Sage Hall: Experiments in Coeducation and Preservation at Cornell University

Sage Hall: Experiments in Coeducation and Preservation at Cornell University tells the story of Sage Hall, built as a women's residence in 1874, which made coeducation at Cornell possible. The history of the building, which was financed and endowed by Henry Sage on the condition that the University would provide an education for women equal to that of Cornell men, reflects the early feminist movement in upstate New York, and the social reformism of the founders of the University. The book also relates the controversial 1996-98 renovation of the building that “melon-balled” the structure, completely replacing the dilapidated interior while retaining the historic brick exterior walls, to create a new home for the Johnson Graduate School of Management. The story of the authors' courtship is woven into the narrative of the challenging renovation project, which was managed by the coauthor, and incorporates the entertaining project updates that he sent out to the Cornell community.