CRIMSON PASSES ITS HALF-CENTURY MARK

Next Wednesday, January 24, will mark the fiftieth, anniversary of the founding of THE HARVARD CRIMSON.

Started in 1873 by a group of ten members of the class of 1874, it ran at first under the name of "The Magenta" as a fortnightly publication given over, in the main, to literary articles, but containing a summary of the more important University news. It continued in this name and form until 1875. The front page of today's pictorial is a facsimile of the front page of the first number.

In 1875 the name was changed to "The Crimson", but it remained a fortnightly publication until 1883, when it absorbed "The Harvard Herald", then some two years old, and became a dally under the name of "The Herald-Crimson". In 1891 the paper assumed its present name, "THE HARVARD CRIMSON".

First Written in Rooms of Editors

Originally, the paper was written in the rooms of the various editors, the first office being the room of Mr. Henry Alden Clark '74 in Stoughton Hall. It was at first printed in Cambridgeport, but in 1901 rooms were engaged in the Union, and it was there edited and printed until 1915. In the summer of that year, the present building at 14 Plympton street was constructed, and was first occupied in the following autumn.

In 1919, the CRIMSON bought its own press, and took over the "Harvard illustrated", issuing, from that time forth, a fortnightly pictorial section. On May 3, 1920, the new press was first used, and the paper enlarged from four to five columns. This form has been maintained even since.

The first President of the paper was Mr. Francis Child Faulkner '74. The other editors on the original board, all members of the class of 1874, were Messrs. Eugene Nelson Aston, Henry Alden Clark, Samuel Belcher Clarke, Thomas Corlies, George Erwin Haven, Edward Higginson, Charles Austin Mackintosh, Houry Childs Merwin, and Calvin Proctor Sampson. Of these first editors, only four Messrs. Clark, Clarke, Merwin, and Sampson are alive today.

Editors Have Become Prominent

Among the editors who have later become prominent in various fields of activity are Messrs. Curtis Guild '81, Thomas William Lament '92, Franklin Delano Roosevelt '04, William Roscoe Thayer '81, the late Barrett Wendell '77, and Owen Wister '82.

A book similar to the one published in 1906, is now being compiled, containing the history of the paper, a list of the editors, with their activities since graduation, and over 20 pictures showing the changes made in the plant and other subjects of interest. This volume will be ready in the latter part of April. A fiftieth anniversary dinner, at which a number of prominent officers and alumni of the University will speak, will be held in May combined with the regular annual spring dinner.