"Old Newcomb": The First Two Newcomb College Campuses
Explore the original DeLord and Camp Street campus, as well as the second campus of Newcomb College, located on Washington Avenue. Uncover the history, characters, and legacy that shaped Newcomb College into what it is today by following its expansion from 1887 to 1918, when the college moved to its present-day campus on Broadway.
Access: Walking
Distance: ~.5 miles, ~10 minutes
Tips: If you are planning to walk this route, be aware that while most stops are near each other, stops one and four, the Original Newcomb College Campus and the Arcade are not within walking distance.
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The Original Newcomb College Campus
Newcomb College opened its doors in October 1887 to 59 students in a converted two-story brownstone building on the corner of Camp and DeLord (Howard Avenue) Streets, near what is, in 2012, Lee…
Overview of the Newcomb College Washington Avenue Campus: A Brief History
After the 1889 purchase of the Burnside Place in the Garden District of the city, Mrs. Newcomb donated another $25,000 for repairs needed to make a home into a classroom building. By June 1890,…
College Hall
College Hall was built by James Robb, a wealthy banker, between 1852 and 1854. After a series of personal and financial misfortunes, Robb sold the mansion to John Burnside, a merchant who died in…
The Arcade
In 1896, Mrs. Newcomb contributed to both a pottery building and an arcade to connect the high school with College Hall. The girls of Newcomb were thrilled with finally having their "missing link,"…
The Old Newcomb Gym
Newcomb administrators and faculty members were rather unique in their ideas about the physical education of women, especially when compared to other schools at the time. Dixon hired Clara Baer to…
The Old Newcomb Chapel
The chapel held a particular spot in Mrs. Newcomb's heart, as she saw it as symbolic of her daughter, Sophie. Mrs. Newcomb ordered Tiffany windows for this building, as well as a specially built organ…
Warren House (Washington Campus)
Built soon after the end of the Civil War, Warren House was later named after Mrs. Newcomb's deceased husband, Warren Newcomb. The building was secured by the Tulane Educational Fund for Newcomb…
The Old Newcomb Music School
In 1909, Newcomb's School of Music building, which was built between 1850-60, was leased from the Tulane Educational Fund to house the new program. This building served as the home of the music…
The Newcomb Art and Pottery Buildings
Under the guidance of Ellsworth Woodward, the Newcomb pottery program began flourishing in the mid-1890s. In 1896, the first public display of the pottery produced by the students was presented, to…
Morris Building: The Household Economy Building
Purchased in 1901 by the Tulane Educational Fund for Newcomb College, the Morris Building became home to the School of Household Arts in 1909.
Newcomb House
After the completion of Josephine Louise House in 1895, Mrs. Newcomb attempted to live in the building with the students, but found that their chatter ill suited to her need for quiet. She moved to…
Josephine Louise House
Mrs. Newcomb bought this house across from the Washington Avenue campus for a residence hall for the growing school in 1894. The original Josephine Louise House was managed by Alice Bowman, who was…
The Gables
In 1897, Newcomb College was becoming cramped, and President Dixon found himself writing to the President of Tulane. He expressed the need for another dorm to house all the girls and accommodate the…Tour curated by: Newcomb College Institute