History of Harvard University
Harvard University, founded in 1636, is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and one of the…
Harvard University, founded in 1636, is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and one of the most prestigious universities in the world. Its history is deeply intertwined with the development of American education, politics, and culture. Over the centuries, Harvard has evolved from a small Puritan college into a world-renowned center for education, research, and intellectual thought.
Founding and Early Years (1636–1700)
Establishment:
Harvard was founded by the Massachusetts Bay Colony legislature in 1636, just 16 years after the Pilgrims arrived on the Mayflower. Its original purpose was to train clergy for the new colony, reflecting the Puritan religious ethos of early New England.
The university was initially called the “New College” or “the college at New Towne” (later renamed Cambridge, after the English university town). In 1639, it was renamed Harvard College after John Harvard, a young Puritan minister who bequeathed half of his estate and his personal library of 400 books to the school upon his death.
Curriculum:
Early instruction at Harvard focused heavily on classical studies, theology, and Puritan values. The first curriculum emphasized the training of ministers, with subjects like Latin, Greek, Hebrew, logic, and ethics forming the core of students’ education.
Students were expected to lead lives of piety and intellectual rigor, and the institution functioned as a training ground for the colony’s religious and political leaders.
18th Century: Growth and Secularization
Enlightenment Influence:
As the Enlightenment spread across Europe and the American colonies in the 18th century, Harvard began to shift from its purely religious origins to a broader focus on intellectual development and secular education.
During the presidency of Increase Mather (1685–1701) and later Benjamin Wadsworth (1725–1737), Harvard increasingly embraced Enlightenment ideas, science, and reason. While it still retained its religious roots, the curriculum began to include subjects like natural philosophy (science) and mathematics.
Secularization and Liberal Arts:
By the mid-18th century, Harvard’s influence had expanded, and its focus began to shift from strictly preparing clergy to a broader liberal arts education aimed at creating well-rounded leaders for the colony. Graduates were expected to lead in both religious and secular spheres.
This shift became more pronounced during the presidency of John Leverett (1708–1724), who encouraged the study of law and medicine in addition to theology.
19th Century: Expansion and Reform
Harvard in the Early Republic:
As the United States gained independence and expanded westward, Harvard continued to grow in size and influence. The university produced many leaders in politics, law, and business, including, John Quincy Adams, and other notable figures of the early republic.
During this period, Harvard began to more actively embrace the American Revolution’s ideals of freedom and progress, though it remained rooted in New England’s elite culture.
The Influence of Charles William Eliot:
Harvard underwent profound transformation under Charles William Eliot, who served as president from 1869 to 1909, the longest tenure in Harvard’s history.
Eliot is credited with modernizing Harvard and bringing it into the forefront of American higher education. He introduced the elective system, allowing students more choice in their studies, which led to a more flexible, student-driven curriculum.
He also oversaw the creation of Harvard’s professional schools, including Harvard Law School, Harvard Medical School, and the Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, laying the foundation for its future as a research institution.
Eliot’s reforms helped move Harvard away from the rigid classical curriculum to a more modern and scientific approach to education.
20th Century: Global Prestige and Modernization
Harvard’s Growth in the Early 20th Century:
During the 20th century, Harvard solidified its reputation as a leading institution of higher learning, attracting students from across the country and around the world.
Under the leadership of presidents like A. Lawrence Lowell (1909–1933) and James B. Conant (1933–1953), Harvard continued to expand its research programs, endowment, and global influence. Conant, in particular, emphasized meritocracy, helping Harvard admit students based on ability rather than social class.
During the two World Wars, Harvard played a key role in research and training for the war effort, further cementing its reputation as a leading academic and research institution.
Harvard and Social Change:
In the mid-20th century, Harvard became a more inclusive institution, gradually admitting women, minorities, and international students in greater numbers. In 1977, Harvard officially merged with Radcliffe College, the women’s liberal arts college associated with the university, allowing for full coeducation.
The university also became a center for the Civil Rights Movement, social change, and intellectual debate. It attracted a diverse faculty and student body and became a hub for new ideas in politics, economics, literature, and the sciences.
Expansion of Research and Innovation:
By the latter half of the 20th century, Harvard became known as a center of scientific research and technological innovation. It established prominent research institutes and expanded its partnerships with industry, particularly in the fields of biomedicine, economics, and computer science.
Harvard also became a leading institution for political science, law, business, and international relations, producing leaders, scholars, and Nobel laureates in various fields.
21st Century: Challenges and Continued Prestige
Globalization and Innovation:
In the 21st century, Harvard continues to be one of the world’s leading institutions, attracting top scholars and students globally. The university remains a hub for research, with major contributions in fields like genetics, artificial intelligence, public health, and climate change.
As part of its global influence, Harvard has expanded its international programs and initiatives, including partnerships with institutions in Asia, Africa, and Europe.
Social and Economic Challenges:
Harvard, like other elite institutions, has faced challenges in the 21st century regarding issues of diversity, inclusion, and economic inequality. The university has sought to address these issues through increased financial aid initiatives, efforts to increase diversity in faculty and student bodies, and discussions about its role in promoting social justice.
In recent years, Harvard has also been involved in legal battles over its admissions policies, particularly concerning its approach to affirmative action and race-conscious admissions, which has drawn national attention.
Innovation in Education:
Harvard has continued to adapt to changes in education, including the growth of online learning and digital resources. It launched HarvardX, its online learning platform, to provide open access to many of its courses, part of the broader edX platform in partnership with MIT.
Harvard Today
Today, Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university with an endowment of over $50 billion, making it the wealthiest university in the world. It is home to more than 20,000 students across its undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs. Harvard’s campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts, includes 12 degree-granting schools, including Harvard College (undergraduate education), Harvard Law School, Harvard Medical School, Harvard Business School, and more.
Alumni Network: Harvard’s alumni network includes eight U.S. presidents, numerous foreign heads of state, Nobel laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners, and countless leaders in business, academia, and the arts.
- Home
- /
- Regions
- /
- North America
- /
- United States of America
- /
- Places
- /
- History of Harvard University
Advertisement:
- Moe, Alfred K. (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 123 Pages - 02/17/2021 (Publication Date) - Westphalia Press (Publisher)
- Spang, Rebecca L. (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 352 Pages - 01/14/2020 (Publication Date) - Harvard University Press (Publisher)
- Hardcover Book
- Colt, George Howe (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- Used Book in Good Condition
- Morison, Samuel Eliot (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- Used Book in Good Condition
- Hardcover Book
- English (Publication Language)
- Used Book in Good Condition
- Hardcover Book
- Bethell, John T. (Author)
We get commissions for purchases made through links on this website. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
- Home
- /
- Regions
- /
- North America
- /
- United States of America
- /
- Places
- /
- History of Harvard University
Comments