The College Pump

David McCord in suit reading a book at cluttered wooden desk in office filled with framed art and shelves.

The Pump Celebrates Its 85th Birthday

Giving Harvard traditions their due 

by Primus VI

John Harvard two-ounce, 56-cent stamp from 1986, honoring University’s 350th anniversary

Fancy Footwork

Engineering for runners, the John Harvard stamp, tweaking Dr. Oz

by Primus VI

Photo of new book on Harvard and Radcliffe presidents

Small-Town Roots

Professors’ humble beginnings, concentration choices, and a mini history of Harvard and Radcliffe presidents

by Primus VI

Photograph of a pet hamster, dyed Yale blue, for a humor piece about Yale admissions

Memorable Mentors

Richard Lewontin, Richard Zeckhauser, diplomatic security, diverse inclusion, and admissions agita lampooned

by Primus VI

Photographic portrait of James Agee

Origin Stories

Bow and Arrow’s mechanic, James Agee’s creative turbulence

by Primus VI

Portrait photograph of Sidney Verba

Sidney Verba, and a classy class reporter

Harvard’s mensch, and a record-setting recorder of Crimson lives

by Primus VI

Photograph of Harvard economist Martin Feldstein

Wilbur Cross, Martin Feldstein, and Charles William Eliot

Wisdom from the Great Depression—plus an accomplished economist, and rowdiness on the Charles

by Primus VI

Photograph of architect H.H. Richardson’s house

The College Pump

Classy masks, dapper archaeologist, saving H.H. Richardson’s house

by Primus VI

Photograph of Rob Gogan, retired recycling director and acute observer of nature on campus

Harvard’s naturalist, acronym guide, distracted professor at work

The campus’s Mr. Green, accessing acronyms, mathematician at work, and a distracted astronomer

by Primus VI

Historic photograph of Charles Follen Cabot, Civil War soldier, standing, in uniform

Civil War image, Empire State homage, and more

A Civil War image and an Empire State Building homage

by Primus VI

Photograph of Café Pamplona, now out of business

Prognostications on disease defense, China, deficits, and sweat

Prognostications on disease defense, China, deficits, and sweat

by Primus VI