Harvard History
Stories that explore the institution’s rich history, from archival moments to evolving traditions.
A theatrical reenactment explores a 1976 clash between science and democracy.
In a sea of red brick, the Science Center and Peabody Terrace make their mark.
by Primus VI
Nobel Prize recipient Joseph E. Murray dedicated much of his career to organ transplant surgery.
Until the 1950s, professionals cleaned up after students in the dorms.
Harvard Releases Database of 1,613 People Enslaved by University Affiliates
Research continues to track down living descendants.
250 Years and Counting
Harvard’s ties to the Revolution ran deep.
250 Years Ago, Harvard Was Home to a Revolution
A look at the sights, sounds, and characters that put the University on the frontlines of history
The Harvard-Trained Doctor Who Urged a Revolution
Before his heroic death, General Joseph Warren was dubbed “the greatest incendiary in all of America.”
When the Revolution Hit Cambridge, Harvard Moved to Concord
College students broke hearts and windows during their year in exile.
How the American Revolution Freed a Future Abolitionist
Darby Vassall, an enslaved child freed after the Battle of Bunker Hill, dedicated his life to fighting for liberty.
The Framer Who Refused to Sign the Constitution
Harvard’s Elbridge Gerry helped draft the U.S. Constitution, but worried it might create a new monarch.