Harvard History

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

A man with a long beard and formal attire stands next to a chalkboard with an equation.

They Might Be (Harvard) Giants

Two tales of University greats—and an encounter with a Tiger

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.

Headlines from Harvard's history

Headlines from Harvard's history

Harvard’s 1912 baseball team. Wingate (front at left, holding cap) was Fenway’s first batter.

Fenway Park's first pitch: 1912 Harvard vs. Red Sox game

Account of the first game at Fenway Park in 1912, Harvard vs. Red Sox

by Christopher Klein