Harvard History

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

A graphic depiction of a stone wall, reimagining the stone wall set in Harvard Square near Winthrop Street

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.

by Olivia Farrar

Photograph of a pet hamster, dyed Yale blue, for a humor piece about Yale admissions

Memorable Mentors

Richard Lewontin, Richard Zeckhauser, diplomatic security, diverse inclusion, and admissions agita lampooned

by Primus VI

Painting: Carnations, Gillyvors, Willow

The Paintings Found Behind a Shelf of Books in the Harvard Botanical Museum

The discovery of Rosa M. Towne’s paintings in the Harvard Botanical Museum

by Edward Tabor

A humorous illustration of women trying to buy football tickets in 1921

Yesterday’s News

Headlines from Harvard’s history

Photograph of E.O. Wilson observing ants

Speaking Pheromone

How science is done, in the lab of E.O. Wilson

by Richard Rhodes

Illustration showing how Harvard Business School settled on its new name in 1961

Headlines from Harvard’s history

Headlines from Harvard’s history

Drawing of Poco from Harvard Celebrities: A Book of Caricatures and Decorative Drawings, 1901

The Poco of Pocos

Brief life of a Harvard “character”

by Hanna Rose Shell

Photographic portrait of James Agee

Origin Stories

Bow and Arrow’s mechanic, James Agee’s creative turbulence

by Primus VI

A brown grandfather clock

How Harvard Profited On Keeping Time

Harvard’s clocks and the standardization of time

by Jacob Sweet

Yesterday’s News: Headlines from Harvard’s History

From the pages of the Harvard Alumni Bulletin and Harvard Magazine

Portrait photograph of Sidney Verba

Sidney Verba, and a classy class reporter

Harvard’s mensch, and a record-setting recorder of Crimson lives

by Primus VI