Olivia Josselyn House

Olivia Josselyn House was designed by Francis Allen and completed in 1912. The gift of Mrs. Russell Sage who named the building in honor of her mother, Josselyn, resembles Jewett, sans the central tower. Josselyn house, or “Joss” as it’s commonly known, is the second-largest residence hall after Main Building, housing 237 students. Joss had the distinction of being the first residence hall on campus to have showers. They were a vast improvement over the 16 bathtubs in Main that so impressed Vassar students when the College opened. “I took a splendid bath today,” said one of the first, writing home to her parents. Joss’s parlor and bathrooms were recently renovated.

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