About People from Harvard

Over the years, the town of Harvard has been home to a number of notable historical figures, including Louisa Alcott, Peter Atherton, and William Bowles Willard. Learn more about the people who have called Harvard home.

Samuel H. Houghton, a Harvard Inventor and Small Businessman

Samuel H. Houghton invented and manufactured his “Safety Egg Carriers” next to his home on Harvard Common and Littleton Road.…

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Featured image for “Samuel H. Houghton, a Harvard Inventor and Small Businessman”

Samuel H. Houghton invented and manufactured his “Safety Egg Carriers” next to his home on Harvard Common and Littleton Road.…

The Whitney Portraits

These portraits portray Captain Aaron Whitney, his wife Susannah, and their sons, who lived at 165 Littleton County Road. You…

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Featured image for “The Whitney Portraits”

These portraits portray Captain Aaron Whitney, his wife Susannah, and their sons, who lived at 165 Littleton County Road. You…

Frederick Fiske Warren

Fiske Warren is most famous as a staunch advocate of Henry George’s single-tax system, a version of which he attempted…

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Featured image for “Frederick Fiske Warren”

Fiske Warren is most famous as a staunch advocate of Henry George’s single-tax system, a version of which he attempted…

Ida Harris

Ida was active in the Harvard Woman’s Club and in the Harvard Historical Society. She chaired a committee to gather…

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Featured image for “Ida Harris”

Ida was active in the Harvard Woman’s Club and in the Harvard Historical Society. She chaired a committee to gather…

Ann Lee

Mother Ann Lee, founder of the Shakers, established a community in Harvard in 1781, the second oldest Shaker settlement in…

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Featured image for “Ann Lee”

Mother Ann Lee, founder of the Shakers, established a community in Harvard in 1781, the second oldest Shaker settlement in…

Elvira Scorgie

A woman of many talents, Elvira Scorgie was an authority on the history of the town of Harvard. Her research…

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Featured image for “Elvira Scorgie”

A woman of many talents, Elvira Scorgie was an authority on the history of the town of Harvard. Her research…

Othello

Othello, who had been given his freedom, remained a faithful servant to Colonel Henry Bromfield.…

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Featured image for “Othello”

Othello, who had been given his freedom, remained a faithful servant to Colonel Henry Bromfield.…

Simon Stone

Simon Stone, born c.1686, was a founding father of Harvard and served in town government.…

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Featured image for “Simon Stone”

Simon Stone, born c.1686, was a founding father of Harvard and served in town government.…

Peter Atherton

Peter Atherton was Harvard’s first town clerk, and in that role, he entered the first records in the town books.…

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Featured image for “Peter Atherton”

Peter Atherton was Harvard’s first town clerk, and in that role, he entered the first records in the town books.…

Florence (Burt) Haskell

Flora was inspired to join the Civil War effort as a nurse and serve under Dorothea Dix, who was recruiting…

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Featured image for “Florence (Burt) Haskell”

Flora was inspired to join the Civil War effort as a nurse and serve under Dorothea Dix, who was recruiting…

Rev. Daniel Johnson

Rev. Daniel Johnson, Harvard’s third minister, added more than 90 members to the church.…

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Featured image for “Rev. Daniel Johnson”

Rev. Daniel Johnson, Harvard’s third minister, added more than 90 members to the church.…

William Henry Hall

William Henry Hall, a person of color, born in Harvard on March 26, 1842, worked as a farmer and day…

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Featured image for “William Henry Hall”

William Henry Hall, a person of color, born in Harvard on March 26, 1842, worked as a farmer and day…

Center Cemetery Tour

This tour explores the town through the graves of some of the people who shaped its history: Founding Fathers Simon…

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Featured image for “Center Cemetery Tour”

This tour explores the town through the graves of some of the people who shaped its history: Founding Fathers Simon…

Elijah Houghton Sr.

Elijah Houghton Sr. was a farmer who lived in Still River his entire life. He participated in the Boston Tea…

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Featured image for “Elijah Houghton Sr.”

Elijah Houghton Sr. was a farmer who lived in Still River his entire life. He participated in the Boston Tea…

Colonel Henry Bromfield

The Colonel’s “picturesque figure and strong individuality made him a notable feature of the town’s life.”…

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Featured image for “Colonel Henry Bromfield”

The Colonel’s “picturesque figure and strong individuality made him a notable feature of the town’s life.”…

Eleanor Willard Merrifield

Born in Still River in 1864, Eleanor created hand-colored photographs documenting buildings of the Harvard Shaker Village.…

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Featured image for “Eleanor Willard Merrifield”

Born in Still River in 1864, Eleanor created hand-colored photographs documenting buildings of the Harvard Shaker Village.…

Clara Endicott Sears

Clara Endicott Sears was born in Boston, Mass., on December 16, 1862, the daughter of Knyvet Winthrop and Mary Crowninshield…

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Featured image for “Clara Endicott Sears”

Clara Endicott Sears was born in Boston, Mass., on December 16, 1862, the daughter of Knyvet Winthrop and Mary Crowninshield…

Warren Hapgood

Warren Hapgood was born in the Old Mill district of Harvard. He was a major benefactor of the Harvard Public…

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Featured image for “Warren Hapgood”

Warren Hapgood was born in the Old Mill district of Harvard. He was a major benefactor of the Harvard Public…

Amos Bronson Alcott

Amos Bronson Alcott was an American teacher, writer, philosopher, and reformer. Alcott founded Fruitlands, a transcendental experiment in communal living.…

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Featured image for “Amos Bronson Alcott”

Amos Bronson Alcott was an American teacher, writer, philosopher, and reformer. Alcott founded Fruitlands, a transcendental experiment in communal living.…

William Bowles Willard

In 1870, William Bowles Willard (1801-1891), lifelong resident of Still River, donated a pipe organ to the Still River Baptist…

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Featured image for “William Bowles Willard”

In 1870, William Bowles Willard (1801-1891), lifelong resident of Still River, donated a pipe organ to the Still River Baptist…

Margaret B. Blanchard

Margaret Bromfield Pearson Blanchard is best remembered as the founder of a secondary school in Harvard, a school that encouraged…

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Featured image for “Margaret B. Blanchard”

Margaret Bromfield Pearson Blanchard is best remembered as the founder of a secondary school in Harvard, a school that encouraged…

William Henry Savage

Born November 21, 1830, William Henry Savage was an adventurer and enlistee in the Union Army. When the Civil War…

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Featured image for “William Henry Savage”

Born November 21, 1830, William Henry Savage was an adventurer and enlistee in the Union Army. When the Civil War…

Louisa May Alcott

Louisa May Alcott lived in the town of Harvard, for a short time. She moved from Concord, Mass., to Harvard…

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Featured image for “Louisa May Alcott”

Louisa May Alcott lived in the town of Harvard, for a short time. She moved from Concord, Mass., to Harvard…