4/11/2025 - ASU Virginia G Piper Writer's House

 

While I was in Tempe, AZ I went to see old buildings at the ASU campus.  Here is another building I found.



This is the Virginia G. Piper Writer's house.  It is also an old building on campus where the former President's Cottage holds a long history under its roof.  Built in 1907, the home's original purpose was to house the presidents of ASU, including Grady Gammage - a task lasted until 1959.

Afterwards, the University's alumni association held its offices in the building from 1967-1972.  It was also used as the home of the school's archives until 1995.  Author Robert Frost would call it home during his visits to President Gammage during his term.

The two-story house produces creative writing workshops for Englis students and other majors.

The home's namesake, Virginia G. Piper was a philanthropist whose charities funded numerous hospitals and medical universities, as well as local Girl Scout troops in the Phoenix area.

The interior of the house features a living room and meeting space on one side, with a kitchen and conference room on the opposite.  Adjacent to the kitchen is a study which leads into a classroom for both classes and events of visiting writers.  Upstairs, the original rooms have been converted to office spaces for the staff.

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