Harvard Logo PNG
Harvard’s emblem reads, “The University defends the truth.” The emblem shows respect for science, a commitment to using only proven facts within the university’s walls, and a willingness to stand up for the truth. It evokes a sense of nobility and valor.
Harvard: Brand overview
October 28 1636, the Great and General Court of the Massachusetts Bay Colony allocated £400 to establish a college for training clergy in a growing Puritan settlement of about 17,000 people. At that stage, the institution had no name or permanent site.
In 1637, construction was approved in Newtowne, and in 1638, the town was renamed Cambridge after the English university city. The same year saw the arrival of the first printing press in English North America. The college was named in 1639 after John Harvard, who died in 1637 and left about £780 and a library of more than 400 books.
The first class graduated in 1642 with nine students. In 1650, a formal charter created the Harvard Corporation, which still operates today. Early teaching followed the Cambridge and Oxford models with a focus on theology. In 1708, John Leverett became the first non-clerical president. A 1764 fire destroyed Harvard Hall and most of the library.
By 1780, the institution was recognized as a university in the Massachusetts Constitution. The Harvard Medical School opened in 1782–1783, Harvard Law School in 1817, and Harvard Business School in 1908. Across the 19th and 20th centuries, Harvard built the largest academic library system with over 20.4 million volumes. It competed with Yale University, founded in 1701, and became part of the Ivy League group. Another nearby rival is the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, with which it shares a research environment. Harvard’s endowment exceeds $50 billion, the largest among universities.
Meaning and History
The famous Harvard shield appeared much later than the university in 1836. It was first presented to the public on September 8, during the educational institution’s 200th-anniversary celebration. Students then stretched a white banner depicting this element of knightly equipment over a large tent.
However, its prototype appeared much earlier. As the story goes, while studying the university archives as a student, Josiah Quincy accidentally found a sketch that had lain unclaimed for many years. On it was drawn a shield, which later became the basis of the coat of arms.
What is Harvard?
This is the oldest and most renowned university in America, located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, which continues to maintain its position as a global leader in academic excellence and intellectual leadership. The university includes numerous world-recognized institutions, such as the Kennedy School of Government, the Law School, the Medical School, the Business School, and the College, offering a range of educational opportunities. The historic campus in the Harvard Yard area, with Widener Library, numerous research centers, and museums, creates a unique environment for study and research. The university is also known for its rich traditions, including the Crimson team’s Ivy League athletic competitions and an active student community with a variety of arts and student clubs.
The emblem was red in 1910 under universal student suffrage. At that time, 1,800 people spoke in favor of it. The impetus for the idea was an act by graduate student Charles William Elliott. In 1858, he gave the athletes red armbands to distinguish the university team from other teams at a traditional regatta. At the next competition, the university’s head did the same. Thus, the classic purple tie. This color became the basis of the logo.
The symbol of Harvard University is a strict, dark-red shield surrounded by a large laurel wreath. In the center are three open white books. Each book has four latch locks, two on each side, and 12 of them, according to the number of schools (directions) that make up the university.
The pages contain fragmentary writings by VE, RI, and TAS. This is the university’s motto in Latin, which, when translated, means “Truth.” The first two syllables are in the two books of the upper row, and the last in the third, located just below, in the narrow part of the shield.
Under the wreath of laurel leaves is a wide white ribbon with the word Harvard. It is executed in thin capital letters. The font, as in the previous inscription, is Garamond. The color of the laurel and book covers is dark gold. All components of the logo are outlined with a thin black line.
The shield image is also used as the emblem of each of the 12 student campuses, known as the houses. They differ only in color and a set of central elements.
Font and Colors
Harvard’s emblem is in Garamond. Thin, elongated letters with serifs look very harmonious against the background of the heraldic shield and unwound ribbon. The letter “R” has a gracefully exposed foot, and “V” repeats the Latin sign of victory.
For the famous educational institution’s logo, a combination of red (shield), black (lettering, frames, border), and gold (laurel wreath, book covers) colors was chosen almost from the beginning. The color and font have never changed since the university’s symbolism was approved.