History
ISH began modestly in 1936 with the purchase of a five-story building at 1708 New Hampshire Avenue, NW (now the Embassy of Eritrea) by the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), a national organization of philanthropy-minded Quakers. The original House accommodated 18 students, mostly individuals of color needing a warm environment in the then racially segregated city of Washington. In 1946, AFSC purchased the home of Demarest Lloyd at 1825 R Street. It was built in 1912, with a Tudor design and a Great Hall. The Demarest Lloyd family left to ISH their valuable antiques and paintings, most of which now adorn the Burling Hall. In 1967 a second building, known as Van Slyck, was constructed adjacent to the main building. Van Slyck Hall doubled the capacity of ISH to 60 residents. Twenty years later, ISH purchased a building at 1824 Riggs Place, now known as Marpat Hall. Located directly behind Van Slyck Hall, Marpat Hall which has increased the capacity of ISH to 100.
Specialties
The International Student House, a non-profit organization in the heart of Washington, DC, provides an exceptional residential experience to a highly diverse international community of graduate students, interns, and visiting scholars. The House promotes inter-cultural dialogue, encourages life-long connections, and fosters global citizenship.