The A.D. White House

The Society is housed in the historic home of Cornell's first president and co-founder, Andrew Dickson White, who had the Victorian villa built in 1871 for his use as university president. 

By restoring the home-like character of the first floor rooms, the Society has created a welcoming background for fellowship programs, university lectures, seminars, conferences, luncheons, receptions, and dinners. The two front rooms are used during the academic year as classrooms. During the summer, the Andrew Dickson White House provides space for special programs, while also hosting the internationally-renowned School of Criticism and Theory. It is also widely known as a splendid facility for wedding ceremonies and receptions. Over the south wing of the building there is a combined seminar room/reference library used by Society Fellows. The many bedrooms on the second and third floors have been converted into studies that now house the Society Fellows, the Director of the Society, and administrative staff.

Rental Information*

*The A.D. White House is taking a pause on event requests during summer 2023, while we navigate a staff transition.  

The Andrew Dickson White House is available for conferences, receptions, dinners and special events with priority accorded to Cornell's humanities departments and the Arts & Sciences administration.

Please refer to our event space information page for detailed information regarding our venue's rooms, capacity, and event policies.  

Cornell Users:
To request an event reservation for a Cornell-affiliated event, please contact us at adwhitehouse@cornell.edu and submit an event reservation request form.

Wedding receptions and other non-Cornell, non-academic events may be scheduled during the summer months.  For more information regarding private event booking and rates, please contact us at adwhitehouse@cornell.edu. 

Humanities Events Co-sponsorship

See our events co-sponsorship page for information about support for humanities events on the Ithaca campus.