清同(tong)治十年(nian)(1871),美國(guo)基(ji)督(du)教(jiao)監理公會(hui)在蘇(su)(su)州十全街設(she)立存養書(shu)院(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan),光緒(xu)五(wu)年(nian)(1879年(nian))遷至天賜(si)莊(zhuang),并改(gai)(gai)名博習書(shu)院(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)。并入中(zhong)(zhong)西書(shu)院(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)。二十七年(nian),中(zhong)(zhong)西書(shu)院(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)又遷至天賜(si)莊(zhuang)博習書(shu)院(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)舊址,建立東(dong)吳(wu)大(da)(da)(da)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)堂,或稱東(dong)吳(wu)大(da)(da)(da)書(shu)院(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan),成為(wei)美國(guo)基(ji)督(du)教(jiao)在中(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)建立的早期教(jiao)會(hui)大(da)(da)(da)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)之一(yi)。辛亥革命(ming)后改(gai)(gai)稱東(dong)吳(wu)大(da)(da)(da)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)。開(kai)辦之初(chu),只設(she)中(zhong)(zhong)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)班,學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)生不足(zu)百(bai)人(ren)。三(san)十一(yi)年(nian)開(kai)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(hai)中(zhong)(zhong)西書(shu)院(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)并入。該校(xiao)西學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)課(ke)程(cheng)大(da)(da)(da)體(ti)仿效美國(guo)大(da)(da)(da)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue),國(guo)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)則自(zi)作安排,分設(she)有文(wen)、理、法(fa)三(san)個(ge)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)院(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)和(he)附中(zhong)(zhong)數(shu)所。1952年(nian)10月(yue),全國(guo)高校(xiao)院(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)系調整,東(dong)吳(wu)大(da)(da)(da)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)改(gai)(gai)組為(wei)江蘇(su)(su)師(shi)范學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)院(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)。1982年(nian)6月(yue),改(gai)(gai)制(zhi)為(wei)蘇(su)(su)州大(da)(da)(da)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue),成為(wei)江蘇(su)(su)省屬第一(yi)所綜(zong)合性大(da)(da)(da)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue),校(xiao)舍(she)規模已較東(dong)吳(wu)大(da)(da)(da)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)舊址大(da)(da)(da)為(wei)擴展。
東吳大學舊址占地(di)約6萬平方(fang)米,建(jian)(jian)(jian)筑總面(mian)積2.1萬平方(fang)米。校門北(bei)向,總平面(mian)略呈縱長方(fang)形,主要建(jian)(jian)(jian)筑分布在草(cao)坪操場的(de)(de)北(bei)、西、東三(san)面(mian)。其(qi)中(zhong)有(you)(you)清光緒二十七年(nian)(nian)(nian)秋開工,二十九年(nian)(nian)(nian)春(chun)落成(cheng)(cheng),位于全校中(zhong)心的(de)(de)鐘樓"林堂";宣(xuan)統元年(nian)(nian)(nian)秋開工,三(san)年(nian)(nian)(nian)落成(cheng)(cheng)的(de)(de)圖書館"孫堂";1924年(nian)(nian)(nian)秋建(jian)(jian)(jian)成(cheng)(cheng)的(de)(de)科學館"葛堂";1934年(nian)(nian)(nian)建(jian)(jian)(jian)成(cheng)(cheng)的(de)(de)學生(sheng)(sheng)宿(su)舍(she)"維格堂";1935年(nian)(nian)(nian)建(jian)(jian)(jian)成(cheng)(cheng)的(de)(de)學生(sheng)(sheng)宿(su)舍(she)"子實堂";1936年(nian)(nian)(nian)建(jian)(jian)(jian)成(cheng)(cheng)的(de)(de)建(jian)(jian)(jian)身(shen)房。這些(xie)建(jian)(jian)(jian)筑各具(ju)風格,或作歐(ou)洲(zhou)古典式(shi),或仿中(zhong)世紀城堡式(shi),或效美國教堂式(shi),既多樣又統一(yi),至今保(bao)持原貌(mao)。此外北(bei)部有(you)(you)一(yi)排六座與(yu)校門平行的(de)(de)小樓,造型美觀,有(you)(you)的(de)(de)為(wei)美國西部住(zhu)宅式(shi)樣,陸續建(jian)(jian)(jian)成(cheng)(cheng)于光緒三(san)十三(san)年(nian)(nian)(nian)至1919年(nian)(nian)(nian),當(dang)時均為(wei)高級教職員居(ju)住(zhu)。西面(mian)還(huan)有(you)(you)一(yi)幢五層樓,為(wei)1936年(nian)(nian)(nian)建(jian)(jian)(jian)成(cheng)(cheng)的(de)(de)女生(sheng)(sheng)宿(su)舍(she)。
東(dong)吳大學舊址東(dong)臨葑門內(nei)城(cheng)河,與古城(cheng)墻隔河相望,校內(nei)樹(shu)木蔥蘢,綠蔭紅瓦相映,環境幽美清(qing)新。