Originally known as Iowa College, it was the second institution west of the Mississippi River to admit women as students.

[2] Edward A. Goodnow, a reformer from Worcester, Massachusetts who promoted public education for women donated the funds to build the cottage-style facility to house female students.

Each room contained closet space, toilet, medicine cabinet, dresser, study table with attached shelves, chairs, rug and cot.

It sat unused for several years until alumni John H. and Lucile Hanson Harris provided the funds for its renovation.

This article about a property in Poweshiek County, Iowa on the National Register of Historic Places is a stub.