A new center for Emeritus Yale Faculty will open early in 2003 at 149 Elm Street in New Haven. The house it occupies was built in 1767 by John Peirpont, a grandson of the Reverend James Pierpont, one of the founders of Yale College. A member of the family occupied the house until 1900, when it was bought by Anson Phelps Stokes, who lived there for twenty years while he was Secretary of the University. He deeded the house to the University when he retired in 1920 and it became the Yale Faculty Club until 1977. The house then was used as the Undergraduate Admissions Office and subsequently as the Yale University Visitor Center.

The new Center has been made possible by a generous gift to the University from Lisbet Rausing and Joseph Koerner ’80. It is to be known as the Henry Koerner Center for Emeritus Faculty, in honor of Joseph Koerner’s father. It occupies the second and third floors of the house, with the Visitor Center on the first floor. The main entrance to the Koerner Center is at the rear of the building, with access from Temple Street, and there is an elevator to the Center at the front entrance of the house on Elm Street. The Peirpont house has been beautifully restored to resemble its original appearance by the architects, Gregg & Weiss of New Haven.

All members of the Yale Emeritus Faculty will be welcome at the Center, regardless of their degree of participation. Emeriti who elect to become associated with the Center will be known as Fellows of the Henry Koerner Center.