Graduation Throwback

Historical photos and documents from the Center for the History of Medicine

By BOBBIE COLLINS and LAUREN GUSTAFSON Education

With Commencement and Class Day 2018 fast approaching, we take a look back at Harvard University, Harvard Medical School and Harvard School of Dental Medicine graduation festivities of the past with photos and documents from the archives of the Center for the History of Medicine at the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine.

Women graduates of HMS, 1970.
A 1928 Commencement document shows the order of the Morning Procession to Sever Quadrangle on the Harvard campus in Cambridge for all Harvard degree candidates, faculty, students and alumni, as well as members of the administration and governing boards. Instructions for assembling were included, as was a note about what to do in case of rain. Information about access to Harvard Yard noted that cameras were not allowed and women and children were not admitted.
The view from Gordon Hall looking out over the HMS Quad as dignitaries, speakers and guests attend the 1947 afternoon exercise.
An excerpt from HMS and Harvard School of Dental Medicine program of events and list of degree candidates, printed in Latin, from 1906, the first year that graduation exercises were held on the newly built HMS Quad.