New Africa House
Encyclopedia
The New Africa House, formerly known as Mills House, is an academic building and former dormitory of the University of Massachusetts Amherst
built in the Georgian revival style with art deco
accents. It is part of the Central Residential Area at the University of Massachusetts Amherst
. It was designed by Louis Ross, who designed many of the dormitories on campus as well as the Student Union. It was named after former modern languages and literary professor George Franklin Mills, who also served as a dean of the Massachusetts Agricultural College; the building's name was changed however following a black student dorm takeover in the late 1960s. After negotiations with university officials, an agreement was made that the dorm would be renamed "New Africa" and the newly formed African-American studies department would relocate its offices there. It still serves as the classroom and office space of that department to this day, and also features the Augusta Savage
Art Gallery and the university's Everywoman's Center.
University of Massachusetts Amherst
The University of Massachusetts Amherst is a public research and land-grant university in Amherst, Massachusetts, United States and the flagship of the University of Massachusetts system...
built in the Georgian revival style with art deco
Art Deco
Art deco , or deco, is an eclectic artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s and flourished internationally throughout the 1930s, into the World War II era. The style influenced all areas of design, including architecture and interior design, industrial design, fashion and...
accents. It is part of the Central Residential Area at the University of Massachusetts Amherst
University of Massachusetts Amherst
The University of Massachusetts Amherst is a public research and land-grant university in Amherst, Massachusetts, United States and the flagship of the University of Massachusetts system...
. It was designed by Louis Ross, who designed many of the dormitories on campus as well as the Student Union. It was named after former modern languages and literary professor George Franklin Mills, who also served as a dean of the Massachusetts Agricultural College; the building's name was changed however following a black student dorm takeover in the late 1960s. After negotiations with university officials, an agreement was made that the dorm would be renamed "New Africa" and the newly formed African-American studies department would relocate its offices there. It still serves as the classroom and office space of that department to this day, and also features the Augusta Savage
Augusta Savage
Augusta Savage, born Augusta Christine Fells was an African-American sculptor associated with the Harlem Renaissance. She was also a teacher and her studio was important to the careers of a rising generation of artists who would become nationally known...
Art Gallery and the university's Everywoman's Center.