Harvard History

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

Wadsworth House with green shutters and red brick chimneys, surrounded by trees and other buildings.

Wadsworth House Nears 300

The building is a microcosm of Harvard’s history—and the history of the United States.

by Primus VI

A new organ is being installed in Memorial Church this summer.

Harvard's Memorial Church gets a new organ

The organ, Fisk Opus 139, is being assembled for an Easter Sunday debut.

by Sarah Zhang

Joanne Chang

Joanne Chang of Flour Bakery to create 375th birthday cake for Harvard

Joanne Chang of Flour Bakery will provide a cake for Harvard's 375th birthday celebration.

The U.S. Postal Service on June 16 issued a first-class stamp honoring botanist Asa Gray. A natural history professor, Gray also founded the Harvard Summer School 140 years ago. The stamp shows plants that he studied as well as the words <i>Shortia galacifolia</i> in his own hand. The story of his epic quest for that plant is told at http://arnoldia.arboretum.harvard.edu/pdf/articles/838.pdf.

The Harvard Guerrilla Unit, and more on varsity sports ties

Undercover training during World War II, and more on varsity ties

Marjorie Thomas and Donald F. Brown

Harvard's oldest alumni and alumnae

Marjorie Thomas '42 and Donald F. Brown '30 led the alumni parade on Commencement afternoon.

Headlines from Harvard history

Headlines from Harvard's history

All hail the retiring provost, Steven E. Hyman.

Harvard Commencement 2011: Vignettes from the dais

Human touches within Commencement's pomp

Harvard Commencement Confetti 2011

An omnium-gatherum of notes and statistics, vital and otherwise

President Drew Faust

Talk excerpts by Laura Jaramillo, Adam Price, Drew Faust, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

A sampling of Commencement week speeches

The 2011 honorary-degree recipients. Back row from left: John G.A. Pocock, Provost Steven Hyman, Sir Timothy John Berners-Lee, President Drew Faust, Her Excellency Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, David Satcher, and Plácido Domingo. Front row from left: Dudley Herschbach, Rosalind Krauss, and James R. Houghton. Not pictured: The Honorable Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Harvard's honorary-degree recipients of 2011

The honorary-degree recipients of 2011

Graduate School of Arts and Sciences marshal Knatokie Marie Ford celebrates her Ph.D. in biological and biomedical sciences.

Highlights from Harvard's 360th Commencement

Highlights from Harvard's 360th Commencement