1879: The "Harvard Annex" opens on Appian Way, marking the first formal attempt to give women a Harvard education.

1882: Elizabeth Cary Agassiz is named the first president of the Annex, which incorporates as the Society for the Collegiate Instruction of Women.

1900

1894: Under Agassiz's direction the Annex becomes a separate college, named after Ann Radcliffe, the first female donor to Harvard. University President Charles W. Eliot, Class of 1853, agrees to co-sign diplomas granted by Radcliffe.

1934: The Radcliffe Graduate School is established to offer masters and doctoral degrees.

1943: Harvard's classrooms empty as men head off to World War II, leaving Faculty members grumbling about still having to duplicate their lectures in Radcliffe Yard. Harvard and Radcliffe agree to share responsibility for female undergraduates.

1947: Harvard finishes phasing in mixed-sex classrooms, although Radcliffe maintains separate residential housing.

1949: Lamont Library is built, although female undergraduates are not allowed to study there.

1950

1960: Mary I. Bunting becomes president of Radcliffe. During her tenure she develops what will be later called the Bunting Institute.

1963: Harvard begins to confer its degrees on undergraduate women, signed by both presidents. The Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences admits women, and the Radcliffe Graduate School is closed.

1971: A landmark "non-merger merger" gives Harvard control of Radcliffe's daily operations, including the housing of female undergraduates. Under the agreement, Radcliffe also cedes to Harvard all of the income collected from tuition and its endowment.

1972: Bunting steps down; 32-year-old Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychology Matina S. Horner is named Radcliffe's new president.

1975

1975: A joint Harvard-Radcliffe Office of Admissions begins to admit male and female undergraduates.