清(qing)同治十(shi)(shi)年(nian)(1871),美(mei)國(guo)(guo)基(ji)督(du)教(jiao)監(jian)理(li)公會在蘇州(zhou)十(shi)(shi)全(quan)街設(she)立存養書(shu)院(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan),光緒五年(nian)(1879年(nian))遷(qian)至(zhi)天賜莊(zhuang),并改名(ming)博(bo)習書(shu)院(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)。并入(ru)(ru)中西書(shu)院(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)。二十(shi)(shi)七(qi)年(nian),中西書(shu)院(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)又遷(qian)至(zhi)天賜莊(zhuang)博(bo)習書(shu)院(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)舊(jiu)(jiu)址,建(jian)立東(dong)吳(wu)(wu)(wu)大(da)(da)(da)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)堂(tang),或稱東(dong)吳(wu)(wu)(wu)大(da)(da)(da)書(shu)院(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan),成為(wei)美(mei)國(guo)(guo)基(ji)督(du)教(jiao)在中國(guo)(guo)建(jian)立的早期教(jiao)會大(da)(da)(da)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)之一。辛亥(hai)革(ge)命后改稱東(dong)吳(wu)(wu)(wu)大(da)(da)(da)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)。開辦之初(chu),只設(she)中學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)班,學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)生不足(zu)百人。三(san)十(shi)(shi)一年(nian)開始招收大(da)(da)(da)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)生。宣統(tong)三(san)年(nian)(1911年(nian)),上海中西書(shu)院(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)并入(ru)(ru)。該校西學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)課程大(da)(da)(da)體仿效美(mei)國(guo)(guo)大(da)(da)(da)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue),國(guo)(guo)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)則自作安排,分設(she)有(you)文、理(li)、法三(san)個(ge)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)院(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)和附中數所(suo)。1952年(nian)10月(yue),全(quan)國(guo)(guo)高校院(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)系(xi)調(diao)整,東(dong)吳(wu)(wu)(wu)大(da)(da)(da)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)改組(zu)為(wei)江(jiang)蘇師范學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)院(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)。1982年(nian)6月(yue),改制為(wei)蘇州(zhou)大(da)(da)(da)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue),成為(wei)江(jiang)蘇省屬第一所(suo)綜合(he)性大(da)(da)(da)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue),校舍規模已較東(dong)吳(wu)(wu)(wu)大(da)(da)(da)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)舊(jiu)(jiu)址大(da)(da)(da)為(wei)擴展。
東吳大(da)學舊址占地(di)約6萬平(ping)方(fang)米(mi),建(jian)(jian)(jian)筑總(zong)面(mian)積2.1萬平(ping)方(fang)米(mi)。校門(men)北(bei)向,總(zong)平(ping)面(mian)略呈縱(zong)長方(fang)形,主要建(jian)(jian)(jian)筑分布在(zai)草坪操場的(de)(de)(de)北(bei)、西、東三面(mian)。其中有清光緒二十七年(nian)(nian)(nian)秋開工(gong),二十九年(nian)(nian)(nian)春落成(cheng)(cheng),位于全校中心的(de)(de)(de)鐘(zhong)樓"林(lin)堂(tang)(tang)";宣統元年(nian)(nian)(nian)秋開工(gong),三年(nian)(nian)(nian)落成(cheng)(cheng)的(de)(de)(de)圖書館(guan)(guan)"孫堂(tang)(tang)";1924年(nian)(nian)(nian)秋建(jian)(jian)(jian)成(cheng)(cheng)的(de)(de)(de)科學館(guan)(guan)"葛堂(tang)(tang)";1934年(nian)(nian)(nian)建(jian)(jian)(jian)成(cheng)(cheng)的(de)(de)(de)學生宿(su)舍(she)"維格堂(tang)(tang)";1935年(nian)(nian)(nian)建(jian)(jian)(jian)成(cheng)(cheng)的(de)(de)(de)學生宿(su)舍(she)"子實堂(tang)(tang)";1936年(nian)(nian)(nian)建(jian)(jian)(jian)成(cheng)(cheng)的(de)(de)(de)建(jian)(jian)(jian)身房。這些建(jian)(jian)(jian)筑各具風格,或(huo)作歐(ou)洲古(gu)典式,或(huo)仿中世紀城堡式,或(huo)效美(mei)國教堂(tang)(tang)式,既多(duo)樣(yang)又統一(yi),至今保(bao)持原貌。此外北(bei)部有一(yi)排(pai)六座與(yu)校門(men)平(ping)行的(de)(de)(de)小樓,造型美(mei)觀(guan),有的(de)(de)(de)為(wei)(wei)美(mei)國西部住宅式樣(yang),陸續建(jian)(jian)(jian)成(cheng)(cheng)于光緒三十三年(nian)(nian)(nian)至1919年(nian)(nian)(nian),當(dang)時均為(wei)(wei)高級教職員居(ju)住。西面(mian)還有一(yi)幢(chuang)五層樓,為(wei)(wei)1936年(nian)(nian)(nian)建(jian)(jian)(jian)成(cheng)(cheng)的(de)(de)(de)女生宿(su)舍(she)。
東(dong)吳大(da)學(xue)舊址東(dong)臨(lin)葑(feng)門(men)內城河(he)(he),與(yu)古(gu)城墻(qiang)隔河(he)(he)相望,校內樹(shu)木(mu)蔥蘢,綠蔭紅瓦相映(ying),環境幽美清新。