History of Harvard University in Timeline

Harvard University, founded in 1636 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Named after John Harvard, it's a private Ivy League research university renowned for its prestige, wealth, and influence. Harvard consistently ranks among the top universities globally, attracting exceptional students and faculty and contributing significantly to research and scholarship across various disciplines.

1900: Harvard becomes a founding member of the AAU

In 1900, Harvard became a founding member of the Association of American Universities (AAU). During this time, the student body was predominantly comprised of "old-stock, high-status Protestants, especially Episcopalians, Congregationalists, and Presbyterians."

1900: Harvard co-founds the Association of American Universities

In 1900, Harvard co-founded the Association of American Universities, marking a significant step in its development as a modern research university.

1903: Franklin D. Roosevelt Graduates from Harvard

In 1903, Franklin D. Roosevelt graduated from Harvard (AB). He later worked at The Harvard Crimson.

1909: End of Charles William Eliot's Presidency

In 1909, Charles William Eliot's presidency at Harvard University concluded, a period notable for the decrease in the favored position of Christianity in the curriculum and the opening of the curriculum to student self-direction.

1909: Charles William Eliot's Tenure Ends

In 1909, the long tenure of Harvard president Charles William Eliot came to an end, a period during which Harvard developed multiple professional schools and transformed into a modern research university.

1910: First Ice Hockey Meeting with Cornell

In 1910, Harvard established a historic rivalry with Cornell in men's ice hockey, marking the date of their first meeting.

1923: A. Lawrence Lowell Proposes Capping Jewish Student Admissions

In 1923, Harvard University's 22nd president, A. Lawrence Lowell, proposed capping the admission of Jewish students to 15% of the undergraduate population. Lowell also refused to mandate forced desegregation in the university's freshman dormitories.

1933: James B. Conant Becomes President

In 1933, James B. Conant became the 23rd president of Harvard University, initiating efforts to reinvigorate creative scholarship and ensure Harvard's prominence.

1940: John F. Kennedy Graduates from Harvard

In 1940, John F. Kennedy graduated from Harvard (AB). He later worked at The Harvard Crimson.

1945: Standardized Admissions Developed

In 1945, following the end of World War II, special exams were developed to allow veterans to be considered for admission to Harvard, as part of an effort to standardize admissions and open the university to a more diverse group of students.

1945: Publication of "General Education in a Free Society" and Admission of Women to Medical School

In 1945, under James B. Conant's leadership, Harvard faculty published the influential report, "General Education in a Free Society". Also in 1945, women were first admitted to the medical school.

1953: End of James B. Conant's Presidency

In 1953, James B. Conant's presidency at Harvard University came to an end, a period notable for the reinvigoration of creative scholarship and efforts to guarantee Harvard's preeminence.

1960: Diversification of Student Body

By 1960, admissions were standardized at Harvard University to open the university to a more diverse group of students.

1971: Harvard Controls Radcliffe Admissions

In 1971, Harvard assumed control over undergraduate admission, instruction, and housing for Radcliffe's women.

1973: Beginning of the NCAA Division I Era

In 1973, the NCAA Division I era began. The Harvard Crimson teams have won five NCAA Division I championships since.

1986: Reduction of South African Holdings

In 1986, Harvard began reducing its South African holdings, driven by increasing pressure.

1987: Reduction of South African Holdings Completed

Between 1986 and 1987, the university reduced its South African holdings by $230 million out of a total of $400 million, responding to external pressure.

1989: Harvard Wins NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Championship

In 1989, the Harvard Crimson men's ice hockey team won the NCAA Division I championship.

1990: Harvard Wins NCAA Division I Women's Lacrosse Championship

In 1990, the Harvard Crimson women's lacrosse team won the NCAA Division I championship.

1999: Radcliffe Formally Merged into Harvard University

In 1999, Radcliffe was formally merged into Harvard University, fully integrating the institutions.

2003: Harvard Wins NCAA Division I Women's Rowing Championship

In 2003, the Harvard Crimson women's rowing team won the NCAA Division I championship.

2003: Academic Ranking of World Universities Ranks Harvard First

Since its founding in 2003, the Academic Ranking of World Universities has ranked Harvard first in each of its annual rankings of the world's colleges and universities.

2004: Times Higher Education-QS World University Rankings Ranks Harvard First

In 2004, the Times Higher Education–QS World University Rankings, ranked Harvard first in the world.

2006: Harvard Wins NCAA Division I Men's Fencing Championship

In 2006, the Harvard Crimson men's fencing team won the NCAA Division I championship.

July 1, 2007: Drew Gilpin Faust Appointed as Harvard's First Female President

On July 1, 2007, Drew Gilpin Faust, dean of Harvard Radcliffe Institute, was appointed as Harvard's 28th and the university's first female president.

2007: Start of the Recession

During the recession starting in 2007, Harvard University experienced significant financial losses, leading to budget cuts and the temporary halting of construction on the Allston Science Complex.

2009: End of the Recession

Harvard University suffered significant financial losses during the recession from 2007 to 2009, that forced large budget cuts, in particular temporarily halting construction on the Allston Science Complex.

2009: Times Higher Education-QS World University Rankings Ranks Harvard First

In 2009, the Times Higher Education–QS World University Rankings, ranked Harvard first in the world.

2010: Harvard's Image in Film

In 2010, film critic Paul Sherman noted that Harvard's reputation for elite achievement and elitist privilege has made it a common backdrop in literature and film, symbolizing tradition and a certain amount of stuffiness.

2011: Harvard Topped Mines ParisTech Ranking

In 2011, Harvard topped the Mines ParisTech: Professional Ranking of World Universities, which measured universities' numbers of alumni holding CEO positions in Fortune Global 500 companies.

2011: Times Higher Education World University Rankings Ranks Harvard First

Since 2011, the Times Higher Education World University Rankings has ranked Harvard first in the world each year.

2016: Cut in Graduate Student Funding

In fiscal year 2016, poor endowment performance forced a 4.4% cut in the number of graduate students funded by the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Harvard.

July 1, 2018: Lawrence Bacow Becomes Harvard's 29th President

On July 1, 2018, Drew Gilpin Faust retired, joining the board of Goldman Sachs, and Lawrence Bacow became Harvard's 29th president.

2018: Harvard Grants Degrees

During the 2018–2019 academic year, Harvard granted 1,665 baccalaureate degrees, 1,013 graduate degrees, and 5,695 professional degrees.

2019: Faculty of Arts and Sciences Statistics

As of 2019, the Faculty of Arts and Sciences is the largest Harvard faculty, with an academic staff of 1,211.

2019: Harvard Grants Degrees

During the 2018–2019 academic year, Harvard granted 1,665 baccalaureate degrees, 1,013 graduate degrees, and 5,695 professional degrees.

2019: Harvard Topped University Ranking by Academic Performance

In 2019, Harvard topped the University Ranking by Academic Performance.

2019: Harvard's Engineering School Ranked Third Best in the World

In 2019, Harvard's engineering school was ranked the third-best school in the world for engineering and technology by Times Higher Education.

2019: Medical School Research Grants

In 2019, the Harvard medical school and its affiliates attracted $1.65 billion in competitive research grants from the National Institutes of Health.

2021: Expansion of the John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences

In 2021, the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences expanded into the new Allston-based Science and Engineering Complex (SEC).

2022: Dissolution of the Undergraduate Council

In 2022, the Undergraduate Council was dissolved and replaced by the Undergraduate Association.

February 2023: Harvard Workers Attempt to Organize a Union

In February 2023, approximately 6,000 Harvard workers attempted to organize a union.

June 2023: Bacow Retires

In June 2023, Lawrence Bacow retired as president of Harvard University.

2023: Harvard's Endowment Valued at $50.7 Billion

As of 2023, Harvard has the largest university endowment in the world, valued at about $50.7 billion.

2023: Harvard Ranked in First Tier of American Research Universities

In the 2023 report from the Center for Measuring University Performance, Harvard was ranked in the first tier of American research universities.

January 2024: Claudine Gay Resigns

In January 2024, Claudine Gay resigned from her position as president of Harvard following allegations of antisemitism and plagiarism.

August 2024: Alan Garber Appointed Interim President Through 2026-27 Academic Year

In August 2024, Harvard announced that Alan Garber would be appointed Harvard's 31st president through the end of the 2026–27 academic year.

2024: Harvard-Yale Football Rivalry Game

As of 2024, the annual football rivalry between Harvard and Yale has been played 139 times, dating back to its first meeting in 1875.

2024: Harvard Wins NCAA Division I Men's Fencing Championship

In 2024, the Harvard Crimson men's fencing team won the NCAA Division I championship.

April 2025: US Government Threatens to Withhold Funds

In April 2025, the United States federal government under President Donald Trump threatened to withhold nearly $9 billion in government funds from Harvard unless the university complied with government demands to modify many of its policies. The US Department of Education announced they were freezing $2.3 billion in federal funds to Harvard, and the Department of Homeland Security subsequently threatened to revoke Harvard's eligibility to host international students.

May 2025: Federal Government Halts Grant Funding to Harvard

In May 2025, education secretary Linda McMahon informed Harvard president Garber that the federal government would no longer provide grant funding until the university complied with the Trump administration's demands. The following week, the Trump administration cut an additional $450 million in grants to the school.

2025: Harvard's Differences from Peer Universities

As of 2025, Harvard differs from its peer universities in that it does not make its governing statutes publicly available and does not have an academic senate.

2026: Alan Garber's Interim Presidency Scheduled to End

The end of the 2026-27 academic year will mark the end of Alan Garber's term as the 31st President of Harvard University. The specific date in 2026 or 2027 is not provided.