Old Wolf’s Head Society Building // 1884

The Wolf’s Head was established in 1883 as one of Yale’s secret societies. It was intended as an alternative to the more established Skull and Bones and Scroll and Key societies, and it made a statement when it completed this clubhouse in 1884. The handsome Richardsonian Romanesque clubhouse at the corner of Prospect and Trumbull streets in New Haven was designed by the firm of McKim, Mead and White, which would go on to become one of the leading architectural firms in the country during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The rough-faced brownstone structure was historically covered in climbing ivy, adding to the building’s mysterious nature. Wolf’s Head made it their home from 1884 until 1924 when the building was sold to the University and Wolf’s Head moved to new quarters on York Street. The building was rented to clubs for years until the early 1960s, when it started to be used for faculty offices, staff and classrooms. The building was added onto and today, the old Wolf’s Head is used by the Institution for Social and Policy Studies.

4 thoughts on “Old Wolf’s Head Society Building // 1884

  1. michael3b5ebd1d87's avatar michael3b5ebd1d87 December 31, 2025 / 4:39 pm

    The “new” Wolfs Head secret society building

    Like

      • michael3b5ebd1d87's avatar michael3b5ebd1d87 January 4, 2026 / 7:09 pm

        Sorry that got cut off somehow…

        The “new” Wolf’s Head secret society building on York Street was designed by noted architect Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue, who also incidentally designed the typeface Cheltenham, which is still in use as the official font of The New York Times.

        Liked by 1 person

      • Buildings of New England's avatar Buildings of New England January 7, 2026 / 8:50 am

        Ah, yes! Goodhue is such an underrated architect/designer. Cram, Goodhue and Ferguson is one of my favorite 20th century firms

        Like

Leave a comment