Mather Celebrates a Birthday This Week

Every Friday, The Crimson publishes a selection of articles from days and years past.

Harvard in 1971

During the '70-'71 academic year today's Harvard was beginning to emerge. Harvard broke ground on the Science Center, ROTC left campus, pets were banned in student dorms, and jocks mourned the loss of the physical training requirement. American college students were in the spotlight more than ever following the Kent State shootings and ratification of the 26th amendment, which extended voting rights to all 18-year-old citizens. Amidst the growing youth power movement, there was also worry that, among other concerns, motorcycles were driving young men crazy.

Harvard in 1961

Although George A. Miller, professor of psychology, might have been misguided in his claim that computers don't threaten to dominate society, plenty of changes were occurring during the '61-'62 school year.

Harvard in 1930

In the 1930-1931 school year, American was sinking deeper and deeper into a depression that would become the greatest in the county's history. But from reading issues of The Crimson from that year, you might not be able to figure that out.

Harvard in 1920

Two artillery guns flanked the Widener Library steps, "in order that visitors of the College, new students and men contemplating the ROTC course" might gain some experience of Harvard's military department. It was September 25, 1920—less than two years after the end of World War I—and the military remained very much a part of the Harvard experience.

Harvard in 1910

A peek inside the bound volumes of The Crimson shows how a picture of life at Harvard in 1910 very different from the Harvard experience one hundred years later. Rising seniors, for example, applied for housing in Holworthy, Hollis, and Thayer for their final year at Harvard — and shortly afterwards, everyone's rooming assignments were posted on the front page of The Crimson.

Harvard in 1900

As reunion week approaches at the College, thousands of alumni from dozens of different classes will flock to the Harvard campus. But it's a safe bet to say that no one will be around from the class of 1901. Even without these would-be 130-year-old alumni, The Crimson archives are still here to offer us a brief window into the world of Harvard 110 years ago—the news, the coverage, and the quirks.

Much of the equipment used by the Harvard Lecture Demonstrations Team is stored in their prep room located in the Science Center.

A small sample of the Harvard Lecture Demonstrations Team's collection is stored in their prep room.

Exams Circa 1860

Have you ever wondered what Harvard exams were like centuries ago? Though one might expect that these exams have been lost to the ages, they have, in fact, been collected in the depths of Pusey Library. In order to uncover the sort of questions Harvard students had to answer as they sat for exams in the past, this Flyby correspondent ventured into the Harvard University Archives, looked through exams dating back to around 150 years ago, and compiled some of the more interesting questions below.

Harvard University Archives Acquires Vuvuzela

Though vuvuzelas were banned before having an opportunity to potentially become a Game Day tradition, they won’t soon be forgotten given that the Harvard University Archives added a vuvuzela to its permanent collection earlier this month.

PRESIDENT LOWELL WIRES GENERAL SCOTT TO SECURE IMMEDIATE ESTABLISHMENT OF RESERVE OFFICERS' UNIT.

February 3, 1917. General Hugh L. Scott, Washington, D. C. Cannot amendment of regulations as proposed by War Department be