哈佛大学创建于1636年,原称剑桥学院。出生于伦敦的英国牧师约翰·哈佛(John Harvard, 英国剑桥大学毕业) 于1637年由英国到此新建的学院内工作,由于工作很积极,得到好评。他将其全部藏书和一半资产捐赠给这所学院,该校因此而改名为哈佛大学。1638年夏天学校开学时只有一名教师、一所木板房和一个“校院”。
Harvard University, founded in 1636, formerly known as Cambridge College. Born in London, the British minister John Harvard (John Harvard, graduating from the University of Cambridge in England) in 1637 by the British Institute in this new work, the work is very positive, be praised. He will all of its collections and half of these assets donated to the institute, the school be renamed the Harvard University. 1638 summer school at only one school teachers, a Muban Fang and a "School House."