Records of the Harvard University exhibition at the World's Columbian Exposition, 1893-1894
Overview
The World’s Columbian Exposition (the official shortened name for the World’s Fair: Columbian Exposition, also known as The Chicago World’s Fair) was held in Chicago in 1893 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’s arrival in the New World in 1492. This collection documents the University’s exhibition at the Exposition, offering a visual representation of the growth and achievements of Harvard University from 1636 to 1893. The collection contains records of preparations for the display and some of the materials used in the display, including charts, diagrams, awards, glass negatives, a visitor’s book, a scrapbook, contracts, and permits.
Dates
- Creation: 1893-1894
Creator
- Harvard University. Corporation (Organization)
Researcher Access
Open for research.
Extent
2.80 cubic feet (3 document boxes, 2 flat boxes, 6 portfolio folders, 1 pamphlet binder)The collection documents preparations for the Harvard exhibit and includes some of the materials in the display, offering a visual representation of the growth and achievements of Harvard University from 1636 to 1893. Documents include charts and diagrams (originals and facsimiles) used at the Exposition, glass negatives of painted portraits of notable Harvard graduates, a visitor’s book listing the names of people (chiefly Harvard graduates) who visited the Harvard exhibit, and a scrapbook containing exhibit images and labels of Harvard historians. Additionally, contracts, permits, lists, and a report document the efforts of John Bertram Williams, Harvard University Publication Agent, in the planning of an exhibit of Harvard publications and for the construction, delivery, and erection of tables, cases, and trays for Harvard at the Exposition.
Historical note
The World’s Columbian Exposition (the official shortened name for the World’s Fair: Columbian Exposition, also known as The Chicago World’s Fair) was held in Chicago in 1893 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’s arrival in the New World in 1492. The purpose of the college and university exhibits at the Exposition was “to show fully as possible the educational facilities afforded by them and to give to the investigator an opportunity to acquire all desirable information concerning their equipment, courses of study and methods of instruction.” The Harvard University Exhibit, assigned the largest space given to any educational organization in the world (4,500 square feet), was found in the Liberal Arts Department of the Manufactures and Liberal Arts Building. The display included photographs, charts, diagrams, maps, models, specimens, busts, pamphlets, and bound volumes Illustrating the growth and achievements of Harvard University from 1636 to 1893.
Acquisition information
The documents in this collection are University records and were acquired in the course of University business. Whenever possible the archivist noted the terms of acquisition in the folder list below.
The acquisitions are as follows:
- 1893 July 8, Gratis
- 1893 October 2, Gratis
- 1895, Frederick Caesar de Sumichrast
- 1895 January 3, Gratis
- 1935 December 20, Gratis
References
- Cummings, Edward. The Harvard Exhibit at the World's Fair The Harvard Graduates Magazine, 2 (1893-1894) : 50-63.
- Cummings, Edward.
The Harvard Exhibit at the World's Fair
The Harvard Graduates Magazine, 2 (1893-1894) : 50-63. - Massachusetts Board of Managers, World’s Fair, 1893. Report of the Massachusetts Board of World’s Fair Managers. Boston: Wright and Potter Printing Company, State Printers, 1894: includes a description and photograph of the Harvard University exhibit at the World’s Columbian Exposition.
- Massachusetts Board of Managers, World’s Fair, 1893. Report of the Massachusetts Board of World’s Fair Managers. Boston: Wright and Potter Printing Company, State Printers, 1894: includes a description and photograph of the Harvard University exhibit at the World’s Columbian Exposition.
- Wikipedia contributors, "World's Columbian Exposition," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=World%27s_Columbian_Exposition&oldid=602255844 (accessed April 24, 2014).
- Wikipedia contributors, "World's Columbian Exposition," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=World%27s_Columbian_Exposition&oldid=602255844 (accessed April 24, 2014).
General note
This document last updated 2015 April 27.
General note
People
- Winsor, Justin, 1831-1897.
- Williams, John Bertram, 1855-1908.
- Tillinghast, William H. (William Hopkins), 1854-1913.
General note
Groups
- Harvard University.
- Harvard University. Corporation.
- Harvard University -- Awards.
- Harvard University -- Statistics.
- Harvard University -- Photographs.
- Harvard University -- Alumni and alumnae.
- Harvard University -- History -- 19th century.
- Harvard University -- Buildings.
- Harvard University -- Exhibitions.
General note
Topics
- World's Columbian Exposition (1893 : Chicago, Ill.)
- Exhibitions -- Illinois -- Chicago.
- Lowell family -- Genealogy.
- Saltonstall family -- Genealogy.
- Ware family -- Genealogy.
- Autographs -- Collections.
General note
Formats and genres
- Glass plate negatives.
- Scrapbooks.
- Photograph albums.
- Contracts.
- Visitors' book.
- Organizational charts.
- Charts (graphic documents)
- Diagrams.
- Signatures (names)
- Permits.
Processing Information
This inventory was created in April 2014 by Dominic P. Grandinetti from a cursory inspection of the material and a variety of information sources. In some cases, titles were devised by the archivist.
Creator
- Harvard University. Corporation (Organization)
- Title
- Harvard University. Corporation. Records of the Harvard University exhibition at the World's Columbian Exposition, 1893-1894 : an inventory
- Language of description
- und
- EAD ID
- hua23014
Repository Details
Part of the Harvard University Archives Repository
Holding nearly four centuries of materials, the Harvard University Archives is the principal repository for the institutional records of Harvard University and the personal archives of Harvard faculty, as well as collections related to students, alumni, Harvard-affiliates and other associated topics. The collections document the intellectual, cultural, administrative and social life of Harvard and the influence of the University as it emerged across the globe.
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