Why are college presidents, who are typically well-paid, provided with housing? It’s an interesting history, as will be described next. Even knowing that history, it has occurred to me that when you consider the jobs that have traditionally included houses—pastors, ambassadors, governors, presidents of colleges or nations—the spouses (historically, they were typically wives) have been expected to entertain in the home and work for free. The “two-for-the-price-of-one” working arrangement seemed to more than compensate for free housing.
The history of president’s houses (a.k.a. official residences)
The first degree-granting college in the United States, Harvard College, founded in 1636, was committed to the English collegiate tradition in which students board in—eating, sleeping, and studying together. In the English system, faculty lived in residences with their students. Headmasters were allowed to marry, so schools provided houses that would accommodate their families.
The Harvard president’s house was built in 1655 and was one of the first four buildings on the campus.
Other colleges in colonial America also followed the English system and provided houses for their heads, and continued to provide houses for presidents even after other faculty were allowed to marry and live off campus.
Source: Hendel, Darwin D; Kaler, Karen F; Freed, Gwendolyn H. (2016). The Lives of Presidential Partners in Higher Education Institutions. Retrieved from the University of Minnesota Digital Conservancy, https://hdl.handle.net/11299/183467.
Wadsworth House was built in 1726 for the president of Harvard. It is the second oldest extant building at Harvard. General George Washington slept here in July 1775. Nine Harvard presidents lived there between 1727 and 1846.
The current official residence at Harvard (known as the President’s House, the Oliver-Gerry-Lowell House, the James Russell Lowell House, or by Elmwood for its street location) was built in 1767 and acquired by Harvard in 1962.
The oldest president’s house still in use is at the second oldest college in the U.S., the College of William and Mary. The house was built in 1732/3. In 1781, near the end of the American Revolution, British General Cornwallis evicted college president James Madison (cousin of the future U.S. President) and occupied the house. The college regained the house, and many U.S. Presidents, as well as several welcomed British visitors, including Queen Elizabeth and Winston Churchill, have visited.
Photo source: https://www.wm.edu/about/history/historiccampus/presidentshouse/index.php
Interior photo, with portraits of Queen Mary and King William
Photo source: Tyler Darden for The Wall Street Journal, https://www.mansionglobal.com/articles/the-multimillion-dollar-homes-on-campus-where-rent-is-free-110457
My initial interest in researching official residences
My husband, Eric, and I enjoyed many visits to the official residences at the University of Delaware and at Stony Brook University. In the first autumn of Eric’s presidency at the University of Minnesota in 2011, we were living in Eastcliff, and I met the spouse of the chancellor of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, at an APLU meeting. I told her I had been in her home years earlier. (As a student at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, I attended a reception at the chancellor’s home in 1977.) The system president’s home was next door. She told me that they didn’t live in an official residence. The university had decided to sell the residences of the chancellor and president, but they were both sitting empty and unsold. It was shocking and sad to think of these grand homes falling into disrepair as they sat almost abandoned.
In 2020, Vanderbilt University, in my hometown of Nashville, announced plans to sell their official residence, Braeburn, and build a new official residence on campus. (In June 2021, novelist and playwright Frank Strausser bought Belle Meade house for $7.2 million, and plans for the new official residence appear to be progressing.)
I have enjoyed visiting several more official residences in the last decade, so it has been a special honor to welcome visitors into the two official residences where I have lived. Gathered below are photos, and source links, of a few dozen official residences found on other websites.
University of Alabama
Photo source: Tumblr/Splendor in the South, https://splendorinthesouth.tumblr.com/post/117758757343
Photo source: https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/2141-E-3rd-St-Tucson-AZ-85719/110283774_zpid/?mmlb=g,0
https://www.auburnvillager.com/news/the-presidents-home/article_0d38d7ae-dde4-11e8-8d05-97b5b32a9fb6.html
Photo source: Boston University, www.bu.edu/articles/2010/the-many-lives-of-beverly-brown/
Sturges House – Brown University
Photo source: Society of Architectural Historians, https://sah-archipedia.org/buildings/RI-01-PR95
President’s Residence – University at Buffalo
Photo source: https://library.buffalo.edu/archives/campuses/detail.html?ID=113
University House (former residence) – University of California, Berkeley
Photo source: Fleur Helsingor, http://www.chez-fleur.com/photos/ucb/university-house1.jpg
The Chancellor’s House, College Park – University of California, Davis
Photo source: Julia Ann Easley, Davis News Service, Daily Democrat at https://www.dailydemocrat.com/2017/05/10/uc-davis-students-invited-to-create-two-rooms-in-chancellors-home/
Chancellor’s Residence – University of California, Los Angeles
Photo source: UCLA Undergraduate Admissions, https://blog.admissions.ucla.edu/2012/06/22/chancellors-residence/
Audrey Geisel University House – University of California, San Diego
Photo source: Larny Mack, http://isarchitecture.com/ucsd-audrey-geisel-university-house-rehabilitation/
University of California, Santa Cruz
Photo source: UC Santa Crux and https://news.ucsc.edu/2019/university-house-event-center.html
University of California System
Photo source: Frances Dinkelspiel, https://www.berkeleyside.org/2022/04/12/uc-buys-6-5-million-berkeley-mansion-president
University of California System (former)
Photo source: J. Hannah Lee, The Daily Californian, September 25, 2022, https://www.dailycal.org/2013/08/14/abandoned-uc-presidential-mansion-may-be-renovated-after-years-of-neglect
Carnegie Mellon University (former residence)
Photo source: https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/5563-Northumberland-St-Pittsburgh-PA-15217/11630593_zpid
Photo source: Chicago Velo, http://www.chicagovelo.com/tag/hyde-park/
Photo source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President%27s_House_%28Clemson_University%29
Photo source: https://www.wikicu.com/File:PresidentialPalace.jpg
Cornell College (Iowa)
Photo source: Cornell College, https://www.lawnstarter.com/blog/home-garden/college-presidents-homes/
Photo source: https://dartreview.com/a-president-worthy-of-a-mansion-2/
University of Delaware
Photo source: https://www1.udel.edu/cpa/images/story-map/presidents-house-main.jpg
J. Deryl Hart House – Duke University
Photo source: Willthacheerleader18 at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._Deryl_Hart_House
East Carolina University
Photo source: http://www.bitandgrain.com/inside-north-carolina-university-homes/
Lullwater House – Emory University
Photo source: Emory University, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Im605MUvPI8
Reagan House – Florida International University
Photo source: Rodriguez and Quiroga Architects Chartered, http://www.rodriguezquiroga.com/?projects=florida-international-universityuniversity-house-and-events-center
Powell University House – University of Florida (former, now used for events)
Photo source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President%27s_House_%28University_of_Florida%29
https://president.ufl.edu/office/house/
Dasburg House – University of Florida
Photo source: Masonry Excellence Awards, https://www.masonryawards.com/dasburg-house.html
Florida State University
Photo source: Sheffield Construction Company, Inc, https://www.houzz.com/photos/florida-state-university-president-s-house-traditional-exterior-atlanta-phvw-vp~5463143
The President’s House – Georgia Institute of Technology
Photo source: GTCN https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9hpWE5mWyk
Photo source: https://president.uga.edu/statements_remarks/detail/messages/a-note-of-thanks/
Photo source: https://www.uidaho.edu/about/university-house
University of Illinois System
Photo source: The News-Gazette, https://www.news-gazette.com/news/ui-presidents-house-renovation-costs-600-000-plus/article_c8876fe5-81e6-5182-bc87-ce25b43b7025.html
Photo source: https://www.brosher.com/blog/2018/05/11/bryan-house-at-indiana-university/
President’s Residence – The University of Iowa
Photo source: The Gazette, https://www.thegazette.com/news/upgrades-to-proceed-at-university-of-iowa-presidents-house-but-not-his-jessup-hall-office/
Nichols House – The Johns Hopkins University
Photo source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nichols_House_JohnsHopkins.JPG
The Outlook – The University of Kansas
Photo source: Lawrence Journal World, https://www2.ljworld.com/news/2008/aug/16/home_matters_outlook_focal_point_campus/
University of Maryland, College Park
Photo source: https://mapio.net/pic/p-57881882/
Gray House – Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Photo source: Madcoverboy at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:MIT%27s_Gray_House.jpg
The Alice B. Cowles House – Michigan State University
Photo source: Robert Killips, Lansing State Journal, https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/news/2019/08/21/msu-president-stanley-move-into-cowles-house/2033220001/
Photo source: Jacob Hamilton/MLive.com, https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2022/05/with-schlissel-moved-out-um-dropping-15m-on-presidents-house-renovations.html
Eastcliff – University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
Photo source: University of Minnesota , https://president.umn.edu/eastcliff
MU Residence on Francis Quadrangle – University of Missouri
Photo source: https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/higher_education/two-jobs-two-houses-one-man/article_9c29c7b4-8077-11ec-8ff4-2f9ca530014c.html
Providence Point – University of Missouri System
Photo source: Columbia Daily Tribune, https://www.columbiatribune.com/story/news/education/2011/02/27/um-considers-future-home/21489877007/
University of Nebraska
Photo source: https://journalstar.com/news/local/education/nu-foundation-buys-new-home-for-president/article_f1edf517-f7de-518e-910c-c20fdc89de86.html
Photo source: https://president.unm.edu/university-house/index.html
Nason House – New Mexico State University
Photo source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nason_House#:~:text=The%20Nason%20House%2C%20formerly%20the,the%20Prairie%20School%20architectural%20style.
The official New York University (NYU) residence is a penthouse apartment.
Photo source: Chang W. Lee/The New York Times, https://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/22/us/nyu-presidents-penthouse-gets-a-1-1-million-face-lift.html
Photo source: Edmondson Engineers, https://www.edmpa.com/portfolio-item/university-of-north-carolina-at-chapel-hill-chancellors-residence/
The University of North Carolina System
Photo source: http://www.bitandgrain.com/inside-north-carolina-university-homes/
Photo source: https://constructionengineers.com/our-work/presidents-house/
Wieboldt House – Northwestern University
Photo source: Ray Whitehouse, https://www.northwestern.edu/magazine/fall2012/feature/whats-in-a-name-sidebar/wieboldt-hall.html
The Ohio State University
Photo source: Columbus Business First, https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2016/06/01/ohio-state-wants-to-buy-the-pizzuti-house.html
University of Oklahoma
Photo source: https://oklahomawonders.com/best-instagrammable-places-in-norman-oklahoma/
Photo source: University of Oregon, https://cpfm.uoregon.edu/sites/cpfm2.uoregon.edu/files/_mcmorranbrochure_2016-01-20.pdf
President’s House / Eisenlohr Hall – University of Pennsylvania
Photo source: University of Pennsylvania, https://www.facilities.upenn.edu/maps/locations/presidents-house
Schreyer House – The Pennsylvania State University
Photo sources: https://www.statecollegemagazine.com/articles/a-tale-of-two-houses/
Chancellor’s Residence – University of Pittsburgh
Photo source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chancellor%27s_Residence_%28University_of_Pittsburgh%29
The Walter Lowrie House – Princeton University
Photo source: David Keddie, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q20679856#/media/File:Walter_Lowrie_House_(Princeton,_New_Jersey).jpg
Westwood – Purdue University
Photo source: Purdue University, https://krannert.purdue.edu/departments/development/how-to-give/planned-giving.php
Photo source: Tommy LaVergne, https://scholarship.rice.edu/handle/1911/71848House, Rice University
Witmer House – University of Rochester
Photo source: University of Rochester, https://www.rochester.edu/pr/Review/V68N4/inrev04.html
Photo source: Patti Sapone/The Star-Ledger, https://www.nj.com/news/2012/10/home_of_rutgers_president_gets.html
University of South Carolina
Photo source: Andy Hunter, https://www.lawnstarter.com/blog/home-garden/college-presidents-homes/
Source: https://www.latimes.com/business/real-estate/story/2021-07-07/uscs-presidential-mansion-sells-for-25-million-a-san-marino-record
The former official residence of the University of Southern California sold for $24.5 million; there was criticism when a replacement residence was purchased for about 1/3 of the sale price ($8.6 million).
Source: Los Angeles Times, “USC’s presidential mansion sells for $25 million, a San Marino record,” July 7, 2021 https://www.latimes.com/business/real-estate/story/2021-07-07/uscs-presidential-mansion-sells-for-25-million-a-san-marino-record
University of Southern California
Photo source: https://www.dirt.com/gallery/more-dirt/real-estate-listings/usc-presidents-house-santa-monica-1203316667/usc_sm2/
Lou Henry Hoover House – Stanford University
Photo source: Library of Congress, www.nps.gov/places/the-lou-henry-and-herbert-hoover-house.htm
Sunwood – Stony Brook University
Photo source: Stony Brook University, https://www3.cs.stonybrook.edu/~spm08/socialevents.html
Photo source: HereToHelp, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tufts_Gifford_House.JPG
William T. Jay House – Tulane University
Photo source: Joe Rabhan on flickr Avenue Inn, a Bed and Breakfast in New Orleans, https://www.pinterest.com/pin/575757133581326300/?nic_v3=1a1qIcBpL
Littlefield House is used by the university for events.
It is NOT the residence of the campus head at the University of Texas at Austin.
Photo source: The University of Texas, https://universityevents.utexas.edu/littlefield-home/
Baer House in Austin – The University of Texas System
Photo source: The University of Texas, https://www.utsystem.edu/offices/events
Rosenblatt House – The former residence at the University of Utah.
(There is another official residence.)
Photo source: Special Collections, J. Willard Marriott Library, University of Utah, Interior: John McCarthy
Photo source: https://www.usgbc.org/projects/presidents-house-carrs-hill
The Grove – Virginia Tech
Photo source: https://www.vt.edu/about/locations/buildings/grove.html#:~:text=The%20Grove%20is%20the%20residence,knoll%20above%20the%20Duck%20Pond.
Wake Forest University
Photo source: http://www.bitandgrain.com/inside-north-carolina-university-homes/
Hill-Crest – University of Washington
Photo source: Mary Levin, University of Washington, https://www.chronicle.com/article/for-many-public-college-presidents-home-is-an-uncalculated-benefit/
Washington State University
Photo source: https://news.wsu.edu/news/2022/11/18/presidents-house-renamed-in-honor-of-historic-female-faculty-member/
Photo source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/ihynz/8494337620
Brittingham House – University of Wisconsin System
Photo source: https://www.wisconsin.edu/president/biography/brittingham-house/
Harbison House – Washington University in St. Louis
Photo source: https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/education/all-is-right-with-wrighton-and-residence/article_0de02d24-22b6-11e1-9dfd-001a4bcf6878.html
Photo source: http://archive.boston.com/news/education/higher/galleries/061110_housing_and_pay_of_college_presidents?pg=7
Hillhouse Avenue: The President’s House – Yale University
Photo source: https://yalealumnimagazine.org/blog_posts/1558-president-s-house-will-be-a-home