Harvard History

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

Caricature of a young man in front of red doors, wearing a green striped sweater.

The Year a Beat Poet Squatted at Harvard

In 1954, Gregory Corso moved into Eliot House. How he stayed there is a literary legend.

by Constantine Archimedes Valhouli

Illustration by Mark Steele

Headlines from Harvard history, November-December 1924-1989

From the pages of the Harvard Alumni Bulletin and Harvard Magazine

"Harvard Volunteers in World War I: One Hundred Years After" appears in tribute

Harvard’s World War I participants are honored in an updated volume edited by Douglass M. Carver ’59.

Robert Norton Ganz Jr. and his wife, Anne, give pride of place to his 1925 Lincoln convertible.

A World War I Harvard aviator, plus a Game-worthy car buff and his wheels

A World War I Harvard aviator, plus a Game-worthy car buff and his wheels

Peter Gomes

Harvard remembers Peter Gomes in Memorial Minute

The late Pusey minister in Memorial Church is memorialized by the Faculty of Arts and Sciences.

Undergraduate Council vice president Sietse Goffard ’15 (at left) and president Gus Mayopoulos ’15 present the freshmen with their class banner.

Freshman convocation for Harvard College class of 2018

Applause and advice at Harvard’s Freshman Convocation

Illustration by Mark Steele

Headlines from Harvard history, September-October 1919-2004

From the pages of the Harvard Alumni Bulletin and Harvard Magazine

Members of the undefeated 2001 Crimson football team show flags at a 2011 tailgate in New Haven. Jared Lewis ’02, far left, holds the ancient Little Red Flag, which has been to many Harvard-Yale football games. He designed the new flag, and Kelly Goff made it. It is brandished, from left, by Justin Stark ’02, Jason Hove ’02, and Samuel Taylor ’02.

"Ten Thousand Men of Harvard”—the logo, and John Harvard’s shoes

"Ten Thousand Men of Harvard”—the logo, and John Harvard’s shoes

A new permanent exhibit at the Harvard Museum of Natural History showcases more than 50 glass models of marine invertebrates from the collections of the Museum of Comparative Zoology—models crafted by Leopold and Rudolf Blaschka, creators of the famous Glass Flowers. This model is <i>Tubularia indivisa</i>, or oaten pipes hydroid. (MCZ SC119)

The Harvard Museum of Natural History showcases Blaschka glass invertebrates

The Harvard Museum of Natural History showcases Blaschka glass invertebrates.

Samuel Clark, in costume, shows real tourists around Yale. He later said he was trying to be helpful.

Touring Yale, trombone sextet, and talking back to John Foster Dulles

Touring Yale, trombone sextet, and talking back to John Foster Dulles

Illustration by Mark Steele

Headlines from Harvard history, July-August 1914-1994

From the pages of the Harvard Alumni Bulletin and Harvard Magazine