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

Photograph by Jim Harrison

The oldest alumni

Rose Downes Arnold ’36 and George Barner ’29 led the alumni procession.

President Drew Faust and Provost Steven Hyman with the 2010 honorary degree recipients. Back row, from left to right: David Nathan, Freeman Hrabowski, Richard Serra, David Souter, Thomas Nagel, Thomas Cech, and Hyman. Front row, from left to right: Onora O'Neill, Meryl Streep, Faust, Susan Lindquist, and Renée Fox.

Recipients of Harvard honorary degrees at Commencement 2010

The honorary degree recipients, class of 2010.

Headlines from Harvard history

Headlines from Harvard history

The dining hall of the Harvard crew’s training camp, with its game-room addition at right, overlooks the Thames river.

The unique Harvard-Yale crew race

Nearly everything about the Harvard-Yale regatta is unique.

by Craig Lambert

Found on eBay, this barrel now belongs to Robert G. Milstein ’46, of Saratoga Springs, New York. He has no idea of its original purpose. It is 15 inches high. Harvard archivists Robin McElheny and Barbara Meloni think it looks like “a reunion prop,” maybe from the Depression era. Readers, any ideas?

The Harvard-Eleuthera connection, and a mystery barrel

Of philanthropy rewarded, broken glass, and pennies for Harvard

Headlines from Harvard history

Headlines from Harvard history

Monuments Men map

See the routes four Harvard-affiliated Monuments Men followed as they traveled through Europe rescuing looted art from the Nazis.

Samuel Beer

Sam Beer and Charles Townsend Copeland

What made Sam Beer and Charles Townsend Copeland great

Headlines from Harvard history

Headlines from Harvard history

Congratulations to the winners of our Harvard Square history quiz

Congratulations to winner Javier Bastos, M.Ed. ’98, and honorable mention Carol Horne.