Harvard Yard Mail Center
The Harvard Yard Mail Center is located on the lower level of the Science Center in room B-12.
If you need a cart to transport parcels to your dorm, you may borrow one from YardOps in the basement of Weld Hall in Harvard Yard.
If you have any questions, you can reach Harvard University Mail & Distribution Services at hums@harvard.edu.
Address Formatting
The First-Year Experience Office assigns mailbox numbers at HYMC. Mailbox and housing assignments are sent via email in late July. Mail should not be addressed to the first-year residence halls, as no mail is delivered to those halls, and there is no connection between room numbers and mailbox numbers.
The address of residents receiving mail at HYMC should be formatted as follows:
<Full Name>
<Mailbox number> Harvard Yard Mail Center
Cambridge, MA 02138
So, for example,
John P. Harvard, IV
#### Harvard Yard Mail Center
Cambridge, MA 02138
This is the best way to address your mail. However, some carriers will require a street address, in which case the format should be as follows:
John P. Harvard, IV
#### Harvard Yard Mail Center
1 Oxford Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
Important Reminders
- Parcel Lockers: HUMS uses parcel lockers that are available to students to pick up parcels outside of customer service window hours. Delivery to these lockers is on a first-come first-served basis, determined by HUMS, as volume does not allow this service for all deliveries. If a student’s parcel is placed in a locker, they will be notified by email with instructions on how to retrieve their parcel. If you receive a notification that you have a parcel in a parcel locker, these can be retrieved 24 hours a day or whenever the Science Center is open to the public.
- Rising sophomores are given new addresses when they move into their residences. If mail is sent to upperclassmen at their first-year address, it will be redirected by HUMS. However, to avoid delays in receiving mail/parcels, please make sure to use the correct address.
- Special note for perishable items: Perishable items (e.g., food, and flowers) must be picked up as soon as possible. If not picked up in a timely manner, they will be disposed of.
- Newspaper subscriptions: Please notify the HYMC staff with any newspaper subscriptions. They will ensure they are held for students to pick up.
Customer Service
If you have mail or package tracking inquiries, please email or call us.
We will need the following information when answering inquiries:
- Tracking Number
- Name, including any nicknames or alternate names that may be on the parcel
- Mailbox Number
- Carrier (USPS, FedEx, UPS, Amazon Logistics)
- General description (shape, size, etc.)
- Any other information that may be helpful
Please note that tracking systems used by the USPS and other carriers (UPS, FedEx, etc.) do not necessarily indicate when parcels are delivered to Harvard University Mail Services (HUMS). In most cases, USPS items are scanned “delivered” before reaching a Harvard loading dock either during sorting at a USPS facility in Cambridge or as they are loaded onto a USPS truck. Other carriers will deliver to loading docks that are not managed by HUMS. Parcels are not considered received by HUMS until they are logged into our tracking system indicating that we have custody.