Harvard History & Traditions

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

Jack Reardon waves

A Look at Harvard’s Distinctive Doctoral Regalia

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

by Primus VI

An early group photo of Band members wearing bowler hats

The Harvard Band: a celebratory centennial history in brief

The Harvard Band celebrates a century.

by Sol Hurwitz

Unhappy bell-ringer replaced by an automated bell switch sits high in the steeple looking out over part of the Harvard campus below

Headlines from Harvard’s history

Headlines from Harvard’s history

Painting of Amos A. Lawrence, 1887, by Eastman Johnson.

Expansive CVs, and extracurricular insights

Expansive CVs, and extracurricular insights

by Primus VI

Drawing of Alan Lomax singing in Harvard Yard

Headlines from Harvard’s history

Headlines from Harvard’s history

Portrait photo of admissions stalwart Dwight Miller

Dwight Miller, longtime Harvard admissions officer, retires

College admissions stalwart Dwight Miller retires.

by John S. Rosenberg

Photograph of Julie Chung and Drew Pendergrass

New Ledecky Fellows for 2019-2020

The Ledecky Fellows provide an undergraduate perspective on life at Harvard.

An illustration of Harvard Yard with a superimposed rendering of a youthful male figure contemplating his place at the College

A life lesson from Willie Banks

A life lesson from Willie Banks

by Chad M. Oldfather

Photograph of hen turkey and poults in Harvard Yard

Turkeys, tourists, traditions, tranquility

Turkeys, tourists, traditions, tranquility

by Primus VI

A photograph of an eighteenth-century, three-inch pocket globe in its open case

A pocket globe at the Harvard Archives

Ebenezer Storer’s pocket globe

by Jacob Sweet

Baby Turkey Season Comes to Harvard

A hen turkey and her seven poults have settled near the eastern end of Harvard Yard. 

by Marina N. Bolotnikova