Commencement, 1956-1976, 1956-1976

This series documents the various academic and social events of Commencement Week. It consists of documentary and publicity images of students, alumni, faculty, administrators, and dignitaries participating in traditional Commencement ceremonies, festive and humorous activities, protests and demonstrations, as well as concerts, dinners, and dances. A majority of the contact sheets and negatives identify the people and events captured by the News Office photographers. This information is included as part of the folder list below.

Events covered include 25th and 50th Class Reunions; Baccalaureate, Phi Beta Kappa, and Class Day exercises; various award ceremonies for students, University guests, and secondary school teachers; general scenes of Commencement such as processions, speakers, views of the stage, the Old Yard, and Tercentenary Theatre; Alumni luncheons, parades, and meetings of the Harvard Alumni Association and Associated Harvard Alumni; the annual Harvard-Yale baseball game; performances of Schneider's Band; and Harvard University Band and Harvard Glee Club concerts. Also includes formal and informal portraits of student and guest speakers. Of particular interest are the images documenting demonstrations against U.S. escalation in the Vietnam War and Harvard expansion into neighboring communities, and demonstrations in support of equal rights for women and fair treatment of Harvard's workers.

Materials consist of black and white contact sheets and 35mm, 2x2 in. and 4x5 in. negatives. Also includes Commencement publications and programs, press releases, and memoranda with directions and information for photographic coverage of Commencement Week activities.