Arts & Culture
Favorite discoveries of Harvard archivists
Artwork by Liz Zonarich/Harvard Staff
Library personnel select items that narrate the tale of both the University and America for the ‘Inside Out’ exhibition
A handwritten correspondence from former President John F. Kennedy to his classmates at Harvard College. A 1905 missive from W.E.B. Du Bois to his mentor, Albert Bushnell Hart, addressing issues of race relations in America. A screen grab of The Harvard Crimson from March 2020 featuring the headline: Harvard President Bacow Tests Positive for COVID-19.
Extracted from the Harvard University Archives, these artifacts — showcased until April 30 in the “Archives Inside Out” exhibition — convey a narrative of Harvard that simultaneously reflects a story of America. They also illustrate how items become part of the archival documentation and integrate into Harvard, as well as American, history.
“We aimed to clarify the functions we perform and enhance accessibility for the public,” remarked University Archivist Virginia Hunt regarding the purpose of the exhibition. “The objects on display commemorate Harvard’s institutional and communal history while highlighting the specific skills of our devoted personnel.”
Exhibition curators encouraged their colleagues to contribute their beloved items, with the intention of unearthing historical pieces that illuminate the nature of archival endeavors. Staff were prompted to consider: What captures your attention and why? When you share about your day with your family, what excites you? What is your notable discovery from the collections?
“This was an unconventional exhibition format, and we sought input from our entire staff,” stated Sarah Martin, Associate University Archivist for Community Engagement. “From the contributions, we chose items that not only tell engaging narratives but also effectively represent the purpose and role of the University Archives.”
Below are some selected artifacts from the exhibition, along with commentary from the archivist who selected them. The complete exhibition is open to the public and displayed in Pusey Library’s Lammot du Pont Copeland Gallery until the end of the month.
In the autumn of 2013, I was an eager and newly minted archivist seeking to resolve a reference inquiry involving a member of the Harvard College Class of 1940. When my initial efforts fell short, I broadened my search to examine materials relevant to the class’s “correspondence, photographs, questionnaires.” While this expanded search did not address the inquiry, I instead uncovered an unknown letter — in fact, a draft — from John F. Kennedy to his class on this vibrant letterhead.
It marked my first professional “discovery,” but beyond that, it provides a light-hearted, affectionate, and entertaining glimpse into a multifaceted historical figure.
— Pam Hopkins, Head of University Archives Reference Services
This visual illustrates “women astronomical calculators” assigned with the task of cataloguing stars, analyzing stellar spectra, and enumerating galaxies, among other duties, making use of the observatory’s glass plate negative compilation. I find it engaging as it showcases the unseen work that continues to be performed by women within professional settings. Referring to these women as “calculators” is both appropriate in this scenario and prophetic of the unseen work that underpins much of today’s online material and engagement.
My own professional activities predominantly unfold in the anonymous digital realm of emails, databases, and spreadsheets, and I often reflect on how closely the “women calculators” relate to our contemporary world in both temporal and practical aspects.
— Alison Macdonald, Records Manager/Archivist for Operations
This correspondence is sourced from the personal collection of Albert Bushnell Hart, who served as a history and government professor at Harvard from 1886 to 1924. This assemblage was recently digitized in its entirety, and I was tasked with readying it for this process.
The initial folder in the first box I examined at the commencement of this project contained letters that Hart received in response to his research on racial dynamics in the U.S. South, inclusive of this letter. These letters illustrate the diverse array of individuals who engaged with Hart’s concepts, alongside the variety of thoughts they presented. It encompasses communications from notable personalities such as W.E.B. Du Bois and Booker T. Washington, as well as members of the public eager to convey their perspectives regarding his endeavors.
— Erin Clauss, Lead Processing Archivist
Thomas Hill (1818-1891) held the position of president of Harvard University from 1862 to 1868. He was additionally a Unitarian cleric, mathematician, scientist, educator, and lecturer at Harvard. Throughout his life, Hill maintained a fascination with exploration and innovation. Hill’s everlasting calendar, an apparatus crafted from paper featuring a rotating wheel chart, contains computations to reference any New Year’s Day from 1583 to 1996, showcasing his abilities as an inventor and a creator of scientific devices.
I selected this artifact because it exemplifies a Harvard president engaging deeply with scientific endeavors beyond mere education. Upon processing this collection, I was captivated by its detailed design and historical relevance. I frequently encounter objects outside of conventional paper documentation in my role, such as 3D artifacts, which pose distinctive challenges for storage and cataloging.
— Dominic P. Grandinetti, Processing Archivist
Here is
A screenshot of one of our digital repositories detailing Harvard’s initial reactions to the COVID-19 pandemic. I employed digital resources to capture (or “crawl”) this online edition of the student publication The Harvard Crimson in March 2020 as part of my ongoing assistance to the Harvard University Archives’ extensive web archiving initiative. It encompasses a glimpse of a volatile and unparalleled period for the Harvard community and the world.
— Sean Crawford, Coordinator of Collection Development and Records Management
The illustrations from Harvard Lampoon were the very first donation I personally accepted into the Harvard University Archives. In my capacity as Collection Development Archivist, I recommend which donations should be embraced into the Archives, particularly those affiliated with Harvard student organizations. Additionally, I prepare accepted donations for incorporation into our collection. The Harvard Lampoon stands as one of the most historical student organizations and publications in Harvard’s timeline. This special issue of the publication brilliantly exemplifies the convergence of various aspects of my role at the Archives.
— Alexandra Dunn, Collection Development Archivist
While examining newly acquired collections, I come across remarkable items — like this correspondence from the poet Seamus Heaney to Harvard English Professor Helen Vendler (who sadly passed away shortly before her 91st birthday), part of a recent addition of Vendler’s personal archive in fall 2023. As a collection development archivist, I organize new collections for research purposes, cataloging the items and securing materials safely for long-term preservation.
This letter was found inside a folder of “first-day handouts” for Vendler’s freshman poetry seminar centered on Walt Whitman. Within, Heaney cheerfully recounts a medical incident he faced while visiting the Irish playwright Brian Friel, concluding with reassurances to his friend and expressing irritation at being advised not to “do” anything.
— Heidi Horner, Assistant for Collection Development & Records Management Services
I pursued a career as an archivist to guarantee that archives accurately represent the diverse narratives, peoples, and cultures of our world. In alignment with this goal, I focus on processing collections related to underrepresented or marginalized groups as part of Harvard Library’s Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Belonging, and Antiracism Digitization Program. These resulting digitized collections are accessible online to the public.
My preferred collections are the seemingly trivial ones. Collections of personal correspondence, like the one this letter is from, provide a small glimpse into an individual’s life at a particular moment. This letter was penned by African American Harvard student Ragan Henry ’56.to his Jewish companion and flatmate, Joseph Levow Steinberg ’56, during the summer recess. The correspondence addresses issues of racial bias in the workplace, romantic endeavors, and the challenges of residing in a “country town.” Ultimately, this exchange among friends in the 1950s bears a striking resemblance to the conversations you would encounter in text messages between college buddies today.
— Jehan Sinclair, Processing and Digitization Archivist
This publication comprises firsthand narratives from nearly 20 Harvard students from around 1942 who sought to chronicle their motivations for opposing military service during World War II. Collaborating with then-University Archivist Clifford K. Shipton, they intentionally and permanently incorporated this manuscript into the Harvard University Archives’ collections. They aimed to ensure that their stories, which diverged from many of their contemporaries’, would not fade into obscurity.
My daily responsibilities involve linking researchers with primary sources essential for their scholarly endeavors. This document piqued my interest as pacifism during World War II has been a longstanding personal passion. It also serves as a poignant reminder that archives function as reservoirs of memory.
— Ed Copenhagen, Reference Archivist
“Archives Inside Out” was curated by Emily Atkins, Ed Copenhagen, Hannah Hack, Virginia Hunt, Juliana Kuipers, Sarah Martin, Jehan Sinclair, and Caroline Tanski of the Harvard University Archives.