Harvard University

Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1636, it is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and was named Harvard College in 1639 in honor of its first benefactor, Puritan clergyman John Harvard. Over the centuries, Harvard has grown to become one of the most prestigious universities in the world, known for its influence, wealth, and high rankings.

The university was founded and authorized by the Massachusetts General Court, the governing legislature of colonial-era Massachusetts Bay Colony. Though never formally affiliated with any Protestant denomination, Harvard initially trained Congregational clergy before its curriculum and student body became secular in the 18th century. By the 19th century, Harvard had become a leading academic and cultural institution, especially after the American Civil War when it developed multiple professional schools under President Charles William Eliot.

Today, Harvard has ten academic faculties and offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate academic disciplines. It operates from three campuses: the main campus in Cambridge centered on Harvard Yard, an adjoining campus in Boston’s Allston neighborhood, and a medical campus in Boston’s Longwood Medical Area. With an endowment valued at $55.7 billion, Harvard is the wealthiest academic institution in the world, and its library, holding more than 20 million volumes, is the largest academic library globally.

Harvard’s alumni, faculty, and researchers include many influential figures, such as 8 U.S. presidents, numerous heads of state, Nobel laureates, and founders of notable companies. Harvard students and alumni have also achieved great success in sports and arts, collectively winning 10 Academy Awards and 110 Olympic medals.

History

Main article: History of Harvard University

Harvard University was founded in 1636 by a vote of the Great and General Court of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. It was named after John Harvard, a Puritan clergyman who left the college money and books. In its early years, Harvard trained ministers and offered lessons based on the English university model.

During the 18th century, Harvard began granting higher degrees and became an official university. In the 19th century, it changed to include more modern ideas and began admitting women to its graduate schools. By the 20th century, Harvard had become one of the world’s most famous universities, growing larger and more open to students from different backgrounds.

Campuses

See also: Harvard Divinity School, Harvard Graduate School of Design, Harvard Graduate School of Education, Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard Kennedy School, Harvard Law School, and Harvard Radcliffe Institute

The main campus of Harvard University is in Cambridge, Massachusetts, covering 209 acres centered around Harvard Yard. This area includes important buildings like libraries and historic halls, as well as classrooms and student housing. Upperclass students live in twelve residential houses, each with its own dining hall and library.

Harvard also has a campus in Allston, across the river from Cambridge, which includes the Business School and many sports facilities. The university plans to grow more in Allston with new buildings for students and research. Additionally, schools focused on medicine and public health are located in the Longwood area of Boston, close to major hospitals and research centers. Harvard also has research centers in places like Washington, D.C., Italy, and China.

Main article: Longwood Medical and Academic Area

Organization and administration

Harvard University is led by a group called the Board of Overseers and another group known as the President and Fellows of Harvard College, also called the Harvard Corporation. Together, they choose the president of Harvard University.

Harvard has a very large amount of money saved up, called an endowment, which is the biggest of any university in the world. This money helps pay for many things at the university, including supporting students and building new facilities. Over the years, students have encouraged Harvard to use this money more carefully, asking the university to stop investing in certain areas that many people disagree with.

Academics

Harvard University is a large and highly residential research university. It offers 50 undergraduate majors, 134 graduate degrees, and 32 professional degrees. The Faculty of Arts and Sciences is the largest part of the university and is responsible for teaching in Harvard College, the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, the John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and the Division of Continuing Education.

Harvard has 13 schools, including Harvard College, Harvard Medical School, Harvard Law School, Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Harvard Business School, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and Harvard Kennedy School. Each school focuses on different areas of study, such as medicine, law, business, and public health. The university is also known for its strong research programs, particularly in medicine and biomedical research. Harvard's library system is the largest academic library in the world, with over 20 million holdings spread across 25 libraries. The university also has several museums, including the Harvard Art Museums and the Harvard Museum of Natural History.

Student activities

The Undergraduate Council used to represent undergraduate students until it was replaced in 2022 by the Undergraduate Association. The Graduate Council represents students in all twelve graduate and professional schools, many of which also have their own student groups.

The Harvard Crimson, started in 1873, is the main student newspaper run by undergraduate students. It has been where many famous people, including two U.S. presidents like Franklin D. Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy, began their careers.

Athletics

Main article: Harvard Crimson

Harvard College competes in the NCAA Division I Ivy League conference, fielding 42 intercollegiate sports teams—the most of any college in the country. The school color is crimson, and athletes compete without the benefit of athletic scholarships, as Ivy League schools do not offer them.

Harvard’s athletes have achieved notable successes, including five NCAA Division I championships since 1973: men's ice hockey in 1989, women's lacrosse in 1990, women's rowing in 2003, and men's fencing in 2006 and 2024. The university’s men's squash team holds the record for the most national collegiate championships in the sport. Harvard’s first national championship came in 1880 with its track and field team. The school also boasts historic rivalries, especially with Yale in college football, a competition that began in 1875 and has been held 139 times as of 2024. In men's ice hockey, Harvard has a longstanding rivalry with Cornell, dating back to 1910.

Notable people

Further information: List of Harvard University people, List of Harvard University non-graduate alumni, and List of Nobel laureates by university affiliation

Harvard University has educated many influential people over its nearly four centuries of history. Alumni have become leaders in many fields, including politics, science, and the arts.

Among Harvard's famous alumni are several U.S. presidents, Nobel Prize winners, and leaders from around the world. The university has also been home to many respected faculty members who have made important contributions to their fields.

In popular culture

Harvard University's reputation has made it a popular setting in books and movies. Many stories use Harvard to show themes of tradition and prestige.

In literature, Harvard appears in novels like The Sound and the Fury and Absalom, Absalom! by William Faulkner, as well as works by Thomas Wolfe and John P. Marquand.

In films, Harvard is featured in movies such as Love Story (1970), The Paper Chase (1973), Legally Blonde (2001), and The Social Network (2010).