History, still in the making.
The Harvard Club of Boston has a rich and storied history dating back to its founding in 1908. Over the decades, it has evolved into a prestigious institution that serves as a hub for Harvard alumni and affiliates in the Boston area. Throughout its history, the Harvard Club of Boston has remained dedicated to fostering connections among its members and promoting the values of Harvard University.
Timeline
Club History
1908
22 Alumni men started the Harvard Club of Boston with annual dues set at $5.
1909
The Club established $200 scholarship grants to local high school students attending Harvard.
1911
The Harvard Club grows to nearly 1,200 members.
1912
The Back Bay property was bought for $200,000 with the cost of building estimated at $480,000. When completed, the actual cost came to $700,000.
1913
When the Back Bay Clubhouse opened, guests could stay in a room with bath for $2/night, eat breakfast for 20 cents and have lunch and dinner for just 65 cents per person.
1914 - 1918
During WWI, the Club became, in effect, Boston's Army and Navy officers' club.
1925
Eight squash courts were built beginning the Club's long association with squash and fitness.
1929 - 1939
During the Great Depression, the Club acted as an employment agency posting a list of positions needed by members who were out of a job.
1940
Women were allowed into the Club but only to dine in the women’s Annex. Men dined in Harvard Hall.
1939 - 1945
During World War II, cots were set up in the squash courts as lodging for junior officers at $1.50 a night.
1971
The Harvard Club welcomed women to full and active memberships–the same year Harvard University became co-ed.
1976
The Downtown Clubhouse, on the 38th floor of One Federal Street, was established.
2003
The Downtown Clubhouse undergoes a $2.5 million makeover.
2015
A $16 million renovation of the Back Bay Clubhouse will modernize the venerable building.
Past Presidents
2022 - present Marcus O.P. DeFlorimonte gb'95, PMD
2019 - 2022 Matthew G. Hegarty '82
2016 - 2019 Karen M. Van Winkle '80
2013 - 2016 Michael H. Shanahan gb'82
2010 - 2013 Nicholas J. Iselin '87, gsd'92
2007 - 2010 Philip C. Haughey '57
2004 - 2007 James Henry Anderson '69
2001 - 2004 David Edward Herily '56
1998 - 2001 William Shaw McDermott '71
1995 - 1998 Glenn M. Johnson '79, gb'84
1992 - 1995 Franklin B. Mead III gsd'66
1989 - 1992 Paul R. Corcoran, Jr. '54
1986 - 1989 George M. Lovejoy, Jr. '51
1983 - 1986 David Arshag Aloian '49
1980 - 1983 John Lowell Thorndike '49
1977 - 1980 Kenneth C. Mittell '34
1974 - 1977 Stanely Miller '52, gb'54
1971 - 1974 James M. Fitzgibbons '56
1970 - 1971 Alexander Harvey Bright '19
1968 - 1970 John Peirce Chase '28
1965 - 1968 John Louis Newell '26, m'30
1963 - 1965 Carlton P. Fuller '19
1961 - 1963 James R. Reynolds '23
1959 - 1961 Forrester Andrew Clark '29
1956 - 1959 Augustus Thorndike '19, m'23
1955 - 1956 W. Nelson Bump '28
1953 - 1955 Charles C. Lund '16, m'20
1951 - 1953 Henry Rice Guild '17, l'19
1949 - 1951 Walter Henry Trumbull, Jr. '15
1947 - 1949 Charles Hadley Watkins '09
1942 - 1947 Ralph Lowell '12
1940 - 1942 John Wells Farley '99, l'03
1938 - 1940 G. Peabody Gardner '10
1935 - 1938 Edward Augustine Taft '04
1928 - 1935 Nathaniel Farwell Ayer '00
1925 - 1928 Charles Francis Adams III '88, l'92
1923 - 1925 Robert Grant '73
1920 - 1923 Robert F. Herrick '90
1916 - 1920 Odin Roberts '86, l'91, MIT'88
1908 - 1916 Henry Lee Higginson '55
