Harvard Traditions

Adams House residents announce their presence to freshmen inside Holworthy Hall. Rose Lincoln/Harvard Staff Photographer

Hearty welcomes with a touch of rivalry

Housing Day puts students, faculty in a celebratory mood

Campus|

DateMarch 10, 2016April 17, 2019

After the sheriff of Middlesex County declares Harvard's Commencement Exercises adjourned, bells throughout Cambridge and across the river will ring for 15 minutes. It's a tradition that has held constant for 27 years.

The sound of victory

Bells will ring across Cambridge at conclusion of Commencement

Campus|

DateMay 28, 2015

Commencement traditions and facts

The more things change, the more they stay the same

Campus|

DateMay 21, 2015May 29, 2019

Listen for the bells

Bells mark Harvard’s Commencement and years of tradition

Campus|

DateMay 28, 2014

"It may sound clichéd, but after just two days, it did not take too much imagination to see myself as a proud Harvard student," said Herman Kaur Bhupal ’16 of her Visitas experience.

Visitas memories

A sophomore reflects on her welcome-to-Harvard weekend, and where it led

Campus|

DateApril 25, 2014

Ingrid Monson, Quincy Jones Professor of African American Music teaches African and African American Studies 97a: R&B, Soul, Funk in the Music Building, Paine Hall at Harvard University. Kris Snibbe/Harvard Staff Photographer

Shopping around

At the start of each semester, students sample classes to see what’s right for them

Campus|

DateSeptember 13, 2013September 7, 2016

Midnight at the 11th annual Mather Lather: a veritable disco Slip ’n Slide.

The sudsiest night of the year

The Mather Lather is good clean fun

Campus|

DateJune 13, 2013November 8, 2016

The bells in Lowell House tower are among those rung throughout Cambridge to signify that Morning Exercises have finished.

Bell ringing marks Commencement

For 25 years, the music of local bells has marked this special day

Campus|

DateMay 30, 2013March 20, 2019

Christopher Valenti (from left), Peter Grogan, Henney Sullivan, and Nicola Maasdorp watch as the lamb is roasted at Pforzheimer House's annual GreekFest.

Inside Pforzheimer House: GreekFest

Where succulent lamb signifies spring's arrival

Campus|

DateMay 20, 2013November 8, 2016

Dudley Co-op resident Charlotte Lieberman '13 is pictured in her room in one of the two Victorian houses nestled in a residential neighborhood just outside Harvard Square.

Collectively unique

The Dudley Co-op nurtures personality and community

Campus|

DateApril 16, 2013November 8, 2016

Erin Nelson, assistant to the resident dean, watches 1-year-old Owen Dach at one of the popular Pfoho Pridays.

A look inside: Pforzheimer House

Where Pfridays are Pfantastic

Campus|

DateMarch 19, 2013November 8, 2016

Leverett House Master Howard Georgi, Mallinckrodt Professor of Physics, said Physics Night started in 1998. Even today, Leverett House students still honor that tradition, as seen here.

Physics and … basketball?

Two worlds collide at Leverett House

Campus|

DateMarch 5, 2013November 7, 2016

Harvard undergraduate students who reside at Dudley Co-op, among other house chores, prepare their own meals. Zoe Tucker '13, Charlotte Lieberman '13, and Xanthia Tucker '13 work together as a team to prepare a vegan dinner and non-vegan dessert for all 32 residents of the house. Xanthia Tucker '13 (pictured) prepares the salad for the meal. Stephanie Mitchell/Harvard Staff Photographer

Inside the Dudley House Co-op

Where the nonconformist gets domestic

Campus|

DateFebruary 5, 2013November 7, 2016

Kiefer Sutherland is a prolific and award-winning actor who recently starred in the critically acclaimed Fox drama “24,” for which he won a Golden Globe, an Emmy, and two SAG awards.

Meet Kiefer, Man of the Year

Hasty Pudding Theatricals taps Kiefer Sutherland for annual 'honor'

Campus|

DateFebruary 4, 2013April 15, 2019

The Man and Woman of the Year awards are presented annually to performers who have made a lasting and impressive contribution to the world of entertainment. In 2008, this year's recipient, Marion Cotillard (pictured), became the second French actress ever to win an Oscar, and the first to win an acting award for a performance in the French language.

Marion Cotillard is Woman of the Year

French actress to be honored by Hasty Pudding Theatricals

Campus|

DateJanuary 16, 2013April 1, 2019

"Thanks to a wonderful new group of campaign volunteers and campaign co-chairs from across the University, this holiday season donations to HCG increased dramatically to about $600,000. We’re hoping to round that number up to $625,000 by the end of the business day on Tuesday,” said HGC Program Manager Mary Ann O’Brien.

Last stretch for Community Gifts

Campaign concludes on Jan. 15, but donations still needed

Campus|

DateJanuary 11, 2013April 9, 2019

House Master Howard Georgi (right) joins student choristers for impromptu carols around the piano.

A week in the life of Leverett House

Students mingle, dine, and delight in Leverett's social offerings

Campus|

DateDecember 19, 2012November 7, 2016

Fairfax Hall on Mass. Ave. is one of the new swing housing spaces for Quincy students during the Old Quincy renovation.

In the swing of things

Students check into new housing during Old Quincy renovation

Campus|

DateSeptember 30, 2012November 7, 2016

“I’m giving a speech in Latin!” said this year's Latin orator Michael Velchik, incredulous at the suggestion that he might be nervous. “If I mess up, who would know?” Photo by Jon Chase/Harvard Staff Photographer

In full regalia, and ready to regale

Three student orators carry on Harvard tradition at Morning Exercises

Campus|

DateMay 23, 2012July 19, 2019

Victoria Yeh '12 Yeh chewed a nail waiting to hear the directors' opinion of her performance.

A look inside: Cabot House

Pay some attention to that cast behind the curtain

Campus|

DateApril 5, 2012

Camara Carter '15 (center) looks a little petrified by the Quincy House enthusiasm of Scott Yim '13 (left) and Lydia Chung '14.

A look inside: Quincy House

March of the penguins

Campus|

DateMarch 22, 2012

The Lowell House "Blue Man," otherwise known as Gabe Drapos '13, strikes a pose as he is carried through he crowd during a rally in the Yard on Housing Day. Today, freshmen found out which House they would call home for the next three years.

Order out of chaos

Housing Day opens door to honored tradition at Harvard

Campus|

DateMarch 8, 2012March 21, 2019

Gorick Ng '14 gets coached for his upcoming speech by David L. Ager, faculty adviser. The process is two-sided, with Ager saying he learns as much as his speakers do, or more, from these sessions.

A look inside: Lowell House

A new kind of after-dinner speaker

Campus|

DateMarch 8, 2012April 16, 2019

Pforzheimer House residents Suzanna Bobadilla (right) and Matt Chuchul are the primary student organizers of a one-night exhibit on Harvard's "great co-educational experiment" called “The Residential Revolution: The History of Gender and Pfoho Student Life,” an exhibit and celebration of House history held in Holmes Hall on Feb. 15.

Remembering the co-ed experiment

Pfoho residents uncover, celebrate history 40 years after House integration

Campus|

DateFebruary 15, 2012March 2, 2021

Radcliffe Quadrangle is bordered by Cabot House on three sides and by Pforzheimer House (center). The Quad is about a 12-minute walk, or half a mile, from Harvard Square.

A look inside: Radcliffe Quad

It’s a peaceful, nature-filled life

Campus|

DateFebruary 2, 2012

Anna Menzel '15, (from left), Marie-Fatima Hyacinthe '14, and Nicolas Jofre '13 serve coffee at the Cabot Cafe located in the basement of Cabot House.

A look inside: Cabot House

A café sprouts and thrives

Campus|

DateNovember 10, 2011

Ben Enowitz '12 (from left) and Wes Mann '13 play "cornhole" on the lawn during Eliot House's welcome back barbecue.

A look inside: Eliot House

The historic residence welcomes back students with food, fun

Campus|

DateSeptember 22, 2011April 16, 2019

Undergraduate orator Katie Coulson '11: “I’ve learned so much about what it means to partner with communities rather than viewing yourself as someone who goes in to fix things.”

Speaking for their class, to the world

Three student orators carry on Harvard tradition

Campus|

DateMay 26, 2011September 12, 2019

Passersby walk through the colorful Adams House tunnels.

Tunnel vision

At Adams House, a tradition of art in the passageways

Campus|

DateMay 26, 2011July 22, 2019

Bringing up the rear

Lichten has shepherded students at Commencement for 25 years

News|

DateMay 26, 2011June 14, 2019

Page 1 of 2

Housing Day puts students, faculty in a celebratory mood

Bells will ring across Cambridge at conclusion of Commencement

The more things change, the more they stay the same

Bells mark Harvard’s Commencement and years of tradition

A sophomore reflects on her welcome-to-Harvard weekend, and where it led

At the start of each semester, students sample classes to see what’s right for them

The Mather Lather is good clean fun

For 25 years, the music of local bells has marked this special day

Where succulent lamb signifies spring's arrival

The Dudley Co-op nurtures personality and community

Where Pfridays are Pfantastic

Two worlds collide at Leverett House

Where the nonconformist gets domestic

Hasty Pudding Theatricals taps Kiefer Sutherland for annual 'honor'

French actress to be honored by Hasty Pudding Theatricals

Campaign concludes on Jan. 15, but donations still needed

Students mingle, dine, and delight in Leverett's social offerings

Students check into new housing during Old Quincy renovation

Three student orators carry on Harvard tradition at Morning Exercises

Pay some attention to that cast behind the curtain

March of the penguins

Housing Day opens door to honored tradition at Harvard

A new kind of after-dinner speaker

Pfoho residents uncover, celebrate history 40 years after House integration

It’s a peaceful, nature-filled life

A café sprouts and thrives

The historic residence welcomes back students with food, fun

Three student orators carry on Harvard tradition

At Adams House, a tradition of art in the passageways

Lichten has shepherded students at Commencement for 25 years

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