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

The undated silhouette above is the only known portrait of Lowell.

Brief life of American textile industry entrepreneur Francis Cabot Lowell

Brief life of an American entrepreneur: 1775-1817

by Dan Yaeger

Headlines from Harvard history

Headlines from Harvard history

A signpost outside a gray wall at Pavlodar State University, in northern Kazakhstan, points the way to the red brick of Harvard and the gleaming spires of Oxford and Cambridge. Daniel Gutterman, LL.B. ’55, of New York City, took the photograph this spring when he taught business transactions and law at Innovative University of Eurasia, also in Pavlodar.

David Halberstam commemorated, Harry Levin as actor

Recollections of David Halberstam and Harry Levin

The Jasanoff family, clockwise from left: Sheila, Maya, Jay, Alan, and Alan's wife, Luba (holding daughter Nina)

It Runs in the Family: Three Jasanoff Professors at Harvard

All four members of the Jasanoff family—Jay, Sheila, Maya, and Alan—graduated from Harvard, and now three are professors here.

William James

William James symposium in Cambridge and New Hampshire

An unusual symposium at Harvard and at James's summer residence this August will remember the life of the psychologist-philosopher.

Alexandra Petri

2010 Commencement humor

The lighter side of Harvard's Commencement

Onora S. O’Neill

Harvard's 2010 honorary degree recipients

The honorary degree recipients

John P. "Jack" Reardon

Commencement confetti

Notes and statistics, vital and otherwise

Headlines from Harvard history

Headlines from Harvard history

Photograph by Jim Harrison

Yamamoto at Harvard, and a Harvard Community Garden

What Admiral Yamamoto learned at Harvard, and a new community garden