Harvard History
Stories that explore the institution’s rich history, from archival moments to evolving traditions.
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
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.
The Woman Who Penned the Case for War
Mercy Otis Warren’s poetry and plays incited the Patriot movement.
The Costly Choice Native Americans Faced
How the Revolution reshaped indigenous New England
This Harvard Graduate Brings Women of the Revolution to Life
Historical reenactor Lauren Shear reveals tricks of the trade for playing Tory loyalists, Revolutionary poets, and more.
One of Harvard’s Oldest Structures Is Hiding Behind a Beer Garden
A crumbling wall in Harvard Square holds centuries of the city’s story, if you know how to read it.
At Harvard’s Beck-Warren House, Ghosts Speak Many Languages
The quirky 1833 home now hosts Celtic scholars.