Harvard CrimsonFounded in 1873 as “The Magenta,” The Harvard Crimson is the country’s oldest continuously published daily college newspaper. They changed their name to “The Crimson” in 1875 to commemorate Harvard’s then president, Charles Eliot’s use of crimson scarves to differentiate himself and the other Harvard rowers when he was a part of the rowing team as a student in the early 1850s. Crimson was officially adopted as Harvard’s color in 1910.
The paper is a nonprofit organization, independent of the university and run entirely by Harvard undergraduate volunteers. Previous editors include Franklin D. Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy and Michael Crichton. The Crimson has a rather playful relationship with another student publication, the Harvard Lampoon. The two staffs have a long history of playing elaborate pranks on each other mainly involving a big metal bird and a large wooden chair. Come along on a tour and we’ll regale you with some of the hilarious stories of their escapades. |