Harvard History & Traditions

A bride and groom in formal attire cut a tiered cake at a candlelit wedding reception table.

The College Pump | May-June 2025

We Were Students Once...

Young love: the poem, plus enduring lessons from a public-health pioneer

by Primus VI

John Harvard's Journal | January-February 2013

Yesterday’s News

From the pages of the Harvard Alumni Bulletin and Harvard Magazine

An enlarged version of the famous bronze bust of Roosevelt created by American sculptor Jo Davidson appears at the threshold of a square, white-granite, open-air plaza.

Students & Alumni |

Four Freedoms Park Honors FDR, Class of 1904

The New York City site is the first memorial to the president in his home state.

The Pennoyer schoolhouse bell, from Pulham St. Mary in England, now at Leverett House

The College Pump | November-December 2012

Ipso Facto!

Of the Pennoyer bell, and Harvard Bandsman Allan R. Robinson, Latin librettist

John Harvard's Journal | November-December 2012

Yesterday's News

Headlines from Harvard history

Holding their blue-trimmed class banner, sophomore class Undergraduate Council representatives Chris Smiles (at left) and Ryley Reynolds flank Catherine Katz ’13 and associate dean of Harvard College Joan Rouse. Katz first proposed a sophomore class event to administrators. Smiles and Reynolds are also members of the Harvard Alumni Association’s Building Community Committee.

University News |

Sophomore Class Acquires Its Color

A Harvard tradition of passing colors down from graduating seniors to rising sophomores is revived.

Marden in New Zealand on his way from the farm to Wellington to try to leave for America, 1942

The College Pump | September-October 2012

Shepherds, Take Heart!

How Bill Marden got into Harvard and fulfilled the language requirement.

<i>Industrial Problems, Welfare Work: United States. Pennsylvania. Pittsburgh.H.J. Heinz Company: Bottling Department, </i> c. 1903. Gelatin silver print.

Treasure | September-October 2012

Reform School

Harvard’s long-closed Social Museum promoted progressive values.

by Christopher Reed

John Harvard's Journal | September-October 2012

Yesterday’s News

Headlines from Harvard history

Mark Saltveit displays for the first (and last?) time the World Palindrome Championship trophy.

The College Pump | July-August 2012

Wow. Huh?

A World Palindrome Champion, a sleuthing architect, and Yo-Yo Ma on Leon Kirchner

Seamus Heaney

University News |

“Villanelle” Choral Arrangement Debuts

Seamus Heaney's 1986 Harvard poem, set to music