All About Adams
Nestled near Mt. Auburn Street, Adams House is unofficially represented by squirrels and acorns, perfect for all you crunchy granola FOP leaders. If you’re lucky enough to get sorted into Adams, you’ve quite literally struck gold, as your burrow for the next three years is oozing with rich history, tradition, community, and quirkiness!
According to Adams House Committee (HoCo) Co-Chair Amelia Clark ’27, what makes Adams so unique is that, although its residents are spread out across Claverly Hall, Westmorly Court, Randolph Hall, and Russell Hall, that doesn’t stop the community from being welcoming, “super involved,” and interconnected (literally – there are underground tunnels). Every Thursday evening, from 9 to 10 p.m., you’ll have the chance to mingle with hundreds of Adams residents at Carpe, a lively weekly stein. There’s delicious food, refreshments, music, and good vibes — everything you need to make the final stretch to the weekend easier.
Like to keep your Google Calendar full?? Two lavish formals will spice up your winter and spring with a dose of glitz and glam. Chocoholica sweetens Valentine’s Day even more with chocolate, champagne, and swing dancing. Still not enough for you? Fine, best for last then: Drag Night. Drag Night, unique to Adams, takes place in the fall and features performances by drag queens, fellow students, and often entire blocking groups. Let’s just say that you’ll go nuts for this fan-favorite.
The Addams family welcomes all—artists, athletes, you name it. With famous alumni ranging from Franklin D. Roosevelt ’04 to actor John Lithgow ’67, you’re right to hope that the acorn doesn’t fall far from the tree. Regardless of what you love to do, Adams has you covered. There are art and music rooms so you can scratch that creative itch (or maybe you need to cram-practice for your orchestra concert). And, for all the gym rats squirrels out there, fear not — you can fit in a workout anytime at the Adams gym. If you’re in the mood for a good movie, head on over to the Adams Pool Theater, which, true to its name, is a pool-turned theater with plenty of seating.
Speaking of pools, Adams has blown things out of the water with its renovations. Russell Hall has just completed its makeover and opened this past fall, and Randolph and Claverly received their glow-ups within the past six years. Get ready to feel spoiled after moving out of your ancient first-year dorm. The freshly renovated dhall will also make parting ways with beloved Berg a bit less painful (#whatawin). It’s also close to the library, which makes skedaddling over for your post-meal lock-in in true squirrel fashion easier than ever.
And, since we’re getting academic, another perk you’ll enjoy as an Adams resident is having access to incredibly involved tutors. In addition, according to Clark, Adams’ alumni network is especially strong, so countless Adamsians have your back!
The Nuts and Bolts of Housing
As a sophomore, you’ll most likely call Claverly Hall home, which means a beautiful hardwood staircase and roomy doubles. After sophomore year, housing will only get better — perhaps you’ll find yourself in Westmorly, which is abundant in hallway singles, or maybe you’ll be living in a spacious suite. I’m not exaggerating when I say this — Adamsians have it nice. Just a few things I noticed during my Adams dorm tour: marble bathrooms, a common room big enough for a group yoga session, and windows so large that they warmed the room faster than you can say Heated Rivalry.
In addition to the stunning renovations and abundant space, Adams’ location might be the sweetest cherry acorn on top. Just a few minutes from the Yard, you’ll have the luxury of waking up dangerously close to your classes’ start times, and you don’t even need to factor in the added time of wading through swarms of tourists! Adams is also smack-dab in the middle of the Square. As soon as I exited Claverly and pivoted to head back to my dorm after my Adams visit, I realized it might be a little too conveniently located near Insomnia Cookies…
Adam(s)ant Questioning:
Three words to describe Adams House?
AC: Quirky, flamboyant, mischievous.
Favorite memory of Adams House?
AC: I think the first one that comes to mind was Drag Night in the fall. I’ve never been to a drag show, but, man, I felt very empowered walking out of that night.
What are some Adams House quirks?
AC: We have a box in the dining hall that asks a question, and every week there’s a poll… The Adams email list, the Schmooze, is pretty active… It’s very common to have a long train of threads from everyone in the house, either responding or asking for something silly.
What fruit would Adams be?
AC: A dragon fruit… maybe a tomato… maybe a peach… I think I said "tomato" because, when you think of Harvard housing, I don’t think Adams is the first one that comes to mind. But I do think that when you look closer, and you know, look at the details and like the people who live in each house, I do think that Adams is a little bit slept on, and I think it has more charm than people think it does.
How is the quality of the DHall?
AC: I’d say it’s pretty good…I’m pretty satisfied.
And that’s a taste of Adams for ya, kit (that’s baby squirrel, btw)! Warm, vibrant, perhaps a little nutty. Get excited – it makes total sense if you’re nuts for Adams. A-dam tss…
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