Harvard is holding its 291st Commencement in its 306th year. There were no graduation exercises in the College's first six years, until 1642, and owing to war, pestilence, and other causes, the ceremonies were irregularly held until 1781. Since 1781 there has been a Commencement every year.

Thursday, after the morning chapel service, in accordance with an ancient tradition, the officers of the University, Faculty members, representatives of church and state, and special guests, all in academic gowns or formal attire, will lead the procession of members of the graduating classes and Alumni from the Old Yard quadrangle to Sever quadrangle, where the morning exercises are to be held. The procession will be headed by Dr. Reginald Fitz '06, of Brookline, Mass., University Marshal and Lecturer on the History of Medicine at the Harvard Medical School.

Traditional Sever Exercises

In a stately custom which has varied little in three centuries, the High Sheriff of Middlesex County, Joseph M. McElroy, will call the morning exercises in Sever quadrangle to order, striking the platform thrice with his scabbard. Other ceremonies harking back to Harvard's early Colonial days and its heritage from the English universities will be the seating of the University President in an ancient Tudor chair; the participation of church and commonwealth officials; the adherence to traditional forms of speech in presenting candidates for degrees; and the Latin Oration by a Senior.

Three students graduating from Harvard with special honors will deliver the Commencement Parts. Howard G. Hageman will deliver the Latin dissertation; and dissertations in English will be given by Jacob M. Duker and Cornelius A. Wood, Jr.

2000 Degrees Awarded

At this time President Conant will award degrees to upwards of 2,000 students graduating from the College and the various graduate schools and special departments of the University, and will confer the honorary degrees. Music at the morning exercises will be by the University Choir, under the direction of Associate Professor G. Wallace Woodworth. The opening prayer and the benediction will be given by Dean Sperry.

The Alumni Spread and reunions will be held in the Yard from 12:15 to 1:30 o'clock, the Class of 1917 Spread in the Straus Hall quadrangle, and the Chief Marshal's lunch in the quadrangle back of Wadsworth House.

Alumni to March

After luncheon, at 1:30 o'clock, all Alumni of the University will form in procession, directed by Chief Marshal of the Alumni, Richard Harte '17, of Williamstown, W. Va., to march to the exercises held annually by the Alumni Association in Sever quadrangle. Parading in order of class seniority, the Alumni will pass in review before President Conant, members of the Harvard governing boards, and the Commencement dignitaries, who will stand on the steps of Widener Library.

After singing "The Star Spangled Banner," the Alumni will be seated to hear the addresses of the afternoon. Mr. Charles Warren '89, of Washington, D. C. and Dedham, Mass., President of the Harvard Alumni Association, will preside over the afternoon assembly.

1917 is 25th Reunion Class

The program will also include greetings to recently created Harvard professors emeriti, and the presentation by the Class of 1917 of the customary cash gift to the University by the 25th year reunion class. President Conant will address the Alumni, giving a report on the major features of the Harvard year and announcing the gifts to the University. President Warren will announce the results of the elections of members of the Board of Overseers, Directors of the Harvard Alumni Association, and members of the Harvard Fund Council. Music for the program will be the University Choir.

In case of rain, the morning Commencement Exercises and the afternoon Alumni meeting will be hold in Sanders Theatre, but the Alumni Spread at noon will still be held in the Yard