1959 Garfield Pictorial Map of Harvard University and Radcliffe College

A delightfully whimsical 1959 Alva Scott Garfield pictorial map Harvard University and Radcliffe College, Cambridge, Massachusetts (Boston). Centered on Harvard Square and presented from an acute 'view' perspective, this map covers Cambridge in the vicinity of Harvard and parts of adjacent Alston. Iconic Harvard buildings are identified throughout, including Radcliffe Dormitories, Physics Laboratories, Law School, Graduate School of Business Administration, Stadium, Lowell House and Memorial Hall. There are also numerous fascinating annotations, such as commentary in the lower left describing the history of intercollegiate rugby, baseball, and hockey - often boasting of Harvard victories. A vignette in the upper right, based upon a drawing by Paul Revere, reveals how Harvard appeared during the American Revolutionary War. Surrounding the map are armorial crests identifying the founding fathers of Boston. The crests of the various colleges are shown, and the University Veritas crest and pilgrim hats decorate the border.

Publication History and Census

This map was copyrighted and printed in Madison, New Hampshire in 1959 by 1927 Radcliffe alumna Alva Scott Garfield. Some have suggested that the presence of the Leverett Towers, in the lower right, indicate a print date later than the copyright date, but there is no evidence of this in the form of known edition variations. More likely Garfield was merely proactive in including buildings then under construction. We note an example of this map with David Rumsey Map Collection, but otherwise, it does not appear in the OCLC.