History of Harvard University in Timeline
Harvard University, established on October 28, 1636, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is the oldest higher education institution in the US. Named after its initial benefactor, John Harvard, a Puritan clergyman, it's a private Ivy League research university. Harvard's global renown stems from its significant influence, affluence, and top rankings.
1900: Harvard Co-founds Association of American Universities
In 1900, Harvard University played a pivotal role in the establishment of the Association of American Universities, marking a significant milestone in its commitment to higher education and research.
1900: Harvard Joins Association of American Universities
In 1900, Harvard University solidified its position as a leading institution of higher education by becoming a founding member of the Association of American Universities.
1903: Future President Attends Harvard
Franklin D. Roosevelt, future U.S. President, began his undergraduate studies at Harvard in 1903.
1909: End of Charles William Eliot's Tenure as President
In 1909, Charles William Eliot's long tenure as Harvard's president, which began in 1869, came to an end. During his time, he spearheaded the development of multiple professional schools, transforming Harvard into a modern research university.
1909: End of Charles William Eliot's Tenure and Secularization of Curriculum
Marking the end of his influential tenure in 1909, Charles William Eliot, Harvard's 21st president, left a legacy of secularization in the curriculum, shifting away from the historically dominant position of Christianity and allowing for greater student autonomy.
1910: Harvard-Cornell Ice Hockey Rivalry Begins
The historic rivalry in men's ice hockey between Harvard and Cornell began with their first meeting in 1910.
1923: Proposed Cap on Jewish Student Admissions
In 1923, A. Lawrence Lowell, Harvard's 22nd president, sparked controversy by proposing a 15% cap on Jewish student admissions, a measure that was ultimately unsuccessful.
1933: James B. Conant Becomes President
James B. Conant assumed the presidency of Harvard University in 1933, marking the beginning of his tenure as the university's 23rd president.
1940: Future President Graduates Harvard
John F. Kennedy, future U.S. President, graduated from Harvard with his undergraduate degree in 1940.
1945: Standardization of Admissions for Diversity
Following World War II, in 1945, Harvard University took a significant step towards inclusivity by standardizing its admissions process, aiming to attract a more diverse student body. Special exams were implemented to facilitate the admission of veterans.
1945: Publication of "General Education in a Free Society" and Admission of Women to Medical School
Under the leadership of James B. Conant in 1945, Harvard University published the influential report "General Education in a Free Society." This same year marked a significant step towards gender equality as the university opened its medical school doors to women for the first time.
1953: End of James B. Conant's Presidency
In 1953, James B. Conant concluded his term as Harvard's 23rd president, leaving behind a legacy of reinvigorated scholarship and expanded access to education.
1960: Continued Efforts Towards Diversification
By 1960, Harvard's efforts to broaden its reach beyond the traditional pool of applicants from elite New England prep schools became increasingly evident, as the university opened its doors to more students from public schools and diverse religious backgrounds.
1971: Harvard Begins Managing Radcliffe's Undergraduate Programs
In 1971, Harvard University assumed control over Radcliffe College's undergraduate admissions, instruction, and housing, marking a significant shift in the relationship between the two institutions.
1973: NCAA Division I Era Begins for Harvard Athletics
The NCAA Division I era began for Harvard Crimson teams in 1973.
1989: Harvard Men's Ice Hockey Wins NCAA Division I Championship
Harvard's men's ice hockey team won the NCAA Division I championship in 1989.
1990: Harvard Women's Lacrosse Wins NCAA Division I Championship
Harvard's women's lacrosse team won the NCAA Division I championship in 1990.
1999: Formal Merger of Radcliffe College into Harvard University
The year 1999 witnessed the culmination of a gradual integration process as Radcliffe College formally merged with Harvard University, solidifying their academic partnership.
2003: Harvard Women's Rowing Wins NCAA Division I Championship
Harvard's women's rowing team won the NCAA Division I championship in 2003.
2003: Harvard Tops Academic Ranking of World Universities
In 2003, the Academic Ranking of World Universities was founded and ranked Harvard University first among global colleges and universities.
2004: Harvard Ranked First by Times Higher Education–QS World University Rankings
The Times Higher Education–QS World University Rankings was first published in 2004 and ranked Harvard first among global universities.
2006: Harvard Men's Fencing Wins NCAA Division I Championship
Harvard's men's fencing team won the NCAA Division I championship in 2006.
July 1, 2007: Drew Gilpin Faust Becomes Harvard's First Female President
On July 1, 2007, Drew Gilpin Faust made history as she was appointed the 28th president of Harvard University, becoming the first woman to hold this prestigious position.
2007: Recession Impacts Harvard's Endowment
The 2007-2009 recession had a substantial impact on Harvard University's finances, as its large endowment experienced significant losses.
2009: End of Recession and Endowment Recovery
By 2009, the recession had ended, and Harvard University's endowment began to recover from its earlier losses.
2009: Times Higher Education–QS Publishes Final Ranking
In 2009, the Times Higher Education–QS World University Rankings published its final annual ranking, with Harvard continuing to hold the top spot.
2010: Harvard in Film: A Symbol of Tradition and Stuffiness
In 2010, film critic Paul Sherman noted that Harvard's image in film represents both tradition and a certain amount of stuffiness.
2011: Harvard Alumni Dominate Fortune Global 500 CEO Positions
In 2011, Harvard topped the Mines ParisTech: Professional Ranking of World Universities, which measured the number of alumni holding CEO positions in Fortune Global 500 companies.
2011: Harvard Maintains Top Spot in New Ranking
The Times Higher Education World University Rankings, the successor to the Times Higher Education–QS World University Rankings, ranked Harvard first globally every year since its inception in 2011.
2016: Endowment Performance Impacts Graduate Student Funding
The performance of Harvard's endowment plays a crucial role in its ability to support various programs, and in 2016, a weak fiscal year performance led to a 4.4% reduction in the number of graduate students receiving funding from the Faculty of Arts and Sciences.
July 1, 2018: Faust Retires, Lawrence Bacow Becomes 29th President
After a decade of leadership, Drew Gilpin Faust retired from her position as Harvard's president on July 1, 2018. She then joined the board of Goldman Sachs. Lawrence Bacow succeeded her, becoming Harvard's 29th president.
2018: Start of Academic Year with Degree Statistics
The 2018-2019 academic year at Harvard University saw the conferral of a substantial number of degrees, highlighting its role as a leading institution of higher education.
2019: Medical School Research Funding
In 2019, Harvard Medical School and its affiliated institutions demonstrated their research prowess by attracting an impressive $1.65 billion in competitive research grants from the National Institutes of Health, solidifying their position as leaders in biomedical research.
2019: Harvard's Engineering School Ranks Third Globally
Times Higher Education ranked Harvard's engineering school third globally in 2019 for engineering and technology.
2019: Harvard Achieves Top Ranking in University Ranking by Academic Performance
Harvard ranked first in the University Ranking by Academic Performance from 2019 to 2020.
2019: End of Academic Year with Degree Statistics
By the close of the 2018–2019 academic year, Harvard University had conferred a total of 1,665 baccalaureate degrees, 1,013 graduate degrees, and 5,695 professional degrees, demonstrating its commitment to educating future generations.
2019: Faculty of Arts and Sciences Remains Largest
As of 2019, the Faculty of Arts and Sciences maintained its position as the largest faculty at Harvard University, with an academic staff of 1,211 members.
2021: Expansion of Harvard's Engineering School
In 2021, Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences expanded its presence with the inauguration of the new Science and Engineering Complex (SEC) in Allston.
2022: Harvard Undergraduate Council Replaced
The Harvard Undergraduate Council, which represented Harvard College undergraduate students, was dissolved in 2022 and replaced by the Undergraduate Association.
February 2023: Harvard Workers Attempt to Unionize
In February 2023, a significant labor movement emerged at Harvard University as approximately 6,000 workers made an attempt to form a union.
June 2023: Bacow Retires, Claudine Gay Becomes 30th President
Lawrence Bacow's tenure as Harvard's president came to an end in June 2023 when he retired. Succeeding him was Claudine Gay, a Harvard professor and Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, who became the university's 30th president on July 1.
2023: Harvard's Endowment Value
As of 2023, Harvard University boasts the world's largest university endowment, with an estimated value of $50.7 billion.
2023: Harvard Maintains Top Tier Status in Research University Rankings
The Center for Measuring University Performance's 2023 report placed Harvard in the top tier of American research universities.
January 2024: Claudine Gay Resigns Amid Controversy
In January 2024, a mere six months into her presidency, Claudine Gay stepped down from her role at Harvard University following serious allegations of antisemitism and plagiarism.
August 2024: Alan Garber Appointed 31st President
August 2024 marked a transition in leadership at Harvard University as Alan Garber, who initially served as interim president following Claudine Gay's resignation, was officially appointed as Harvard's 31st president.
2024: Harvard Athletics Celebrates Five NCAA Division I Championships
As of 2024, Harvard Crimson teams have won five NCAA Division I championships.
2024: Harvard-Yale Football Rivalry Continues
As of 2024, the Harvard-Yale football rivalry has been played 139 times since its first meeting in 1875.
2026: Garber's Term to Continue Through Academic Year
Alan Garber's presidency at Harvard is set to continue through the 2026–27 academic year, providing stability after a period of leadership changes.