Harvard University

Harvard University was established in 1636, making it the oldest institution of higher education in the United States.

Harvard University, also known as The President and Fellows of Harvard College, was established in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It is the oldest institution of higher learning still operating in the United States, initially founded to train clergy and later focusing on intellectual training and academic scholarship.

Harvard University, the first college in the American colonies, was founded on October 28, 1636. It was established in the young settlement of New Towne in Massachusetts.

Harvard University, one of the world's most prestigious and oldest universities, was founded in 1638.

On June 9, 1650, the Great and General Court of Massachusetts approved Harvard President Henry Dunster’s charter of incorporation, establishing the President and Fellows of Harvard College, the oldest corporation in the Western Hemisphere.

John Adams, future U.S. president, graduates from Harvard. Before 1773, the graduates of Harvard were arranged in a hierarchy not of merit but “according to the dignity of birth, or to the rank of [their] parents.” By this rather undemocratic standard, Adams graduated 14th in a class of 24.

The Harvard University Library, which includes various specialized libraries and collections, was established in 1765.

The Harvard Medical School was established in 1782 as part of the Faculty of Medicine at Harvard University.

In 1787, John Quincy Adams, who would become a future U.S. president, graduated from Harvard.

The Harvard Divinity School was established in 1816 as part of Harvard University.

Harvard Law School was founded in 1817 as part of Harvard University.

Harvard celebrated its 200th birthday on September 8, 1836, during the 19th century.

In 1839, Henry David Thoreau, a Harvard alumnus, published 'Walden,' a significant literary work that reflected his experiences living in nature. Thoreau's publication contributed to the field of literature and philosophy.

In 1849, Dr. George Parkman disappeared at the Medical School, leading to one of the most famous murder cases in Harvard history. The disappearance was linked to a debt dispute between Parkman and colleague Dr. John White Webster, which ultimately resulted in Webster being found guilty of first-degree murder.

Harvard experienced remarkable growth by 1850, with total assets five times that of Amherst and Williams combined, and three times that of Yale. It was considered a genuine university with unmatched facilities and social advantages.

The Harvard graduates who formed the 20th Volunteer Infantry Regiment made significant contributions during the Civil War, reflecting Harvard's impact on historical events.

The Harvard School of Dental Medicine was founded in 1867 as part of the Faculty of Medicine at Harvard University.

Richard Theodore Greener became the first African-American to graduate from Harvard College, marking a significant milestone in the university's history.

The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences was organized in 1872 as part of Harvard University.

Louis Brandeis, the first Jewish justice on the Supreme Court, graduated from Harvard Law School, contributing to the university's diverse alumni base.

At the urging of his wife, Arthur Gilman proposed the foundation of a college for women to President Eliot in 1878. Eliot approved the proposal, and the new institution, initially known as the Harvard Annex, began operations in 1879. It was later chartered as Radcliffe College in 1894.

Harvard University is renowned for its research output, teaching quality, and academic influence, contributing to its prestigious reputation in the academic world.

The Harvard Business School was established in 1908 as part of Harvard University.

The Harvard Extension School was established in 1909 as part of the Harvard Division of Continuing Education.

The Harvard Graduate School of Design was founded in 1914 as part of Harvard University.

The Widener Library, a significant establishment, opens its doors to the public.

The Crimson's 1919 excerpt outlines the introduction of Harvard's new system of concentration and distribution, marking a significant academic development.

The Harvard Graduate School of Education was established in 1920 as part of Harvard University.

The Harvard-Boston (Egyptian) Expedition commences the excavation of the royal cemetery of King Cheops near the Great Pyramid, leading to the identification of several significant tombs.

The John F. Kennedy School of Government was established in 1936 as part of Harvard University.

Under the leadership of James Bryant Conant, Harvard and Radcliffe signed an agreement in 1943 allowing women students into Harvard classrooms for the first time.

The IBM Mark I computer, one of the earliest electromechanical computers, began its operation at Harvard University, marking a significant advancement in computing technology.

The Report published in 1945, as a result of James Bryant Conant's initiatives, was one of the most influential manifestos in the history of American education in the 20th century. It played a significant role in shaping Harvard's approach to general education at both secondary and college levels.

Since 1974, nineteen Nobel Prize winners and fifteen winners of the American literary award, the Pulitzer Prize, have served on the Harvard faculty.

Harvard University celebrated its 350th anniversary in 1986, marking a significant milestone in its history as the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States.

In 2002, former Astronomy Prof. Riccardo Giacconi shares half the Nobel Prize in Physics for pioneering work in astrophysics, contributing to groundbreaking discoveries in the field.

Harvard University held the top spot on THE World Reputation Rankings every year since its release in 2011.

In 2015, John A. Paulson, M.B.A. ’80 made a historic $400 million endowment to support the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) at Harvard University, resulting in the renaming of the School to the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.

In 2019, researchers at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics unveiled the first-ever image of a supermassive black hole after years of collaborative effort.

In 2021, the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences expanded into a new, 500,000+ square foot Science and Engineering Complex (SEC) in Allston.

Harvard President Larry Bacow releases the Report of the Committee on Harvard & the Legacy of Slavery, accepting the committee’s recommendations in full, and announcing a historic commitment of $100 million to fund their implementation.