Palmer House To Become The Residence of Chairman of The Committee on Admissions After First of February

The palatial colonial house in the southeast corner of the Yard, home of George Herbert Palmer '64. Alford Professor of Natural Religion, Moral Philosophy and Civil Polity, emeritus, for more than fifty years, but which has been unoccupied since his death on May 7, 1933, will be used once more as a residence by an officer of the University, when Richard Mott Gummere, new Chairman of the Committee on Admissions and lecture in Latin occupies it this fall.

During the lifetime of Professor Palmer, his seminars were held in the large library, considered one of the most beautiful rooms in college buildings, which overlooks the Yard. Upon his death over a year age many suggestions were made concerning the old house. Some rumors had it that the house was to be torn down to make room for a building with class-rooms. Other reports indicated that it would, be given over to the Department of English as an office for English A-1, now nearly crowded out of Western House.

Still another suggestion was that it be used as a home for the Dean of Freshman and this suggestion seemed to meet with the most favor since the Yard is now entirely given over to the first year class.

It has now been decided to use the house which Professor Palmer's presence has made a sacred spot as a residence for the Chairman of the Committee on Admissions. All the rooms are well-lighted and the snug colonial atmosphere of the structure, now well over 150 years old, make the house ideal for a home of a faculty member.

Professor Palmer, last living philosopher of the William James and Royce era in Harvard history, was for several years before his death the oldest living Harvard professor and his stooped figure and hesitating walk were familiar sights of the Yard. He was born on March 19, 1842 in Boston, and after attending Phillips Andover Academy for two years entered Harvard in 1860. After his graduation in 1864 he went to the Salem High School as sub-master, but was forced to stop teaching after two years and travel for his health. In 1870, President Eliot appointed him instructor in Greek, which was at that time prescribed for Freshman. In 1872 he was appointed instructor in Philosophy, and in 1873 become assistant professor. In 1883 he assumed the Alford chair in which position he remained until, after 42 years of active teaching, he retired in 1913.