Harvard University, founded in 1636, is one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the United States. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Harvard is well-known for its rigorous academics, distinguished faculty, accomplished alumni, and vibrant student life. One of the defining characteristics of Harvard is its official school color, crimson. Crimson has become deeply ingrained into Harvard’s identity and serves as a unifying symbol across the university’s schools, athletics, traditions, and more. In this article, we will explore the history behind Harvard’s official color, examine how crimson is used at Harvard today, and discuss the meaning and significance of this distinctive shade of red for the university.
The Origins of Harvard Crimson
So how did the color crimson come to represent Harvard? Interestingly, there is no definitive account of the original adoption of crimson as Harvard’s official color. However, historians have pieced together clues from Harvard’s early history that provide insight into the evolution of crimson as the university’s identifying hue.
One of the earliest known uses of crimson in relation to Harvard came in 1858, when a Harvard crew team wore uniforms in the color for a rowing competition. In the 1860s and 70s, the Harvard Glee Club and Harvard Baseball team also began wearing crimson uniforms. By the late 19th century, crimson was firmly established through athletic teams and student organizations as the color of Harvard.
Some historians believe that crimson was chosen because of its aristocratic connections. Crimson dye was historically expensive to produce, so crimson garments were associated with royalty, nobility, and high status in medieval Europe. As a prestigious university founded in Colonial America, Harvard likely wanted to convey its lofty academic heritage through the selection of crimson.
Additionally, there is a theory that Harvard chose crimson in differentiation from Yale’s official color, blue. In the late 19th century, intercollegiate rivalries became common, and colleges promoted their own institutional pride. Adopting different colors from competing colleges helped Harvard and Yale craft distinct institutional identities.
Use of Crimson at Harvard Today
Today, Harvard crimson is ubiquitous across Harvard University. Here are some of the most prominent ways that Harvard incorporates crimson:
– School logo and marketing materials – Harvard’s logo features a shield with the word “Veritas,” Latin for truth, surrounded by the color crimson. Crimson is used in all university promotional and informational publications.
– Academic regalia – The caps and gowns worn by graduating students and faculty at Harvard commencement and other formal ceremonies include crimson elements. Doctoral gowns feature crimson velvet panels and piping.
– Athletic uniforms and apparel – As the official school color, crimson is worn by all Harvard athletic teams. Fans can purchase crimson Harvard merchandise to display their school spirit.
– University buildings – On Harvard’s campus, many buildings incorporate crimson into their architecture and design through accents on walls, furniture, carpeting, lampposts, and more.
– Commencement – Graduating students receive their degrees with crimson diploma holders. The graduating class processes out of commencement wearing crimson carnations.
– Class paraphernalia – Harvard class rings, assignment notebooks, club pins, and other student items contain the signature Harvard crimson color.
– Club ties – A long-held tradition at Harvard are club ties in crimson patterns, often featuring bold diagonal stripes. These ties signify membership in a final club, Harvard’s elite social clubs.
Meaning and Significance of Harvard Crimson
So why has Harvard crimson endured as such an iconic color for the university? Crimson holds meaning and significance for Harvard in several key ways:
Unity – Crimson unites all students, faculty, staff, alumni, academic disciplines, and University organizations under one unmistakable Harvard identity. Regardless of differences in roles or factions of the University, crimson represents their shared membership in the Harvard community.
Prestige – As an elite, Ivy League school, Harvard’s crimson color reinforces perceptions of the university as prestigious, exclusive, and world-renowned. Crimson immediately conveys Harvard’s brand as a pinnacle of higher education.
Tradition – Deeply ingrained in customs like class rings, club ties, athletic events, and graduation regalia, Harvard crimson represents generations of institutional history and tradition. Current students connect to this heritage through crimson.
Spirit -The passion and devotion students, alumni, and fans feel toward Harvard is embodied by the vibrant crimson color. At sporting events, commencements, and campus activities, crimson symbolizes Harvard spirit.
Recongnition – Crimson provides instant recognition of Harvard and its community members worldwide. Spotting Harvard’s crimson color invokes the University’s global name-recognition and reputation.
For over a century, crimson has served as the unwavering school color of Harvard. It originated through early athletic teams and became an ingrained part of Harvard identity. Seen universally across campus today, crimson conveys prestige, heritage, spirit, unity, and global recognition for Harvard University. The rich crimson hue has defined Harvard for generations and will continue representing this outstanding institution far into the future.
Conclusion
Harvard crimson is one of the most iconic school colors in higher education. Deeper than a simple dye hue, Harvard crimson represents the esteem, community, and enduring legacy of Harvard University. The distinctive crimson color helps unify Harvard across academic disciplines, social groups, time periods, and the world at large. For students and alumni, donning Harvard crimson instills shared identity and connects to generations past and future. As Harvard’s profile continues rising, its one-of-a-kind crimson shade will remain a distinctive, prestigious marker of this outstanding institution and its community members across the globe.
