Founded in 1936, The International Student House (ISH) is a non-profit, independent and non-denominational organization whose purpose is to provide a rewarding experience in international living to international and US graduate students, scholars, and interns. The original mission of ISH in 1936 was to provide a refuge for foreign nationals of color in an often discriminatory environment, and has evolved to accommodate and provide extensive programs for more than 300 men and women from 70 countries annually. Lectures, performances, and cultural programs, supported by the Washington diplomatic community, occur frequently in the Great Hall, supporting our mission to provide a warm environment for people of all backgrounds to interact.