Adams House
All About Adams
Adams House is in the heart of the Square, and its residents are arguably the heart of Harvard.
Even with renovations keeping residents out of some of their historical spaces, House traditions keep the community going strong. Housing Committee (HoCo) co-chairs Roxy H. Hreb ’26 and Grace J. Shambley ’26 cited Drag Night in the fall semester and Aurum, their spring formal, as the two biggest highlights of an Adams resident’s year.
Drag Night is Harvard’s oldest drag night and features “a mix of student performers and then professional performers as well,” according to Shambley. The event draws an audience hailing from the tallest floor of Mather to the furthest corner of the Quad. With the dhall transformed into a stage, Adams residents and members of other Houses are invited to leave it all on the floor in their best drag performances and attire. The Faculty Deans always join in the fun, performing themselves.
Another large event in the House is Chocoholica, a large Valentines-themed event with swing dancing, champagne, and erotic chocolates. If that special someone just won’t ask you to be their Valentine, don’t worry; Adams House has you covered, as this event is sure to leave you with great memories and even better company. Smaller but no less spirited events like weekly Carpe Noctems (meaning “seize the night”) give Adamsians food and good vibes to look forward to every week, complete with unique themes like Louisiana, soup (Soupe!), and Celine Dion. If you get Adams House, you’ll have no shortage of awesome events to attend!
Adams has a score of other perks; to name just one, the House has its own gong and a pipe organ, in case you’re ever feeling musical and want to try a more entertaining instrument than the recorder you were forced to play in elementary school. Additionally, underground tunnels connect the House’s halls, and with its previous reputation as a very artistic house, you’ll find all sorts of artwork around as you explore. It’s the perfect place to unlock your inner art critic and really ascend to a higher level of intellectual, art-appreciating vitality — or sit and watch paint dry (pick your poison). Adams resident Anika L. Christensen ’26 has fond memories of exploring the tunnels, even if they’re off-limits for this year’s River Run. “Adams was the last House we went to, and we managed to explore every single building of it through the tunnels. And I think that mystically is what let the Housing Gods determine that we, in fact, will be in Adams.” Freshmen, unfortunately, cannot follow in her path this year, with renovations keeping the tunnels Christensen used off-limits, but that just means you’ll have to forge your own luck to manifest Adams (whatever this might mean to you – go nuts).
In the Adams Spirit
Upperclassmen in Adams are incredibly welcoming to new residents, fostering a supportive community for all. Rising sophomores can look forward to connecting with upperclassmen in the “Little Acorn, Big Oak” program, which pairs current upperclassmen with incoming residents in Adams in an effort to acclimate the freshmen and integrate them into the House community. You’ll never be without a friend in Adams House!
It’s not just the upperclassmen who cheer you on, though. If you ever have career questions, existential crises, or simply are looking for some life advice, the Adams Faculty Deans and resident tutors are here for you. Christensen wants to go into epidemiology and public health. Mercedes C. Becerra ’91, the Adams House Faculty Dean, is an epidemiologist herself. Christensen said, “She’s given me so much guidance on what I can be doing now as an undergraduate, to feel out research and figure out exactly what I want to do.”
Plus, according to Hreb, Adams has a very active Senior Common Room, connecting students with various academics and professionals. You don’t even have to go to the Mignone Center to brush up on your networking skills anymore, you have it all in the comfort of your own home!
And, if you’re sick of collecting endless basic Harvard tote bags, Adams has you covered. New residents can also look forward to fun, unique merchandise when they get into Adams. “We’re famous for our boxers,” Hreb said, “and the bow ties.” Housing Day is the only day (besides Primal Scream) where running around the Yard in your underwear, specifically nut-covered boxers, is heavily encouraged — take advantage of it!
Part of the Adams spirit is also taking everything with good humor, and rolling with the punches. When asked about intramural sports, Hreb gave an optimistic view. “We’re in the top twelve,” she said, as Shambley nodded along. I mean hey, Adams can’t be the best at everything — they had to save the athleticism for another House to make it even! And anyways, clearly, it’s not the victories that matter to this House — it’s the many friends (nuts? acorns?) you make along the way.
All About Sophomore Housing
As for the House itself, current freshmen haven’t had the chance to see Adams in all its glory due to renovations. But fear not — they’re expected to be completed this summer. So freshmen fortunate enough to get Adams as their home for the next three years will get modern, fully renovated digs. Yes, your dorm room will be your dorm room, and you will be the first person to sleep there — pretty cool stuff!
Currently, sophomores are housed at the Inn, where they’re blessed with A/C and fantastic proximity to the Yard. Starting this fall, though, Hreb and Shambley expect that most sophomore Adams residents will live in Randolph and Claverly Hall. With its gorgeous common rooms and large quantity of singles, new Adams residents are really going to be living in luxury.
Located in River Central among multiple buildings, Adams residents are naturally close to the Yard and most of their classes — it’s essentially like an upperclassmen union dorm, but this time it’s cool to live in (no offense to Pennypacker, Greenough, and Hurlbut). Any freshman placed here will barely have to wake up earlier than they do now to make it to class on time — on the flip side, though, you don’t have a very good excuse for missing your 9 a.m. classes now.
Its location is also wonderful for when HUDS is closed. Christensen said, “If I’m just looking to go out really late at night, we’re not a very far walk from Pinocchio’s, which is so reliable at one in the morning.”
Living on the Gold Coast
A big part of Adams’s character is found in its incredible history. With notable alumni like FDR (class of 1904), William Randolph Hearst, and Chuck Schumer ’71, plus temporary residents like J. Robert Oppenheimer (class of 1925), Robert Frost, and William Weld ’66 (the namesake of the freshman dorm — maybe living there will help you manifest Adams!), you are following in the footsteps of greatness the moment you step foot in Adams’s halls. John F. Kennedy ’40 would meet with his senior thesis advisor in Adams’s Coolidge Room, and now you can book it to sit and procrastinate on even starting to think about your thesis. Who knows — maybe a quick stop at the Coolidge Room will inspire a future presidential run (be nice to the IOP kids, you never know who they’ll end up becoming).
Don’t be fooled though — Adams does not fully cling to its historical roots. Its renovation introduces amenities that even JFK couldn’t have imagined having (and will surely make thesising more comfortable someday). Though several parts of the house are still under renovation, Hreb and Shambley highlighted the plethora of beautiful spaces Adams has to offer for studying, chilling, and partying. The Adams Senior House and Pool Room are the two biggest spots for parties within the House. Adams also boasts the Coolidge Room, Heaney Suite, Gold Room, Pool Theater, FDR Suite, and the Randolph Courtyard as famous study and hangout spots for its lucky, lucky residents. If you’ve landed in Adams, you’ve struck gold.
Cracking the Nuts
Before the end of the interview, I asked the lovely HoCo chairs some more wacky questions so that you could really get to know the vibe of this House!
What Hogwarts house would your House get sorted into?
RHH: Gryffindor. We have the Gryffindor colors.
If you had to liken your House to a fruit, which fruit would it be and why?
RHH: A Golden Delicious, because we’re gold.
If your House was a board game, which one would it be and why?
GJS: Snakes and Ladders — there’s tunnels, and it’s a game of luck, and you’ll be lucky to live in Adams.
If Adams was a HUDS dish, what would it be?
RHH: Nashville Chicken Sandwich, served on Fridays, with a side of Boom Boom sauce — which was created in our House.
What should freshmen who get your House look forward to?
GJS: Congratulations!
RHH: Don’t rub it in.
If you’re lucky enough to land in Adams House this Housing Day, take it all in: enjoy the brand-new facilities, great housing options, and amazing Adams community!
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