Originally home to the Reverend John Keep, the house underwent a serious renovation in 1911 in order to transform it into a college dormitory.

[2] It is named after its primary trustee, the reverend John Keep, an abolitionist who cast the deciding vote that let African-American students attend Oberlin College, the first institution to do so.

Oberlin bans all fraternities and sororities, making the co-ops the largest student-organized social system at the college.

The intimate and homey lounge is the primary venue for the cooperative's events, historically including the campus-wide Halloween party, the OSCA Chamber Ensemble and weekly astronomy sessions.

[5] Keep’s basement is also home to the Oberlin Bike Co-op, where students can rent bicycles and learn to fix them, too.