Morison Recalls Harvard's Past

Lack of beer once caused Harvard University to close down.

This incident, according to Samuel Eliot Morison '07, Jonathan Trumbull Professor of American History who spoke last night on "The History of Harvard," happened during the first year of Harvard's 312 year existence, and not many years later "a fifteen hole" outhouse was constructed on the location of the present University Hall.

In an hour long talk sponsored by the Student Council, the author of "300 Years of Harvard" wove these and other traditional anecdotes into an historical tale in which he divided the history of the University into four periods. The "Beer incident" (improper treatment of students) occurred during the early period. "President Dunster's period" included a fire that the University president fought while clad only in nightshirt and wig.

Great expansion of the University was the keynote of President Eliot's era, and the reign of President Lowell, the recnet period, featured inauguration of the House system.