History of Harvard University
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The history of Harvard University begins in 1636, when Harvard College was founded in the young settlement of New Towne in Massachusetts, which had been settled in 1630. New Towne was organized as a town on the founding of the university, and changed its name two years later to Cambridge, Massachusetts, in honor of the city in England. It is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States.
In the late 18th century, as Harvard began granting higher degrees, it began to be called Harvard University, with Harvard College referring exclusively to its undergraduate program. The university's stature became national, then international, as a dozen graduate and professional schools were formed alongside the nucleus undergraduate College. Historically influential in national roles are the schools of medicine (1782), law (1817) and business (1908) as well as the Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (1890).
For centuries, Harvard graduates dominated Massachusetts' clerical and civil ranks.[citation needed] Since the late 19th century, Harvard has been one of the most prestigious schools in the world, with the largest library system and financial endowment.