News
Garber Announces Advisory Committee for Harvard Law School Dean Search
News
First Harvard Prize Book in Kosovo Established by Harvard Alumni
News
Ryan Murdock ’25 Remembered as Dedicated Advocate and Caring Friend
News
Harvard Faculty Appeal Temporary Suspensions From Widener Library
News
Man Who Managed Clients for High-End Cambridge Brothel Network Pleads Guilty
An exhibition of pictures of especial interest to every Harvard man is now on view in the Reading Room of the Union. The group which has been borrowed from the Widener Library consists of many early views of the college and of Cambridge.
The earliest picture of the exhibition is of the Cambridge Common in 1805 with the University in the background. A picture taken in 1815 shows University Hall with a front porch. At that time the first floor was divided into four parts, one for each of the classes held there. The room on the second floor now used as the Faculty Room was the Chapel.
One of the oldest views of the University is of 1823, in which Harvard Hall, Massachusetts Hall, Stoughton Hall, Holworthy Hall, and University Hall can be seen.
Harvard Hall in 1861.
Among other pictures of interest in the collection are: an early view of Dane Hall, the original home of the Law School, burned in 1918; a picture of Harvard Hall taken in 1861, before it was renovated; and numerous views of Gore Hall which served as the college library until the erection of Widener. The oldest of these was taken in 1844 and shows how the building looked from a distance. The photograph was taken by Prof. J. P. Cooke '48, then a Freshman in the College, and was one of the first photographs taken in America in which a negative was used. Previously all pictures had been daguerreotypes.
College Pump Included.
The historic college pump appears in several pictures, and in one, taken in 1900, is seen alone. Another series of pictures shows Jarvis Field, which was the athletic field of the University till 1901. The earliest of these dates 1869.
A more recent picture, taken in 1900, shows John, the orangeman's cart, and donkey. The transformation which has taken place around the college during the last thirty-five years is seen in a picture of the Square in 1885. The square looks very quiet with only a few teams and a couple of horse-cars in sight.
Want to keep up with breaking news? Subscribe to our email newsletter.