Harvard History

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

A man sitting at a wooden table in a formal setting with portraits on the wall.

Cambridge Once Fought Harvard’s DNA Research. Now There’s a Play About It.

A theatrical reenactment explores a 1976 clash between science and democracy.

by Laurel M. Shugart

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

Mary and Bernard Berenson in the garden of her mother’s country house near Fernhurst, England, 1898

Brief life of Renaissance scholar Mary Costelloe Berenson

Brief life of a Renaissance scholar: 1864-1945

by Diane E. Booton

College seniors celebrate as their degrees are conferred (here, in June 1998—but the emotions are timeless).

Photographer Jim Harrison's highlights from 30 years of Harvard graduations

A photographer captures three decades of graduation moments and emotions.