Mrs. Davis Among “Century of Welcomes” Celebrants

On October 21st, the International House community gathered to celebrate the centenary of the historic encounter between Harry Edmonds and a lonely Chinese student which led to the founding of International House.

The gathering, which took place following a meeting by the I-House Board of Trustees, was one of several held around the world this fall to mark the seminal event of the House’s long history.

Chairman Paul A Volcker told those assembled for a reception in the Hall of History that they were celebrating “an idea that has stood the test of time”. He paid tribute to the founders and to the alumni of the House, including special guest Kathryn W. Davis ’32.

“We are delighted that she could join us this evening,” said Volcker of the 102-year-old Mrs. Davis. “She is a fine example of the good deeds one can do to help bring about change in this world, and we will be forever grateful to her.”

Don Cuneo, Kathryn Davis '32 and Paul Volcker

The sprightly Mrs. Davis – a recipient of the Harry Edmonds Award and founder of the Davis Projects for Peace among many distinguished endeavors - sat nearby acknowledging the chairman’s praise and recalling her years at the House with her then-fiance, Shelby Cullom Davis, when Edmonds was still the director.

Mrs. Davis was just two years old in 1909 when Edmonds, an officer with the Upper Manhattan YMCA, encountered a lonely Chinese student on the steps of Lowe Library at Columbia University. He and his wife invited groups of students to their home, an extension of hospitality that grew to increasingly larger numbers until a club was formally established and International House was built in 1922-24.

“How could Harry Edmonds or anyone else have imagined what has transpired since that fateful welcome a century ago?” asked Volcker. “Happily, his idea was made a reality by the vision and support of the Rockefeller and Dodge families, and we are here to celebrate tonight.”

Earlier, I. House President Don Cuneo welcomed celebrants at what he called a “family occasion” and recalled knowing the elderly Harry Edmonds from his own residents days, when Edmonds would visit the House.

“He was a remarkable person, and never lost his enthusiasm for I-House and its mission,” said Cuneo. He would be so thrilled to know that we – residents, alumni, trustees and staff – are gathered here in honor of this very special occasion.”

Cuneo said that Edmonds and co-founders John D. Rockefeller, Jr. and Cleveland H. Dodge would also be gratified to know that the idea of I-House, so unusual and visionary 85 years ago, has come to be so widely accepted today.

“Indeed, there are I-Houses throughout the world, serving tens of thousands each year and promoting our ideals of peaceful understanding and cross cultural exchange,” he said.

Cuneo read an excerpt from Edmonds’ oft-quoted memoirs:

“To have dreamed such a dream, and to have seen it come to pass in one’s own lifetime, is beyond anything which one might aspire to, or hope for.”