Harvard History

Stories that explore the institution’s rich history, from archival moments to evolving traditions.

Caricature of a young man in front of red doors, wearing a green striped sweater.

The Year a Beat Poet Squatted at Harvard

In 1954, Gregory Corso moved into Eliot House. How he stayed there is a literary legend.

by Constantine Archimedes Valhouli

A March 1, 1965, civil rights meeting at Selma’s Brown Chapel A.M.E. Church

Getting Close, in Selma

Acting at a moment of conscience

by Drew Gilpin Faust

Team photo, Boston Tigers in 1940, Arthur Augustus “Fats” Johnson at far right

Arthur Augustus Johnson

Brief life of a Black baseball impresario: 1890-1951

by Kasey Uhlenhuth , Harry R. Lewis

Illustration of Massachusetts Hall, Harvard president’s office

Presidents’ Paths

Life decisions en route to Massachusetts Hall

by Primus VI

Ursula Bailey working in a Harvard geology laboratory, 1945

Trailblazer in Space Science: The Legacy of Harvard's Ursula B. Marvin

Brief life of a pioneering planetary geologist: 1921-2018

by David A. Kring

The late professors Roy J. Glauber and Henry Rosovsky

Origin Stories

Eminent professors’ life foundations

by Primus VI

Cartoon of Anne Pusey redecoration president’s house 1953

Headlines from Harvard’s history

Headlines from Harvard’s history

Memorial Church

Henry Rosovsky Memorial Service May 31

President Bacow invites the community to remember a Harvard giant.

by John S. Rosenberg

Photograph of Sarah Kariko ’90 operating a letterpress at the Bow & Arrow Press in Cambridge, Massachusetts

The Eviction of the Bow & Arrow Press

The Adams House space that gave the letterpress studio its name will become a student common room.

by Craig Lambert

Cartoon of Harvard Band’s large drum

Headlines from Harvard’s history

Headlines from Harvard’s history

The John Harvard statue, with books at hand

John Harvard, Reader

John Harvard’s reading matter, a scholar poet, the towering John Fox

by Primus VI