Harvard History & Traditions

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

Alan Garber speaking at a podium in Memorial Church, with wooden panels in the background.

In Sermon, Garber Urges Harvard Community to ‘Defend and Protect’ Institutions

Harvard’s president uses traditional Memorial Church address to encourage divergent views.

by Jonathan Shaw

Photograph of Peter Ashton and field team in Borneo

Dipterocarp and shuttle derring-do, and more

Trekking, shuttling, and semi-friending

by Primus VI

A Hasty Pudding Theatricals poster from 1910 showing a debutante curtseying

Harvard Treasure: Hasty Pudding Posters

“Shingles” and other art of the Hasty Pudding from the Harvard Theatre Collection.

by Jonathan Shaw

Paul Lee (left) holds the Little Red Flag replica in 2012. Also shown (clockwise from top left) are Spencer Ervin, Jeffrey Lee, and Stephen Goodhue.

Who has attended the most Harvard-Yale Games?

Who’ll carry the traditionalists’ Little Red Flag?

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