Probable Window Hook (Archaeological Find)

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This hook was probably used as a window hook. Students were able to open their windows and witness historical commencement traditions and University history in the making.
This Commencement program highlights the first African-American Oration speaker in Harvard’s history.
W. E. B. Du Bois was the first African-American to receive a doctoral degree from Harvard.

Title:

Probable Window Hook

Subject:

Kellogg Fairbank looked at the large panes of his Federal-style window in Holworthy. The building opened in 1812 and had housed many about-to-be-graduates such as himself. He unlatched the window by sliding out the hook and pushed it up to look out at the Yard. He saw the steeple of Memorial Church where he would soon gather with his classmates to begin their Class of 1890 Class Day Exercises. He also saw two of his classmates walking north across the Yard. His friends, Clement Morgan and W.E.B. Du Bois, were not permitted to live on campus due to the color of their skin. Fairbank hated the system, but for the first time in Harvard’s History, an African-American man would be giving an oration. Fairbank was set to give one and Morgan would give the other. Du Bois was also set to make history with his acceptance into a doctoral degree program. Fairbank waved to them, pushed the window down, slid the hook in, and went out to join his friends.

This window into the past shows several firsts for African-Americans at Harvard, but compared to other schools at the time, Harvard was not even close to being a leader in integration. Dartmouth graduated its first African-American student in 1828, long before Harvard’s first African-American college student graduated in 1870. African-Americans faced much adversity in higher education, though the explosion of Black colleges and universities in the second half of the 19th century helped to secure education for more African-Americans. Today, while Harvard is viewed by many as a diverse community, there are still movements by students surrounding issues of race such as the “I, Too, Am Harvard” campaign.

Source:

Almore, Alexandra L. ""In Harvard, But Not Of It"." The Harvard Crimson. N.p., 21 Oct. 2011. Web. 30 Apr. 2017.
"Holworthy Hall." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 08 Feb. 2017. Web. 02 May 2017.
I, Too, Am Harvard. N.p., 2014. Web. 30 Apr. 2017. <http://itooamharvard.tumblr.com/>.
"Key Events in Black Higher Education." The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education. N.p., 01 May 2014. Web. 30 Apr. 2017.
"Nineteenth Century Windows." Historic Preservation Education Foundation. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 May 2017.
Snibbe, Kris. "A Window into African-American History." Harvard Gazette. N.p., 4 Feb. 2011. Web. 30 Apr. 2017.
"Today's Programme." The Harvard Crimson [Cambridge] 20 June 1980: n. pag. Web. 30 Apr. 2017.

Object Name:

Probable Window Hook

Inventory Description:

This is most likely a window hook or shutter hook. It is possible that it is hardware from a door or other fixture. It appears to be made of brass and based on the materials found with it and its presence in Level 2, it is likely from the 19th century.

Peabody Number:

2016.29.926

Culture/Period:

19th Century

Intrasite:

H935 Level 2

Depth:

53-63cm

Class 1:

Metal

Class 2:

Hardware

Class 3:

Hook

Quantity:

1

Height (cm):

7.6

Width (cm):

1.1

Depth/Thickness (cm):

2.3

Collection:

2017 Assignment 3

Tags:

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