In 1926, Mrs. William L. Harkness oversaw the construction of this classroom building after her husband left money for that purpose. According to her wishes, Dwight Hall was demolished so that there would be an “unobstructed view” to Harkness Tower.
In 1983, Harkness Hall hosted the election in which Local 34 of the Federation of University Employees narrowly won the right to represent the 3,000 clerical and technical workers at Yale, 80% of whom were women. It was a landmark victory for women workers because the organizers made gender discrimination and pay equity a central theme of their campaign.