Harvard University. President's Office

Derek Bok (1930- ) served as President of Harvard University from 1971.

Nathan Marsh Pusey was President of Harvard from 1953 to 1971. His presidency produced great expansions in the endowment and infrastructure of the university, yet it is marked at either end by strife originating from political forces beyond Harvard's walls. Under his administration, Harvard's endowment grew from $304 million to more than $1 billion, and many new buildings were constructed. Early events in his administration include his defense of universities and academic freedom during the McCarthy Era. Toward the end of his presidency, he was faced with turbulence and student unrest arising from the Vietnam Era.

The Office of the Special Adviser to the President was changed in 1949 to the Office of the Assistant to the President. The office's primary function was to develop financial resources and coordinate fund-raising efforts throughout the University.

The Special Adviser to the President was established to assist schools and departments of the University in developing fund raising programs. In 1949 the name was changed to Assistant to the President.

In 1909, Abbott Lawrence Lowell (b. 1856, d. 1943) succeeded Charles William Eliot as President of Harvard University, a position Lowell held until 1933. During his administration, Harvard's enrollment nearly doubled and its endowment quintupled. Lowell's administration reshaped undergraduate education by establishing the tutorial and house systems, accompanied by the expansion of the campus with the construction of the river houses, among many other buildings. In addition, Lowell oversaw the establishment of the Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration and the Society of Fellows. While Lowell was an outspoken advocate for academic freedom of speech, his administration was also marked by controversy over efforts to limit the enrollment of Jews and policies to exclude students of color from campus housing.

James R. Reynolds was appointed Assistant to the President from 1949 to 1968. The office's primary function was to develop financial resources and coordinate fund raising efforts throughout the University.

A. Lawrence Lowell (1856-1943) served as President of Harvard University from 1909 to 1933.

Convers attended Harvard Law School in 1831. Quincy was president of Harvard College from 1829 to 1845. Abbott graduated from Dartmouth College in 1840, practiced law in Portland, Maine, with William Pitt Fessenden and graduated from Harvard Law School in 1843.

James R. Reynolds was appointed the Assistant to the President from 1949 to 1968. The office's primary function was to develop financial resources and coordinate fund raising efforts throughout the University.

James Bryant Conant held the office of President of Harvard University from 1933 to 1953. Accomplishments from his administration include enhancing Harvard's position as a national institution with an international reputation for academic achievement. His tenure as President was notably marked by World War II. Before the United States entered the war, he was a vocal supporter of U.S. involvement. Conant served on the National Defense Research Committee directing atomic research and the implementation of atomic warfare. Under Conant's leadership, Harvard used its facilities and personnel to support the war effort with defense training and research.

The Office of the Special Adviser to the President was established to assist schools and departments of the University in developing fund raising programs. In 1949 the name of the office was changed to Assistant to the President. The Office's major function continued to be coordination of resource strengthening efforts.

James R. Reynolds was appointed Assistant to the President from 1949 to 1968. The office's primary function was to develop financial resources and coordinate fund raising efforts throughout the University.

The Corporation, on October 15, 1951, voted to approve a plan for the reorganization of Harvard Divinity School. The plan called for the raising of a $5,000,000 endowment fund to provide a "New Center of Religious Learning". The Harvard Divinity School Endowment Fund was headed by John Lord O'Brian, Chairman of the National Committee, and Graham B. Blaine, Chairman of the Executive Committee.

Charles W. Eliot (1834-1926) was President of Harvard University from March 12, 1869 to May 19, 1909. A strong administrator and creative educator, Eliot’s presidency was marked by several major innovations that transformed Harvard University from a regional institution to a university of international stature and helped broaden and invigorate American education.

Eliot’s two main contributions to the development of higher education in the United States were his promotion of an elective system of courses and the improvement in professional education. He wrote extensively about the elective system, convinced that giving students a choice in their studies would improve mental discipline and training. By 1885, Harvard students had complete choice in the selection of their studies. In addition, through tireless effort, by the time of Eliot’s retirement, Harvard had earned a reputation for vigorous academic scholarship and rigor in its professional schools.

During Eliot’s forty-year tenure as President of Harvard University, Eliot fought for those reforms and changes that he thought were needed to improve Harvard and nourish the intellectual curiosity of its students. From expanding the size of the faculty, seeking prospective students throughout the nation, raising admission standards, improving educational opportunities for women, reforming the college statutes, attracting money for new dormitories and college buildings, promoting faculty research, or improving faculty salaries, Eliot touched every aspect of Harvard administration as President, helping to transform a small liberal arts college into a major university.

James Bryant Conant held the office of President of Harvard University from 1933 to 1953. Accomplishments from his administration include enhancing Harvard's position as a national institution with an international reputation for academic achievement. He established the National Scholarships which allowed talented young men to attend Harvard regardless of their economic circumstances or proximity to Cambridge.

His tenure as President was notably marked by World War II. Before the United States entered the war, he was a vocal supporter of U.S. involvement. Conant served on the National Defense Research Committee directing atomic research and the implementation of atomic warfare. Under Conant's leadership, Harvard used its facilities and personnel to support the war effort with defense training and research.

Nathan M. Pusey served as President of Harvard University from 1953 to 1971. His presidency produced great expansions in the endowment and infrastructure of the university, yet it is marked at either end by strife originating from political forces beyond Harvard's walls. Und er his administration, Harvard 's endowment grew from $304 million to more than $1 billion, and many new buildings were constructed. Early events in his administration include his defense of universities and academic freedom during the McCarthy Era. Toward the end of his presidency, he was faced with turbulence and student unrest arising from the Vietnam Era.

Pusey earned an A.B. degree from Harvard in 1928, an M.A. in 1932, and a Ph.D. in 1937, specializing in ancient history. Before becoming President of Harvard, he taught history at Lawrence College, Scripps College, and Wesleyan University, and served as president of Lawrence College.

Abbott Lawrence Lowell (1856-1943) succeeded Charles William Eliot as President of Harvard University in 1909. Lowell held this position until 1933.  During Lowell's administration, Harvard's enrollment nearly doubled, and its endowment quintupled.  Lowell's administration reshaped undergraduate education. First, by establishing the tutorial system, and second, by the creation of the "house system." Harvard undergraduates had largely lived in private accommodation, leaving the University very little control over student behavior. Lowell united academic advising (tutorial) with student housing.

The expansion of Harvard's campus under Lowell was also signifcant. This was due both to the purchase and construction of the Harvard student housing known as the "river houses" and to the construction of many other buildings.  In addition, Lowell oversaw the establishment of the Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration and the Society of Fellows.

While Lowell was an outspoken advocate for academic freedom of speech, his administration was also marked by controversy over efforts to limit the enrollment of Jews and policies to exclude students of color from campus housing.

Charles William Eliot (1834-1926) was President of Harvard University from March 12, 1869 to May 19, 1909. He also taught mathematics and chemistry at Harvard University (1858-1863) and at the Massachusetts of Technology (1865-1869). Eliot was one of the most influential educators of his day and the innovations he introduced at Harvard University influenced higher education throughout the United States. Eliot oversaw the transformation of Harvard from a regional institution to a world-class university.