# History ## expand\_more Winthrop House was founded in 1931, as part of the new Harvard House system created by President Lowell. It was named after John Winthrop (1714-1779, AB 1732), the Hollis Professor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy and acting President of Harvard in 1769 and 1773-1774. The House quickly also became associated with Prof. Winthrop's ancestor, Governor John Winthrop (1588-1649), a leader of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. In July 2025, the name of the House was changed from "John Winthrop House" to "Winthrop House", following a request to dename Winthrop House and subsequent review. You can learn more about the denaming petition, the review and report, and on-going work in Winthrop House towards a culture of belonging on the ["What's in a Name?" page](/whats-name "What's In A Name?"). The House crest is the Winthrop family coat of arms, a lion rampant on a shield with three chevrons in the background. You can learn more about the history of the Winthrop House community and more on the following tabs. Architecture and Buildings Portraits and Artifacts ## Architecture and Buildings Today, Winthrop House consists of three buildings, Beren Hall, Gore Hall and Standish Hall. Originally, the buildings were established in 1914 as separate freshmen dormitories. At this time, the current Library served as the Dining Room for Standish residents. The Architects for the houses, Coolidge, Shepley and Rutan, used opulent English precedents for architectural accent when designing the houses. Gore Hall was based on Sir Christopher Wren's late-seventeenth-century garden facade of Hampton Court. Two gates connect Gore and Standish Hall. In the front entrance is the Winthrop Gate, which has the Winthrop family coat of arms welded prominently in the front. Facing the Charles River is the Fly Club Gate. Built on a more human scale than some of the other river gates, the gentle inward curve of this English Baroque gate conveys a sense of friendly beckoning. Its size and form mimic the Winthrop Gate, executed in the same year. In the Fly Club Gate, the judicious use of brick and picturesque wrought-iron detailing render the entrance less forbidding than, for example, the massive stone entrance and wrought-iron gate at Dunster House. The symbol of the [Fly Club](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fly_Club), the leopard, is centered within the once polychromed ironwork above the entry. Inscribed below the symbol is the dedication: "For Friendships Made in College the Fly Club in Gratitude has Built this Gate." ## The House System The two halls were unified as John Winthrop House (now, Winthrop House) under the implementation of the House system and through a generous gift to the college by Edward S. Harkness (Yale 1897), heir to a Standard Oil fortune. Harkness was long interested in education and supported the creation of a house system similar to that of Oxford colleges. When Yale stalled in its efforts to enact a new housing plan Harkness could fund, Harkness turned to President Lowell. When Lowell described his plan, Harkness offered a gift of $11 million to fund seven new residential houses. The final arrangement of the River Houses then incorporated the earlier freshman dorms, creating Winthrop House in 1931 from Standish and Gore Halls. The original construction of the freshmen river halls, Standish and Gore, was intended to combat growing social and class schisms in the student community of Harvard. Under President Lowell, the University hoped to create a sense of solidarity in students through concentrated housing. No two design plans were alike for the new houses. Exteriors and interiors bespoke elegance. "One ought to eat only venison, drink only champagne in the...dining room," wrote undergraduate columnist George Homans '32 of the new houses. The seven Houses' titles evoked Harvard History. Dunster, Eliot, Kirkland and Leverett bore the names of former presidents. Adams, Lowell and Winthrop honored families long involved with the College. When the houses were finally opened, nearly 90% of the student body elected to live in them. The House system was widely hailed as a forward step in American higher education. ## Standish and Gore Halls Standish Hall is believed to honor Captain Miles Standish (c. 1584-1656), a professional soldier and one of the few non-Pilgrims on the Mayflower. Mrs. Russel Sage, one of his descendants, donated the funds for this building as a freshman hall. Gore Hall, regarded by many as one of Harvard's most beautiful buildings, celebrates Christopher Gore (A.B. 1776), a Harvard Fellow, Massachusetts Governor, Senator and longtime benefactor of the college library. Christopher Gore was born in Boston in 1758, the tenth of thirteen children of Frances and John Gore. Christopher served in the Continental Army as a clerk with the artillery regiment of his brother-in-law Thomas Craft. Christopher Gore's public service began in 1788 when he was elected to represent Boston at the Philadelphia constitution to ratify the new United States Constitution. A year later, George Washington appointed Gore as the first United States Attorney for Massachusetts. President Washington again appointed Gore to a diplomatic position in 1796. The Gores travelled to England and remained there for eight years while Christopher served on the Jay Commission that negotiated mercantile claims for American ships seized or destroyed during the war with Britain. Gore also spent two months as charge d'affaires in London after his good friend Rufus King resigned from his post and before James Monroe, the new ambassador, arrived. ## Beren Hall Built during the Winthrop House Renewal (2016-17), a five-story addition, Beren Hall, is named for Winthrop alumnus Robert M. Beren ’47. Beren Hall is a state-of-the-art building with student housing, conference rooms, classrooms, the Lion’s Den lounge, Winthrop House Grille, fitness center and the fifth-floor rooftop common room. One of Winthrop’s new and popular venues, the fifth-floor Beren Rooftop Room has floor-to-ceiling windows and incomparable views of Boston and the Charles River. The words of Governor Winthrop adorn the room: “We shall be as a city upon a hill, the eyes of all people are upon us.” ## Portraits and Artifacts This page contains information about some of the portraits and artifacts in Winthrop House. Content was contributed by Josh Kaplan ’26 and Nicholas Hall ’27, House History Fellows 2024-25. ## Junior Common Room ### Rosie Rios by Stephen E. Coit ![Rosa Rios Portrait](/sites/g/files/omnuum9706/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2025-10/Rosa%20Rios%20Portrait.jpg?itok=7CimcYhT) [*Harvard University Portrait Collection*](https://hvrd.art/o/353103)*, Commissioned by the Harvard Foundation* Rosie Rios A.B. ’87 (b. 1965) served as the 43rd Treasurer of the United States under President Barack Obama. Known for her advocacy in financial literacy and women's rights, Rios oversaw significant changes to U.S. currency, including the historic redesign of currency featuring women's contributions to American history. Her portrait is the first portrait of a Latina to grace the halls of one of Harvard’s 12 houses. Mrs. Rios was a resident of Winthrop House as a student at the college. Stephen E. Coit AB 1971, MBA 1977 (b. 1948) is an American portrait artist recognized for his skillful depictions of notable contemporary figures. He is well known for the series of portraits he painted that were commissioned by Harvard University. Read more at a [Harvard Gazette news article about the portrait](https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/newsplus/first-latina-portrait-rosie-rios-87-unveiled/). ### Adam Winthrop by Unknown Artist ![Portrait of Adam Winthrop](/sites/g/files/omnuum9706/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2025-08/Adam%20Winthrop.jpeg?itok=bmBUWMAO) [*Harvard University Portrait Collection*](https://hvrd.art/o/304970)*, Gift of Robert Winthrop, representing the Winthrop family, to Harvard University, 1964* Adam Winthrop (1498-1562) was the grandfather of John Winthrop, the first governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. His official title was “Master of the Clothworkers Company & Lord of the Manor of Groton, Suffolk.” In 1515, he went to London, where he found work as a clothmaker. He purchased the Manor of Groton in 1544. He was named “Master of the Clothworkers” company in 1551. ## Senior Common Room ### Edwin Bush Jourdain Jr. ![Edwin Bush Jr](/sites/g/files/omnuum9706/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2025-10/06_Edwin%20Bush%20Jr%20high%20school.png?itok=dk6oO-3R) Edwin Bush Jourdain Jr. A.B. 1921 (1900–1986) was a pioneering figure in the fight against racial segregation at Harvard. Born in New Bedford, Massachusetts, Jourdain was the son of Edwin Bush Jourdain Sr., a prominent attorney and civil rights activist who co-founded the Niagara Movement alongside W.E.B. Du Bois. Here at Harvard, Jourdain was an active student, participating in athletics and campus life. However, he is best remembered for his stand against President A. Lawrence Lowell's proposal to exclude Black students from freshman dormitories, which would have institutionalized segregation at the College. Jourdain's advocacy, alongside other students and alumni, led to the reversal policy, marking a significant step toward inclusivity at the University. After graduating, Jourdain continued his commitment to civil rights, becoming the first Black elected official in Evanston, Illinois, where he served as an alderman and championed initiatives for racial equality and social justice. This portrait was unveiled in the SCR In 2023. ### W.E.B. Du Bois ![W. E. B. Du Bois](/sites/g/files/omnuum9706/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2025-10/DuBoisPortrait.jpg?itok=PeaR6olr) William Edward Burghardt Du Bois (1868–1963) was a seminal scholar, sociologist, and civil rights activist whose work laid the foundation for African American studies. Born in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, Du Bois graduated from Fisk University in 1888 before enrolling at Harvard, where he earned a second bachelor's degree in 1890, a master's in 1891, and became the first Black person to earn a Ph.D. from Harvard in 1895. His doctoral dissertation, "The Suppression of the African Slave Trade to the United States of America, 1638–1870," remains a critical work in the field. While Du Bois's time at Harvard was defined by his academic excellence, he also had experiences of racial exclusion, which informed his later activism. He co-founded the NAACP in 1909 and served as editor of its journal, *The Crisis*, using his platform to advocate for civil rights and social justice. His important works, including The Souls of Black Folk and Black Reconstruction in America, challenged prevailing narratives and highlighted the contributions and struggles of African Americans. The portrait in the SCR serves as a testament to his legacy on academia and civil rights, both inside and outside of this campus. ### John Hope Franklin ![John Hope Franklin](/sites/g/files/omnuum9706/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2025-10/JohnHopeFranklinPortrait.jpeg?itok=sZjC0VAJ) John Hope Franklin (1915–2009) was an eminent historian whose scholarship transformed our cultural understanding of African American history. Born in Rentiesville, Oklahoma, Franklin was the son of Buck Colbert Franklin, a lawyer who defended Black survivors of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. Franklin earned his bachelor's degree from Fisk University in 1935 and pursued graduate studies at Harvard, obtaining his master's in 1936 and his doctorate in history in 1941. His most famous work, From Slavery to Freedom, first published in 1947, has educated countless readers on the African American experience and remains a foundational text in the field. Franklin's long academic career included teaching positions at several institutions, including Howard University, Brooklyn College, the University of Chicago, and Duke University, where he served as the James B. Duke Professor of History. Beyond academia, Franklin played a pivotal role in the civil rights movement, contributing to the legal strategy in Brown v. Board of Education and serving on several national commissions. ## Dining Hall ### John Winthrop by Charles Osgood ![Portrait of John Winthrop](/sites/g/files/omnuum9706/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2025-08/John%20Winthrop.jpeg?itok=opOki4lJ) [*Harvard University Portrait Collection*](https://hvrd.art/o/304798)*, Gift of Thomas L. Winthrop to Harvard College, 1835* John Winthrop (1588–1649) was a prominent English Puritan lawyer, known as the first governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. His influential leadership and famous sermon, "A Model of Christian Charity," laid critical foundations for community values and governance in early colonial America. He led the first large group of immigrants from England to the area in 1630. As detailed in the Harvard and the Legacy of Slavery Report, Governor Winthrop owned slaves. His complex legacy includes engagement in the Pequot War of 1636-1638 and contributions to the Massachusetts Bay Colony’s laws regarding slavery; this is discussed in detail in the report of the committee that considered the John Winthrop House denaming request. Artist Charles Osgood (1809–1890) was an American portrait painter known for capturing prominent figures of his era with realism and sensitivity. He was from Salem Massachusetts, and other famous people painted by him include Nathaniel Hawthorne. ### Robert Charles Winthrop by Daniel Huntington ![Portrait of Robert Charles Winthrop](/sites/g/files/omnuum9706/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2025-08/Robert%20Charles%20Winthrop.jpeg?itok=4iRTSctM) [*Harvard University Portrait Collection*](https://hvrd.art/o/311065)*, Bequest of the Hon. Robert C. Winthrop to Harvard University, 1895* Robert Charles Winthrop A.B. 1828 (1809–1894), a distinguished American lawyer and statesman, served as Speaker of the United States House of Representatives and a United States Senator from Massachusetts. He was a member of the Whig Party and a lifelong resident of Boston. Renowned for his eloquence, Winthrop advocated for education and cultural institutions, greatly influencing public policy in the mid-19th century. Daniel Huntington (1816–1906) was an influential American portrait painter and a central figure in the New York art scene, serving twice as president of the National Academy of Design. ### Beekman Winthrop by Hermann Hanatschek ![Portrait of Beekman Winthrop](/sites/g/files/omnuum9706/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2025-08/Beekman%20Winthrop.jpeg?itok=6dKR9nCN) [*Harvard University Portrait Collection*](https://hvrd.art/o/305197)*, Gift of Robert Winthrop, 1986* Beekman Winthrop A.B. 1897, LL.B. 1900 (1874–1940) was an influential American politician and government official, serving notably as the Governor of Puerto Rico, Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, and later as Assistant Secretary of the Navy, where he was succeeded by Franklin Delano Roosevelt A.B. 1903. He was a friend of Theodore Roosevelt. His tenure significantly shaped American policy in the early 20th century, particularly in colonial administration and naval affairs. Hermann Hanatschek (1873-1963) was an artist known primarily for his portraiture, capturing figures of political and social significance. ### Robert Winthrop by Frank Salisbury ![Portrait of Robert Winthrop](/sites/g/files/omnuum9706/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2025-08/Robert%20Winthrop.jpeg?itok=42KvT9SQ) [*Harvard University Portrait Collection*](https://hvrd.art/o/58260)*, Gift of Mrs. Floreine Winthrop to Harvard University, 2003-04.* Robert Winthrop A.B. 1926 M.B.A. 1929, LL.D. 1983 (honorary) (1904-1999) was an investment banker, philanthropist, and conservationist. His advocacy led to laws that dramatically reduced the loss of wetlands. A Boston native, he was amongst members of the 10th generation of the Winthrop Family to have attended Harvard. He was a member of the crew team. During World War Two, he served as an officer in the U.S. Naval Reserves. Frank Salisbury (1874–1962) was a celebrated British portrait artist, known for painting influential historical and political figures of his time. He was a contemporary of Picasso and Chagall. Mr. Salisbury painted the presidential portrait of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, painted Winston Churchill numerous times, and was the first artist to paint Queen Elizabeth II of England.