Dunster House is one of twelve undergraduate residential houses at Harvard University . Built in 1930, it is one of the first two dormitories at Harvard University constructed under President Abbott Lawrence Lowell 's House Plan and one of the seven Houses given to Harvard by Edward Harkness . In the early days, room rents varied based on the floor and the size of the room. Dunster was unique among Harvard dormitories for its sixth-story walk-up (it had no elevators); these rooms were originally rented by poorer students, such as Norman Mailer .
19-477: The House was named in honor of Henry Dunster , the first President of Harvard University . The tower of Dunster House is inspired by, but somewhat smaller than, the famous Tom Tower of Christ Church, Oxford . Above the east wing is the Dunster family coat of arms , and above the west wing is the coat of arms of Magdalene College, Cambridge , where Henry Dunster matriculated in 1627. Magdalene College commemorated
38-458: A church in the gothic style was completed in 1585. Between 1773 and 1780 the main body of this church was demolished and rebuilt leaving only the spire from the original church. The spire was replaced in 1842 but by 1870 the wood in the rest of the church had rotted and a new building was needed. The new church designed by the architect J. S. Crowther , leaving the 1842 spire in place, was officially opened on Candlemas Day 1876. In July 2013,
57-516: A closet. Henry Dunster Henry Dunster (November 26, 1609 (baptized) – February 27, 1658/59) was an Anglo-American Puritan clergyman and the first president of Harvard College . Brackney says Dunster was "an important precursor" of the Baptist denomination in America, especially regarding infant baptism, soul freedom, religious liberty, congregational governance, and a radical biblicism. He
76-768: A temporary place-holder. Dunster modeled Harvard's educational system on that of England, including Eton College and the University of Cambridge . He set up as well as taught Harvard's entire curriculum alone for many years, graduating the first college class in America, the Class of 1642. From 1649-1650 Dunster also served as interim pastor at the First Parish in Cambridge until the accession of Jonathan Mitchel. Historians have generally treated Dunster well in terms of his theological beliefs and educational abilities. Samuel Eliot Morison,
95-582: Is named after Henry Dunster. Links to digital facsimiles of the Papers of Henry Dunster and the Dunster and Glover Families held in the Harvard University Archives. Church of St Mary the Virgin, Bury The Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin is located at the highest point in the town centre of Bury, Greater Manchester , England. It is situated on the edge of the town centre. The main body of
114-525: The "de facto treasurer." However, Dunster indeed was the "de facto treasurer" of Harvard for nearly a decade. With the approval of the General Court of Massachusetts Bay, he later set up the first corporation charter in America, the Charter of 1650, and named Danforth as the new treasurer. The corporate charter that Dunster established governs Harvard University to this day, and was only altered in 2010, when
133-758: The Allston Burr Resident Dean. His predecessor was Michael Uy. Dunster's mascot is the moose , inspired by the three golden elk on the Dunster family crest . Dunster House Opened in 1930, and contains student rooms, a faculty dean residence, and a dining hall with views of the Charles River. Al Gore and Tommy Lee Jones were roommates at Dunster House in the late 1960s. Other notable Dunster alumni include Tatyana Ali , Christopher Durang , Lindsay Hyde , Dan Wilson , Michael Mainelli , and Jean Kwok . In 1995 resident Sinedu Tadesse killed her roommate Trang Ho in Dunster before committing suicide in
152-597: The Harvard Corporation expanded from a body of seven members, as first set up by Dunster, to thirteen members. When Dunster abandoned the Puritan view of infant baptism in favor of believer's baptism in 1653/54, he provoked a controversy that highlighted two distinct approaches to dealing with dissent in the Massachusetts Bay Colony . The colony's Puritan leaders, whose own religion was born of dissent from
171-546: The River Houses, resembles a branching flowchart due to the odd trapezoidal footprint of the land on which it was built. Dunster underwent a "full House renewal," a comprehensive renovation that was completed in 2016. It was the first of Harvard's residential houses to undergo such a full renewal. Dunster, like many of the Harvard Houses, has many yearly traditions, including Keg Races in the fall, Messiah sing-a-long in
190-480: The best-known historian of Harvard's history, wrote that Harvard College "might have followed her first patron to an early death and oblivion but for the faith, courage and intelligence of Henry Dunster." Dunster held Harvard together financially during a difficult economic downturn in New England that began soon after his arrival. He later had some conflict with the college's treasurer, Thomas Danforth , who called him
209-525: The church was completed on 2 February 1876, the steeple predates it to 1842. It is designated in the National Heritage List for England as a Grade I listed building . Church records suggest that the first church was built on the site in 971 A.D. when parishes were first formed by Edgar, King of England , although this is likely to have been a wood and thatch structure. Churches of this type of construction are thought to have been used until
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#1732851888801228-565: The church was the scene of a military funeral for murdered British soldier Lee Rigby . The service was attended by thousands of mourners, including Prime Minister David Cameron . The church is a regimental church of the Lancashire Fusiliers and the Regimental Colours hang in the nave. A former garrison church, services are held for the garrison on Remembrance Sunday , Gallipoli Sunday and on other occasions. The building
247-525: The colony's religious mission. Thus, he represented a threat to the stability of society. Dunster exiled himself in 1654/55 and moved to nearby Plymouth Colony to become the minister of the First Church in Scituate, Massachusetts . Dunster died there on February 27, 1659 (or 1658 – Old Style calendar). Dunster married twice; both his wives were named Elizabeth. His first wife was Elizabeth (Harris) Glover ,
266-536: The mainstream Church of England , generally worked for reconciliation with members who questioned matters of Puritan theology but responded much more harshly to outright rejection of Puritanism. Dunster's conflict with the colony's magistrates began when he failed to have his infant son baptized, believing that only adults should be baptized. Earnest efforts to restore Dunster to Puritan orthodoxy failed, and his heterodoxy proved untenable to colony leaders who had entrusted him, in his job as Harvard's president, to uphold
285-554: The relationship between the two universities by sending medieval tracery stones from the First Court of Magdalene ; these are now set in the wall near the doors to J-entry of Dunster House. Dunster is located on the banks of the Charles River next to the John W. Weeks Footbridge , which links Harvard's Allston and Cambridge campuses. From above, its architectural shape, unusual among
304-438: The widow of Joseph Glover. They married on June 21, 1641. She died in 1643, leaving Dunster with land and property, including the first printing press in the colony, and leaving him shared responsibility for her estate and her five children by her first marriage. Dunster married Elizabeth Atkinson (1627–1690) in 1644. Together they had five children. Dunster House , one of the twelve residential houses of Harvard University ,
323-754: The winter, the Goat Roast in the spring, and the yearly Dunster House Opera. It is known as one of the more social houses at Harvard, boasting popular Stein Clubs and formals in either the beautiful dining hall or courtyard. As of the 2017-2018 academic year, Dunster's Faculty Deans (formerly known as "house masters") are Sean Kelly and Cheryl Chen. The House's first master was Chester N. Greenough (Harvard Class of 1898), English Professor and former Dean of Harvard College. Former faculty deans/house masters include Roger Porter and Ann Porter, Raoul Bott , and Sally Falk Moore and Cresap Moore. Gregory Davis currently serves as
342-559: Was born at Bolholt near Bury , Lancashire , England to Henry Dunster. Dunster studied at Magdalene College, Cambridge as a sizar , specializing in oriental languages and earning a reputation as a Hebrew scholar. He earned a bachelor's degree (1630) and his M.A. (1634). He served as headmaster of Bury Grammar School and was a curate at the Church of St Mary the Virgin, Bury . Sponsored by Rev. Richard Mather , Dunster immigrated to Boston , Massachusetts in 1640. Nathaniel Eaton
361-491: Was fired in 1639 as master of the recently established Harvard College , in Cambridge, Massachusetts , and Dunster was appointed as his successor. On August 27, 1640 Dunster became the first president of Harvard . At Dunster's alma mater, Magdalene College, the presiding officer was called the master and his second the president . Some have speculated that he borrowed the term out of a sense of humility, considering himself only
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