Legacy of Slavery
With Winthrop and Sackler, Harvard Faces Denaming Dilemma
Over the past few years, the Arthur M. Sackler Museum and Building, Winthrop House, and Mather House have all been subject to calls for denaming due to the legacies of their namesakes. Now, for the first time, the Univeristy is officially considering requests for renaming proposals, but students and alumni remain split on what should be done.
Middlesex Superior Court Greenlights Discovery in Suit Against Harvard Over Images of Enslaved People
A revived lawsuit filed by Tamara K. Lanier against Harvard over its possession of daguerreotypes she alleges are of her enslaved ancestors will proceed to discovery, a Massachusetts state judge ruled at a hearing last Thursday.
Harvard Honors Black Alum Edwin Jourdain Jr. With Portrait in Winthrop House
Harvard honored Edwin Bush Jourdain Jr., Class of 1921, a Black College graduate who led efforts to dismantle the University’s segregationist freshman dorm policy, with a portrait in Winthrop House’s Senior Common Room.
Harvard Divinity School Faculty Discuss Teaching the Legacy of Slavery
A panel of Harvard Divinity School faculty reflected on the school’s ties to slavery and its responsibility to educate the next generation of religious scholars and leaders in a webinar Monday evening.
Harvard Pledges $6 Million for Joint Project to Digitize African American History Collections at HBCUs
Harvard pledged $6 million to finance a project between Harvard Library and the HBCU Library Alliance that will digitize and preserve African American history collections held at historically Black colleges and universities, the University’s library system announced Wednesday morning.
Husband Descended From Slave-Trading Family and Wife Whose Ancestors Were Enslaved Speak at HDS Event
Dain Perry, a descendant of the largest slave-trading family in U.S. history, and Constance R. Perry, whose ancestors were enslaved, discussed reparations and the legacy of slavery at a Monday Harvard Divinity School webinar.
‘This is Not Who My Papa Renty is’: Tamara Lanier to Publish Book About Ancestral Research on Enslaved People
Tamara K. Lanier, who is currently pursuing an emotional distress lawsuit against the University for its possession of those images, is slated to publish a book about her genealogical research and the emotional journey involved in claiming ownership of the daguerreotypes.
Harvard Divinity School Professor Discusses Religion and the Movement for Reparations at HDS Webinar
Harvard Divinity School professor of African American Religious Studies Terrence L. Johnson discussed changing the conversation around reparations in a virtual lecture Monday evening.
Ruth Simmons Named Senior Adviser to the President of Harvard on Engagement with HBCUs
Harvard University President Lawrence S. Bacow will appoint outgoing Prairie View A&M University President Ruth J. Simmons as a senior adviser to the president of Harvard on engagement with historically Black colleges and universities, the school announced Monday morning.
Harvard Students Demonstrate for Denaming in Winthrop House Dining Hall, Citing Ties to Slavery
Harvard students led a demonstration in Winthrop House’s dining hall to push for the house’s denaming during dinner on Sunday, citing both John Winthrops’ ties to slavery.
Harvard Students Circulate Petition Calling for Denaming of Winthrop House, Named After Slaveowners
Almost a year after Harvard released a landmark report detailing the University’s ties to slavery, student activists are calling for the denaming of Winthrop House.
‘Better and Stronger’: Harvard Hosts Second Annual Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging Forum
Harvard students and affiliates participated in the University’s second annual Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging Forum last week under the theme “Reckoning and Transformation,” gathering for keynote speakers, mixers, and performances.
Harvard Divinity School Senior Lecturer Discusses Role of Slavery in School’s Founding
Harvard Divinity School senior lecturer Dan P. McKanan ’89 discussed the role slavery played in the school’s founding in a lecture Monday evening.
Harvard Appoints Committee for Legacy of Slavery Memorial Project
Thirteen Harvard affiliates will spearhead the University’s Legacy of Slavery memorial project, which is tasked with memorializing the enslaved people who played a formative role in shaping Harvard, the school announced Wednesday.
Brenda Tindal Appointed Harvard FAS Inaugural Chief Campus Curator
Brenda D. Tindal will serve as the inaugural chief campus curator for Harvard’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences starting Feb. 13, FAS Dean and University President-elect Claudine Gay wrote in an email Wednesday.
