Harvard University 2019 Photo by David Adam Kess. –Wikimedia commons

10 Astonishing facts about Harvard University


 

Harvard University was established in 1636 as Harvard college and was named for its first benefactor, Puritan clergyman John Harvard. It is one of the oldest institutions of higher learning in the united states and it’s among the most prestigious in the world.

Harvard University has the oldest library in the United State of America. The library has the largest private library system and the largest academic library in the World.

Harvard university is mostly referred to as a “dream college”  by parents and students in the United States.  this is because it has produced the most achievers in the world including the seven presidents of the U.S.A, and 150 Nobel prize winners. Harvard University has produced  a few surgeons, journalists, artists, poets, Historians and also publishers,

1. Harvard is ranked as top best  among other universities

Harvard University in 2012. Photo by EllenSeptember – Wikimedia Commons

Harvard University has ranked the highest ivy league school.  Harvard University has been ranked as the third best university in the world.  The University has a fantastic record that made the university to be ranked at the top.

The overall academic rankings have led  Harvard University to be ranked the world’s top university since it was released. The University has been holding the top almost every year and it has continued to hold the first place.

Harvard University is among the universities named “dream colleges”  by parents and students in the United States. It has produced the most achievers in the world including the seven presidents of the U.S.A, and 150 Nobel prize winners. The University has produced a few surgeons, journalists, artists, CEOs, publishers, and also journalists.

2. Harvard University has a history of high achievers

Harvard University has a record number of honors and awards with Nobel laureates, heads of state, and also Pulitzer prize winners. It has produced quality graduates including the second president of the USA John Adams.  It has also produced seven US presidents. They include John F. Kennedy, Barack Obama, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, George W. Bush Theodore Roosevelt, and Rutherford B. Hayes.

Harvard University is known to have produced 150 Nobel prize winners and a few include   Ralph Bunche, Mario Capecchi, John Enders, Philip Anderson, and also J.  Michael Bishop.

3.  Has libraries and museums

Fogg Art Museum was opened 1in 925 Photo by Daderot-Wikimedia common

Harvard library system is centered in the widener library in Harvard yard. It consists of 80 individual libraries that are holding almost 20.4 million items. Harvard library is 400years making it the oldest library in the United States of America.

Harvard library acts as an umbrella organization for university libraries.   The libraries have shared services which include access, preservation, digital infrastructure, digital imaging, and discovery service.

It’s a house of about 3.5 million books and has 92 kilometers of shelves across ten. It has six floors above ground and four floors below.

Harvard library holds the thirds largest collection in the United States of America. It holds a collection of  20 million volumes, 400 million manuscripts, and also 10 million photographs. Harvard  University library holds 1 million maps. 

 Harvard art museums consist of 3 museums. That includes of Arthur M. Sackler Museum which covers Asian, Mediterranean, and Islamic art. Harvard University has Busch-Reisinger Museum. It covers central and Northern European art. Including the Fogg Museum covers western art from the Middle Ages.

4. Sports is an extracurricular activity at Harvard University

Cornell vs. Harvard football game, October 12, 2019  photo by Kenneth. C . Zirkel.-wikimediacommons

 Football was one sport that students participated in at Harvard University. It was organized by students although it was banned twice because it was violent and dangerous. The alumni of the university became more involved in the sport, therefore, making football a legacy for Harvard University.

Harvard Crimson is also an athletic team of Harvard University.  the Harvard baseball program began competing in 1865. It has appeared in the four College World Series. Harvard’s men’s basketball made an appearance in 2014 in  NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament and beat Cincinnati.

 Harvard’s fencing team won the NCAA team championship in both men’s and women’s combined fencing in the year 2006.

Women’s soccer was elevated to sport at Harvard and the team has won 13 Ivy League Championships. Harvard’s men’s soccer won four national championships.

Harvard  University has other teams such as golf, ice hockey, rowing, swimming rugby, volleyball, wrestling, and sailing which was ranked 11th nationally in 2013 according to the sailing world.

5. Harvard was under church sponsorship.

Harvard was not formally joined with a religious body.  in the first two centuries, the colleges’ were first involved clerical and then later it was under political control. In 1865 the university alumni started electing members of the board

6. It was the most prestigious university 

Harvard is the most prestigious university because the cost of attending the university is very high. Though has many financial aid opportunities for students willing to attend.

7. Harvard university banned commercial filming 

In 1970 the university started a rule against filming that enables and keeps students in their best interests in mind.  The main reason why the university banned commercial filming was a distraction to students.

8. Harvard has the largest endowment

Harvard is funded by an endowment that includes thousands of philanthropic gifts that were donated since Harvard’s early history. These endowments are given to support specific aspects of Harvard including teaching and doing research work.

These gifts are the main form of a permanent source of funding. The gifts connect scholars and learners from different diverse backgrounds that have opportunities at Harvard University.

9. Harvard University has a wide offer of study programs.

Harvard University has a lot of options to offer to students in whatever they are interested in. Most of the programs offered by the university include medicine, law, sociology, and also astronomy. Other programs that are available at Harvard University include as follows Anthropology, Applied mathematics, Arts, Film and Visual Studies, Business Administration and Management, Chemistry and physics, and literature.

1o. The statue of three lies found in Harvard yard 

John Harvard statue at Harvard University. Photo by Jessica Williams –Wikimedia commons

 

 The statue located in Harvard yard has nicked the statue of three lies because there are incorrect assumptions made about  Harvard which may include as follows 

  • The founder of the university was not John Harvard. He was the first benefactor to the university. He donated half of his estate and his library to the university. Harvard University was founded by the great general court of the Massachusetts Bay colony.
  •   Harvard was not founded in 1638 but was established in 1636. It is the oldest institution of higher education in the united states.
  • John Harvard is written on the stone because of the likeness of the Sherman. He was the model of Harvard’s head. While Daniel Chester  French created the famous statue.