UNITED STATES 141 



Harvard University. 



Address. Cambridge, Mass. President: Charles William Eliot. 



History. Founded by the General Court of Massachusetts Bay in 1636. 

 Two years later it received a bequest from John Harvard, a non-con- 

 formist clergyman and in his honor it was named Harvard College. 

 The title of University dates from the year 1780, when the Massa- 

 chusetts Constitution of that year referred to "the University at Cam- 

 bridge." The property and government of the University is vested in 

 a co-optative board of seven persons, officially styled the President 

 and Fellows of Harvard College (but more commonly known as The 

 Corporation), established by the charter granted in 1650. Its acts are 

 alterable only by the Board of Overseers. The latter body was estab- 

 lished in 1642, but its constitution has undergone several changes. It 

 consisted of representatives of the State and ministers of the Con- 

 gregational church up to 1843 when it was freed from the control of 

 a particular denomination ; the requirement that a portion of the mem- 

 bership should be chosen from the clergy remained, however, until 

 1851. It was entirely separated from the State government in 1865 

 and since then its members have been elected by graduates of the uni- 

 versity of five years' standing. 



Ref.: A history of Harvard university, from its foundation, in the year 

 1636, to the period of the American revolution. By Benjamin Pierce. 

 Cambridge, 1833. 8. The history of Harvard university. By Josiah 

 Quincy. Cambridge, 1840. 2 v. 8. A sketch of the history of Har- 

 vard college. And of its present state. By Samuel A. Eliot. Boston, 

 1848. 12. Harvard, the first American university. By G. G. Bush. 

 Boston, 1886. 12. Harvard university; its history, influence, equip- 

 ment and characteristics. (In Universities and their sons. Boston, 

 1900.) Official guide to Harvard university. Ed. for the Harvard 

 memorial society by W. G. Brown [Rev. ed.]. Cambridge, 1903, 16. 

 The rules and by-laws of the Board of overseers of Harvard college; 

 to which is appended the college charter, with sundry acts and in- 

 struments relating to the powers and duties of the overseers. Cam- 

 bridge, 1890. 8. 



Publications. 



Annual reports of the President and Treasurer. Cambridge, 1827 to 

 date. 8. 



"Organized in 1895, to foster among students interest in the historical associations 

 of Harvard and to perpetuate the traditions of her past. The activity of the society 

 is directed chiefly towards securing lectures on subjects connected with the history 

 of Harvard, and marking historic sites. 5 meetings, at least, during each college 

 year. About 400 past members, 40 active members being added from each college 

 class (entrance fee, $4) ; 32 honorary members. 



