed to let their students live on either campus.
Why "Radcliffe" Stays in the Name
In the past, Radcliffe College was sometimes called "the Harvard Annex." Its dorms were known as "Annex housing." But within Radcliffe, the dorms were officially called the "Radcliffe Quadrangle." Because of a special agreement between Harvard and Radcliffe, the Radcliffe Quadrangle and the Radcliffe Yard will always keep the name "Radcliffe." To learn more about Radcliffe's changing role, you can read about Radcliffe College.
