Harvard University. College Teas Association

The College Teas Association (CTA) was established in 1894 during the presidency of Charles William Eliot. Spurred by the University's expansion during the late 1800 s, a group of facultywives formed a committee to consider ways to promote "social intercourse among the ladies of the University." The committee met at the home of Ellen Warner Davis to discuss potential social activities, the first of which was a College Luncheon in April, 1894 . The committee soon began holding formal teas to welcome the wives of newly appointed members of the faculty.

For the first five years teas were hosted by Grace Eliot, President Eliot's wife, in Fay House at Radcliffe College College and later in Phillips Brooks House at Harvard College.

Early teas were formal affairs. Women wore hats and gloves and identified themselves by their husband's name and department. Only the wives of professors or the mothers and sisters of bachelor professors were invited. Invitations consisted of calling cards delivered to home addresses until the Depression years, when telephone invitations became the preferred method. Hats were required apparel for everyone until 1926, when the Executive Committee dropped the requirement. It was not until 1964, however, that a note appeared in the records stating that no Harvard hostess should wear a hat.

In 1939, the CTA, under the leadership of Grace Conant, wife of President James Bryant Conant, established the Newcomers' Club as a response to the influx of Europeanscholars and their families who were new to the Harvard and Cambridge community. In 1967, when the University closed the Office of the Advisor to Harvard Wives, the Newcomer's Club established an outreach committee called the Harvard Neighbors, through which returning members were dispatched to introduce themselves to neighbors new to the community.

Three years later, in response to a diversifying membership that included wives of University officers as well as faculty, Sissela Bok established a committee to review the structure and role of the College Teas Association. In 1972, the Association was placed under the administrative wing of Harvard's Governing Boards, a new organizational structure was established, and the CTA was renamed Harvard Neighbors. Since then, Harvard Neighbors has opened an office at 17 Quincy Street, home of the Office of the Governing Boards, with a paid administrator on staff. In 1988, the by-laws were revised to extend membership to men. During Neil Rudenstine's presidency of Harvard, Angelica Rudenstine serves as co-chair of the organization with her husband.

Over the years, the College Teas Association and Harvard Neighbors have offered women and men the opportunity for diverse social activities. Past committees have organized book discussions, art exhibitions, and classes ranging from cooking to foreign languages, in addition to teas and dinner dances. In addition to sponsoring these activities, Harvard Neighbors now serves as a clearinghouse for volunteers to University and Cambridge community programs.

In 1994, the College Teas Association/Harvard Neighbors celebrated its 100th anniversary. Festivities included a tea in honor of Ann Pusey, wife of former President Nathan Marsh Pusey, the publication of a cookbook, an exhibition of historical documents and photographs in Pusey Library, and a reception.