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The New Africa House, formerly known as Mills House, is an academic building and former dormitory of the University of Massachusetts Amherst built in the Georgian revival style with Art Deco accents. It is part of the Central Residential Area at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. It was designed by Louis Ross, who designed many of the dormitories on campus as well as the Student Union.

The Mills House had been named after an early dean of the Massachusetts Agricultural College (the college that evolved into the University of Massachusetts), George Franklin Mills, who had taught literature and Latin for years, and also been the college treasurer.

An incident led to a black student takeover of the dorm in the spring of 1970. After negotiations with university officials, an agreement was made to rename the house "New Africa House". The then newly formed African-American studies department, the W.E.B. Du Bois Department for Afro-American Studies, would relocate its offices there, where (as of 2020) it remains to this day. The house also features the Augusta Savage Art Gallery and the university's Everywoman's Center.

References

1. W.E.B. Du Bois Department for Afro-American Studies
2. Augusta Savage Art Gallery
3. Everywoman's Center

• A history of Afro-American studies at UMass Amherst

This post explains the history of black students at the university, including, importantly, towards the middle of the article, the story of the takeover of the Mills House by black students after a group of white frat brothers chased two black students to the dorm, and threatened to return with a larger group.

External links

• Mills Hall (New Africa House)—UMass Amherst Campus Memorials
• Mills, George Franklin—UMass Physical Plant
• W. E. B. Du Bois Department of Afro-American Studies

v t e University of Massachusetts Amherst
Academics	College of Education College of Engineering College of Humanities and Fine Arts College of Information and Computer Sciences Isenberg School of Management College of Natural Sciences College of Nursing School of Public Health and Health Sciences School of Public Policy College of Social and Behavioral Sciences Stockbridge School of Agriculture
Research	Research centers DEFA Film Library Five College Radio Astronomy Observatory (defunct) Large Millimeter Telescope Massachusetts Green High Performance Computing Center National Center for Digital Government Political Economy Research Institute
Campus	Facilities Fine Arts Center John W. Lederle Graduate Research Center Morrill Science Center Murray D. Lincoln Campus Center (Blue Wall Cafe) Orchard Hill Observatory University Museum of Contemporary Art W. E. B. Du Bois Library Landmarks Campus Pond Old Chapel Chestnut Ridge Historical Area East Ridge Historical Area Ellis Drive Historical Area
Athletics	Programs Baseball Softball Men's basketball Women's basketball Men's ice hockey Women's ice hockey Men's lacrosse Football Men's soccer Field hockey Facilities Curry Hicks Cage Earl Lorden Field William D. Mullins Memorial Center Sortino Field Warren McGuirk Alumni Stadium Rudd Field History and traditions UMass Minutemen and Minutewomen Sam the Minuteman UMass Fight Song University of Massachusetts Minuteman Marching Band
Student life	Housing University bus and PVTA Five College Consortium Greek life Student Government Association University Without Walls Amherst
People	Alumni Faculty Presidents and Chancellors
Media	The Campus Chronicle Jubilat The Massachusetts Daily Collegian The Massachusetts Review WFCR WMUA
Miscellaneous	1980 campus water shortage

• African Americans and education
• African and Black nationalism in the United States
• Defunct University of Massachusetts Amherst residence halls
• School buildings completed in 1948