Headlines from Harvard History

From the pages of the Harvard Alumni Bulletin and Harvard Magazine

Illustration by Mark Steele

1901

J. P. Morgan signifies his intention of donating $1 million toward the construction of new buildings at the Medical School. Grateful administrators cable their thanks to the financier, who is traveling in Europe: “Great gift received: beneficent results innumerable.”

1931

The Law School announces the inauguration of a training course for prison wardens.

Before leaving to take on the world, the seniors offer some suggestions to the University. Among them: that varsity athletics be confined to the freshman, sophomore, and junior years, and that “radical improvement be made in the ventilation of Widener Reading Room (temperature 90 in the shade).”

1946

The Bulletin’s Undergraduate columnist, Mitchell Goodman ’45, reports that The Harvard Crimson has called for a local buyers’ strike as rising prices in the Square make subsistence difficult for fixed-income veteran scholars who receive only $15 a week of government subsistence. A front-page editorial in the paper declares, “What was once proudly called the G.I. Bill of Rights has become a fraud: Existence on $65 a month—or $90 with dependents—is patently impossible.”

1971

The Summer School celebrates its centennial year. Harvard’s first regular summer course, in botany, was offered by Professor Asa Gray; many of his students were women teachers who thus became pioneers in the education of women at the University.

1981

During the summer Alumni College program, 171 people sign up for a week-long course in “basic computer conversation,” which, by its close, has most of them programming.

2006

Crews remove the grass on the Harvard Stadium’s playing field during the summer, replacing it with a new synthetic surface, a $5-million project that will open the stadium for night, winter, and off-season use.

You might also like

In Sermon, Garber Urges Harvard Community to ‘Defend and Protect’ Institutions

Harvard’s president uses traditional Memorial Church address to encourage divergent views.

Free Speech, the Bomb-and Donald Trump

A Harvard cardiologist on the unlikely alliances that shaped a global movement to prevent nuclear war

A Look at Harvard’s Distinctive Doctoral Regalia

On regalia, a Jack-of-all-trades retirement, and a Bok’s office bon mot.

Most popular

Trump Says a Deal with Harvard Is Close

Administration squeezes Harvard finances, and a federal judge blasts deportation efforts as unconstitutional.

At Harvard, Mike Pence Discusses Democracy and Conservatism

The former vice president denounces political violence, expresses hope for a deal between Trump and the University.

Profile of Novelist Yangsze Choo

Malaysian-born Yangsze Choo writes novels infused with the tropical mysteries of her childhood.

Explore More From Current Issue

Julie Riew, wearing a white dress, playing guitar and singing into a microphone on stage.

Bringing Korean Stories to Life

Composer Julia Riew writes the musicals she needed to see.

Room filled with furniture made from tightly rolled newspaper sheets.

A Paper House In Massachusetts

The 1920s Rockport cottage reflects resourceful ingenuity.

Whimsical illustration of students rushing through ornate campus gate from bus marked “Welcome New Students.”

Highlights from Harvard’s Past

The Medical School goes coed, University poet wins Nobel Prize.