Program Houses/Dormitories (1968)

Date

1968-present

Location

Afrikan Heritage House: 126-128 Forest St.
Bailey: 208 N. Professor St.
Barnard: 148 N. Professor St.
Harvey: 96 S. Professor St.
Kade: 104 S. Professor St.
Third World House: 100 Forest St.
Zechiel: 207 Woodland St.

Architects/Collaborators

Moore & Hutchins, New York City (architects)
Wm. E. Schweitzer & Co., Evanston, IL (contractor)

Style

Modern: Contemporary

History

In 1968, eight dormitories were built as program houses: Lord and Saunders (now Afrikan Heritage House), Bailey (French House), Barnard (substance-free), Harvey (Spanish House), Kade (German House), Price (now Third World House), and Zechiel (undesignated). They were all designed by Moore & Hutchins of New York in the Contemporary style.

The largest program house on south campus is the Afrikan Heritage House, made up of Lord and Saunders; the program moved there in 1972. A plaque in the lobby of Lord continues the earlier Lord Cottage memorial to Elizabeth Russell Lord. In Saunders a plaque honors Clyde A. and Helen Kelly Saunders. This modern building overlooking South Bowl is the center of activity for students who want to heighten their understanding of cultures, traditions, and issues among African, African American, and Afrikan Caribbean societies. Price or Third World House welcomes and acts as a safe space for those who identify as a marginalized person including people of color, first generation college students, low income families, lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, questioning and transgender students, and allies of all these groups.

Harvey (Spanish) House honors Arthur J. and Martha Miller Harvey, both AB 1900. Kade (German) House honors the Max Kade Foundation of New York City, interested in projects concerning German-American intercultural relations. Price (Third World House) House honors Mrs. Laura Shurtleff Price, Ph.B 1893. Zechiel House honors Ernest R. Zechiel, A.B. 1912. Barnard House honors former Trustee Harry E. Barnard, A.B. 1915. Bailey House, originally called Men's II, was renamed in 1973 to honor Walter King Bailey, A.B. 1919, former Trustee.

Four of these dormitories, Harvey, Kade, Barnard and Bailey, are on Professor Street. Three of them, Price, Lord and Saunders, are on Forest Street. Zechiel is located on Woodland Street.

Sources

Oberlin College Resed Housing website, accessed May 27, 2015.

Ohio Historic Inventories, Ohio State Historic Preservation Office, accessed from the City-wide Building Inventory, Oberlin Heritage Center website, May 27, 2015.