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

From left: Maya Jasanoff, Parimal Patil, Matthew Nock, Claudine Gay, and Robert Wood

Harvard faculty discuss the future of the academe

Faculty members predict what a Harvard education will look like in 2036.

Headlines from Harvard history, May-June 1917-1982

Headlines from Harvard history

Harvard players near the batting cage.

Harvard baseball's centennial at Fenway Park, Red Sox home

Commemorating a special game on a special field

The Globetrotters warming up before the game.

Harvard Lampoon plays basketball game against Harlem Globetrotters

The Harlem team plays the student humor publication in the streets of Harvard Square.

Richard Greener

Papers of Richard Greener, first black Harvard alumnus, found in Chicago

Papers of Richard Greener, A.B. 1870, have been found in Chicago.

Kay Ryan and Derek Bok

Derek Bok, Kay Ryan at the 2012 Harvard Phi Beta Kappa exercises

Derek Bok and Kay Ryan featured at the 2012 Phi Beta Kappa exercises

The 1946 team: Coach Stahl stands at left in back; Don Swegan wears #14, third from left. [Jack Clark apparently missed the photo.]

Harvard basketballers recall 1946 NCAA tournament game at Madison Square Garden

Reminiscences from the Crimson's last NCAA tournament turn

1946 Harvard basketball team

Harvard men's basketball's last NCAA appearance: looking back to 1946

The basketball team’s brief NCAA appearance in 1946

Led by professor of history Maya Jasanoff (from left), Harvard faculty Martin Puchner, Ann Pearson, Hopi Hoekstra, and David Charbonneau participate in Conversations @ FAS, a panel discussion that imagines how current trends may transform the way Harvard faculty teach and carry out their research in the future. The discussion was held in the Tsai Auditorium of CGIS South at Harvard University.

Jasanoff, Charbonneau, Pearson, Puchner, Hoekstra imagine Harvard in 2036

"Young superstars" from the Faculty of Arts and Sciences speculate about Harvard circa 2036

Kahlil Gibran's likeness of Harvard president Charles William Eliot, drawn in 1910

Kahlil Gibran draws Harvard's Charles William Eliot, plus Arnoldia's centennial

The prophet (Gibran) and the president (Eliot), plus Arnoldia turns 100.