Harvard Yard
Encyclopedia
Harvard Yard is a grassy area of about 25 acres (10.1 ha), adjacent to Harvard Square
in Cambridge, Massachusetts
, that constitutes the oldest part and the center of the campus of Harvard University
. Geographically the yard area is bordered to the west by Massachusetts Avenue
and Peabody Street, the north by Cambridge Street, the northeast by Broadway, the east by Quincy Street, and the south by Harvard Street and Massachusetts Avenue. It contains thirteen of Harvard College's seventeen freshman
dormitories
, as well as four libraries, five buildings of classrooms and academic departments, and the central administrative offices of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences
and the university, located in University Hall
and Massachusetts Hall, respectively.
The western third of Harvard Yard, which opens onto Massachusetts Avenue at Johnston Gate, is known as the Old Yard, and around it cluster most of the freshman dormitories. Among these is Massachusetts Hall, which, having been constructed in 1720, is the oldest still-standing building on Harvard's campus and one of the two oldest academic buildings in the United States. Massachusetts Hall and the Wren Building
at the College of William and Mary
are both often described as the oldest; the Wren Building was originally built before Massachusetts Hall, but has been destroyed and rebuilt several times. The lower floors of Massachusetts Hall house the offices of the President of Harvard University
.
Also located in the Old Yard is a statue of the university's first benefactor, John Harvard
. This monument is a frequent target of pranks, hacks, and humorous decorations, such as the colorful lei
shown at right, below. Moreover, Harvard students urinate on the very foot that tourists rub for good luck.
Facing Massachusetts Hall is Harvard Hall. The original Harvard Hall on this site housed the College library, including the books donated by John Harvard
, after whom the college and the building were named—all but one of which were destroyed when the building burned in 1764. Rebuilt in 1766, Harvard Hall now houses classrooms.
Across the Old Yard from Johnston Gate stands University Hall
, and the now-famous statue of John Harvard by Daniel Chester French
. The statue has earned the nickname "the statue of three lies" from its inscription, "John Harvard, Founder, 1638". In truth, the statue is not modeled after John Harvard, he did not found the university, and the founding was in 1636. University Hall was the site of the now-famous sit-in and teach-in protests during the late 1960s, while Massachusetts Hall was the site of the more recent 2001 living-wage campaign sit-in.
and Memorial Church
. The Harvard Bixi
, a Chinese stele with inscribed text is located near the Widener Library. Harvard's annual commencement
exercises, as well as occasional special convocations, take place in Tercentenary Theater.
The libraries
located in Harvard Yard are Widener Library, its connected Pusey Library annex, Houghton Library
for rare books and manuscripts, and Lamont Library
, the main undergraduate library. Classroom and departmental buildings include Emerson Hall, Sever Hall
, Robinson Hall, and Boylston Hall.
The freshman dormitories of Harvard Yard include the upper levels of Massachusetts Hall, and Wigglesworth Hall, Weld Hall, Grays Hall, Matthews Hall, Straus Hall, Mower Hall, Hollis Hall, Stoughton Hall, Lionel Hall, Holworthy Hall
, Canaday Hall, and Thayer Hall.
Nestled among Mower, Hollis, Lionel, and Stoughton Halls is the Holden Chapel
, home of the Holden Choirs. Also in this section of the yard stands the Phillips Brooks House, designed by Alexander Wadsworth Longfellow, Jr.
, and home of the Phillips Brooks House Association
(PBHA), Harvard University's center for service activities. At the southwest corner of the Yard is Lehman Hall, or Dudley House
, the administrative unit for non-resident and off-campus students. Next to Lehman Hall is Wadsworth House, a canary-yellow building that houses the headquarters of the Harvard Alumni Association and the university library system. Finally, Loeb House sits on the east side; it is the site of Harvard's governing bodies, the Harvard Corporation and the Board of Overseers
.
Harvard Square
Harvard Square is a large triangular area in the center of Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, at the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue, Brattle Street, and John F. Kennedy Street. It is the historic center of Cambridge...
in Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
, that constitutes the oldest part and the center of the campus of Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
. Geographically the yard area is bordered to the west by Massachusetts Avenue
Massachusetts Avenue (Boston)
Massachusetts Avenue, known to locals as Mass Ave, is a major thoroughfare in Boston, Massachusetts, and several cities and towns northwest of Boston...
and Peabody Street, the north by Cambridge Street, the northeast by Broadway, the east by Quincy Street, and the south by Harvard Street and Massachusetts Avenue. It contains thirteen of Harvard College's seventeen freshman
Freshman
A freshman or fresher is a first-year student in secondary school, high school, or college. The term first year can also be used as a noun, to describe the students themselves A freshman (US) or fresher (UK, India) (or sometimes fish, freshie, fresher; slang plural frosh or freshmeat) is a...
dormitories
Dormitory
A dormitory, often shortened to dorm, in the United States is a residence hall consisting of sleeping quarters or entire buildings primarily providing sleeping and residential quarters for large numbers of people, often boarding school, college or university students...
, as well as four libraries, five buildings of classrooms and academic departments, and the central administrative offices of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences
Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences
The Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences is the largest of the seven faculties that constitute Harvard University.Headquartered principally in Cambridge, Massachusetts and centered in the historic Harvard Yard, FAS is the only division of the university responsible for both undergraduate and...
and the university, located in University Hall
University Hall (Harvard University)
University Hall is a white granite building designed by noted early American architect Charles Bulfinch on the campus of Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It is now a National Historic Landmark....
and Massachusetts Hall, respectively.
Wren Building
The Wren Building is the signature building of the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, USA. Along with the Brafferton and President's House, these buildings form the College's Historic Campus....
at the College of William and Mary
College of William and Mary
The College of William & Mary in Virginia is a public research university located in Williamsburg, Virginia, United States...
are both often described as the oldest; the Wren Building was originally built before Massachusetts Hall, but has been destroyed and rebuilt several times. The lower floors of Massachusetts Hall house the offices of the President of Harvard University
President of Harvard University
The President of Harvard University is the chief administrator of the university. Ex officio the chairman of the Harvard Corporation, he or she is appointed by and is responsible to the other members of that body, who delegate to him or her the day-to-day running of the university...
.
Also located in the Old Yard is a statue of the university's first benefactor, John Harvard
John Harvard (clergyman)
John Harvard was an English minister in America whose deathbed bequest to the Massachusetts Bay Colony's fledgling New College was so gratefully received that the school was renamed Harvard College in his honor.-Biography:Harvard was born and raised in Southwark, England, the fourth of nine...
. This monument is a frequent target of pranks, hacks, and humorous decorations, such as the colorful lei
Lei (Hawaii)
Lei is a Hawaiian word for a garland or wreath. More loosely defined, a lei is any series of objects strung together with the intent to be worn. The most popular concept of a lei in Hawaiian culture is a wreath of flowers draped around the neck presented upon arriving or leaving as a symbol of...
shown at right, below. Moreover, Harvard students urinate on the very foot that tourists rub for good luck.
Facing Massachusetts Hall is Harvard Hall. The original Harvard Hall on this site housed the College library, including the books donated by John Harvard
John Harvard (clergyman)
John Harvard was an English minister in America whose deathbed bequest to the Massachusetts Bay Colony's fledgling New College was so gratefully received that the school was renamed Harvard College in his honor.-Biography:Harvard was born and raised in Southwark, England, the fourth of nine...
, after whom the college and the building were named—all but one of which were destroyed when the building burned in 1764. Rebuilt in 1766, Harvard Hall now houses classrooms.
Across the Old Yard from Johnston Gate stands University Hall
University Hall (Harvard University)
University Hall is a white granite building designed by noted early American architect Charles Bulfinch on the campus of Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It is now a National Historic Landmark....
, and the now-famous statue of John Harvard by Daniel Chester French
Daniel Chester French
Daniel Chester French was an American sculptor. His best-known work is the sculpture of a seated Abraham Lincoln at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.-Life and career:...
. The statue has earned the nickname "the statue of three lies" from its inscription, "John Harvard, Founder, 1638". In truth, the statue is not modeled after John Harvard, he did not found the university, and the founding was in 1636. University Hall was the site of the now-famous sit-in and teach-in protests during the late 1960s, while Massachusetts Hall was the site of the more recent 2001 living-wage campaign sit-in.
Other buildings
The center of Harvard Yard is a wide grassy area known as Tercentenary Theater, framed by the monumental Widener LibraryWidener Library
The Harry Elkins Widener Memorial Library, commonly known as Widener Library, is the primary building of the library system of Harvard University. Located on the south side of Harvard Yard directly across from Memorial Church, Widener serves as the centerpiece of the 15.6 million-volume Harvard...
and Memorial Church
Memorial Church of Harvard University
The Memorial Church of Harvard University, more commonly known as the Harvard Memorial Church is a building on the campus of Harvard University.-Predecessors:...
. The Harvard Bixi
Harvard Bixi
The Harvard Bixi is a 17-foot high, 27 ton Chinese marble stele located at Harvard University, north of Boylston Hall and west of Widener Library in Harvard Yard, in Cambridge, Massachusetts...
, a Chinese stele with inscribed text is located near the Widener Library. Harvard's annual commencement
Graduation
Graduation is the action of receiving or conferring an academic degree or the ceremony that is sometimes associated, where students become Graduates. Before the graduation, candidates are referred to as Graduands. The date of graduation is often called degree day. The graduation itself is also...
exercises, as well as occasional special convocations, take place in Tercentenary Theater.
The libraries
Harvard University Library
The Harvard University Library system comprises about 90 libraries, with more than 16 million volumes. It is the oldest library system in the United States, the largest academic and the largest private library system in the world...
located in Harvard Yard are Widener Library, its connected Pusey Library annex, Houghton Library
Houghton Library
Houghton Library is the primary repository for rare books and manuscripts at Harvard University. It is part of the Harvard College Library within the Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences. Houghton is located on the south side of Harvard Yard, next to Widener Library.- History :Harvard's first...
for rare books and manuscripts, and Lamont Library
Lamont Library
Lamont Library is one of the primary buildings of the library system of Harvard University, located in the south-east corner of Harvard Yard. It was the first library at Harvard designed primarily for undergraduate students at Harvard College, to relieve pressure in the main Widener Library. It...
, the main undergraduate library. Classroom and departmental buildings include Emerson Hall, Sever Hall
Sever Hall
Sever Hall is a notable building designed by famed American architect H. H. Richardson. It is located on the grounds of Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, within Harvard Yard, and is now a National Historic Landmark.-History:...
, Robinson Hall, and Boylston Hall.
The freshman dormitories of Harvard Yard include the upper levels of Massachusetts Hall, and Wigglesworth Hall, Weld Hall, Grays Hall, Matthews Hall, Straus Hall, Mower Hall, Hollis Hall, Stoughton Hall, Lionel Hall, Holworthy Hall
Holworthy Hall
Holworthy Hall is one of the dormitories housing first-year students at Harvard College. Housing 85 students, it is located in Harvard Yard and borders Kirkland Street. It is the closest dorm to the Harvard Science Center and the second-closest dormitory to Memorial Hall, which houses the freshman...
, Canaday Hall, and Thayer Hall.
Holden Chapel
Holden Chapel is a small building in Harvard Yard on the campus of Harvard University. Completed in 1744, it is the third oldest building at Harvard and one of the oldest college buildings in America.-Early history:In December 1741, Mrs...
, home of the Holden Choirs. Also in this section of the yard stands the Phillips Brooks House, designed by Alexander Wadsworth Longfellow, Jr.
Alexander Wadsworth Longfellow, Jr.
Alexander Wadsworth Longfellow, Jr. was an American architect and nephew of poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.-Biography:...
, and home of the Phillips Brooks House Association
Phillips Brooks House Association
Phillips Brooks House Association is a student-run, staff supported public service/social action organization at Harvard College providing a variety of services to the Greater Boston community...
(PBHA), Harvard University's center for service activities. At the southwest corner of the Yard is Lehman Hall, or Dudley House
Dudley House (Harvard College)
Dudley House is one of the thirteen undergraduate "houses" within Harvard College, serving the very few Harvard undergraduates not living in one of the other twelve houses; this includes student's living in the off-campus Dudley Co-ops. It also serves certain graduate students.Dudley House is...
, the administrative unit for non-resident and off-campus students. Next to Lehman Hall is Wadsworth House, a canary-yellow building that houses the headquarters of the Harvard Alumni Association and the university library system. Finally, Loeb House sits on the east side; it is the site of Harvard's governing bodies, the Harvard Corporation and the Board of Overseers
Harvard Board of Overseers
The Harvard Board of Overseers is one of Harvard University's two governing boards...
.