Yale Collection of Musical Instruments

A two story Romanesque building, made of red sandstone, with intricate ornamentation and detailing at the entrance. There is some deterioration, but is most likely due to weathering and age. Built in 1894 for the brothers Yale’s Alpha Delta Phi fraternity, this beautiful structure on Hillhouse Avenue is now home to the Yale Collection of Musical Instruments. 

Alpha Delta Phi Fraternity (Tyler Trust Association) until 1930 then sold to the University; leased by the University Club; Leased by York Hall (Omicron Trust Association and Chi Phi); Yale Collection of Musical Instruments. (6)

Originally Alpha Delta Phi fraternity, 15 Hillhouse Avenue was one of the very last buildings constructed on Hillhouse. Some of the architects of Hillhouse include Henry Austin, Ithiel Town and Alexander Jackson David (2). James Hillhouse planned the initial development of the street and helped establish at the time, the city’s image. He passed the plans and ideas onto his son, James A. Hillhouse (2). Most of the houses, including the previously privately-owned ones and the buildings Yale has built, maintain residential characteristics. However, by the end of the substantial building period of the 19^th century, Yale began to build larger structures, like 15 Hillhouse, making the end of the street feel more institutional, rather than residential.

The architect of 15 Hillhouse, Josiah Cleveland Cady, was a prominent New York based architect of the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century (1). He shaped some of the country’s most prestigious colleges, including Yale, Wesleyan and Williams College. He predominantly designed buildings of Romanesque style with rounded arches. 15 Hillhouse was constructed for the Tyler Trust Association (Alpha Delta Fraternity) of Yale University (6). The building was home to the fraternity brothers from its construction up until 1930 when it was sold to the university. After it was sold, Yale leased it to the University Club from 1931 to 1934 and to York Hall (Omicron Trust Association and Chi Phi) from 1935 to 1960 (6). Since 1960, the site has been home to the Yale Collection of Musical Instruments, an exhibition open and free to the public of musical instruments from antiquity to the present.

The building sits near the end of the historic Hillhouse Avenue. All the buildings surrounding it are owned by Yale and the majority are used for educational purposes, except St. Mary’s Church, which is two buildings down the street. Hillhouse Avenue, with its grass covered sidewalk and massive trees, is a parklike escape from the urban setting of New Haven.