On 23 September 1642, Harvard College in Cambridge, Massachusetts, celebrated its inaugural commencement ceremony, a historic moment in the development of higher education in America.
The event, which saw the graduation of nine students, signified the institution's dedication to fostering intellectual growth and leadership in the New World.
Established in 1636, Harvard had quickly become a beacon of learning in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, setting the foundation for its role as an eminent educational institution.
The commencement was modest in scale but profound in its significance, heralding the dawn of academic tradition in a fledgling society.
![More than 1,000 students, faculty members and other participants walked out of Harvard’s commencement ceremony last month in protest over the decision to bar 13 students from receiving their degrees [Mark Stockwell/EPA]](https://images.bfirst.news/smartcrop?width=1600&height=900&format=webp&quality=85&path=mediaImages/2024-Jun-10_66670e401e16b_1718029888.jpg)
