History of Harvard University in Timeline

Harvard University, located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is a private Ivy League research university and the oldest higher education institution in the United States, founded in 1636. Named after its first benefactor, John Harvard, a Puritan clergyman, it is renowned for its prestige, wealth, and influence globally. Harvard consistently ranks among the top universities worldwide.

1900: Harvard becomes a founding member of the Association of American Universities

In 1900, Harvard became a founding member of the Association of American Universities. At this time, the student body consisted predominantly of "old-stock, high-status Protestants."

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

In 1903, Franklin D. Roosevelt graduated from Harvard College and worked at The Harvard Crimson.

1909: End of Charles William Eliot's Presidency

In 1909, Charles William Eliot's long tenure as Harvard president ended. During his time, he decreased the influence of Christianity in the curriculum, giving students more self-direction.

1910: Historic Rivalry with Cornell

In 1910, the historic rivalry with Cornell began. The two teams play twice annually.

1923: A. Lawrence Lowell Proposes Capping Jewish Student Admissions

In 1923, A. Lawrence Lowell, Harvard's president, unsuccessfully proposed capping the admission of Jewish students to 15% of the undergraduate population.

1933: James B. Conant Becomes President

In 1933, James B. Conant became the 23rd president of Harvard University, focusing on reinvigorating creative scholarship.

1940: John F. Kennedy Graduates

In 1940, John F. Kennedy graduated from Harvard College and worked at The Harvard Crimson.

1945: Publication of "General Education in a Free Society"

In 1945, Harvard faculty published "General Education in a Free Society," an influential report on curriculum studies, and women were first admitted to the medical school.

1945: Standardized Admissions Implemented After WWII

In 1945, following the end of World War II, Harvard developed special exams so veterans could be considered for admission to open the university to a more diverse group of students.

1953: End of James B. Conant's Presidency

In 1953, James B. Conant ended his presidency at Harvard. He began his tenure in 1933 and he reinvigorated the university's creative scholarship.

1960: Admissions Standardized

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

1971: Harvard takes control of Radcliffe undergraduate admission

In 1971, Harvard controlled undergraduate admission, instruction, and housing for Radcliffe's women.

1973: Start of NCAA Division I Era

In 1973, the NCAA Division I era began.

1986: Divestment from South Africa

Between 1986 and 1987, the university began reducing its South African holdings by $230 million out of a total of $400 million.

1987: Divestment from South Africa

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

1989: Men's Ice Hockey Championship

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

1990: Women's Lacrosse Championship

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

1999: Radcliffe Formally Merged into Harvard University

In 1999, Radcliffe was formally merged into Harvard University.

2003: Women's Rowing Championship

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

2003: Harvard Ranked First by Academic Ranking of World Universities

Since its founding in 2003, the Academic Ranking of World Universities has ranked Harvard first in each of its annual rankings.

2004: Harvard Ranked First by Times Higher Education

From 2004 to 2009, the Times Higher Education–QS World University Rankings ranked Harvard first in the world in each of its annual rankings.

2006: Men's Fencing Championship

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

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

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

2007: Recession Causes Construction Halt

During the recession of 2007, Harvard suffered significant losses that forced large budget cuts, in particular temporarily halting construction on the Allston Science Complex.

2009: Recession Impact

During the recession of 2007–2009, Harvard suffered significant losses that forced large budget cuts, in particular temporarily halting construction on the Allston Science Complex.

2009: Harvard Ranked First by Times Higher Education

From 2004 to 2009, the Times Higher Education–QS World University Rankings ranked Harvard first in the world in each of its annual rankings.

2010: Harvard in Film

In 2010, film critic Paul Sherman noted that Harvard in film means tradition and a certain amount of stuffiness.

2011: Harvard Tops Professional Ranking of World Universities

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

2011: Harvard Ranked First by Times Higher Education World University Rankings

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

2016: Cut in Graduate Students Funded

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

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

On July 1, 2018, Drew Gilpin Faust retired and Lawrence Bacow became Harvard's 29th president.

2018: Harvard Degrees Awarded

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

2019: Harvard Tops University Ranking

Among rankings of specific indicators, Harvard topped the University Ranking by Academic Performance in 2019–20.

2019: Faculty of Arts and Sciences Statistics

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

2019: Harvard Degrees Awarded

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

2019: Engineering School Ranked Third Best

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 Funding

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

2021: Expansion of the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering

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