[HARVARD UNIVERSITY, OFFICE SCENES, CANDID INDOOR IMAGES ]

HARVARD 'BUSINESS OFFICE' c. 1900 - 1901

Offered here is a fine and interesting interior scene somewhere on the Harvard campus. The 7.25 in x 9.25 in albumen photo (mounted to a 11 in x 14 in mat board) is in very good condition and exhibits nice clarity and tonality. The faces of the men captioned are clearly visible despite the candid nature of the shot and their preoccupation (and likely motion) with their tasks.

The photo is signed by the photographer at lower right as 'Tupper'. We presume this to be the signature of H. William Tupper photographer, the most well known and dominant photographer in Cambridge, MA during this period. Mr. Tupper was also the 'official' photographer of Harvard taking many if not all the most important images of Harvard crew teams, baseball and football squads, and portraits of notable professors and esteemed students of note between 1880 and 1910. Tupper died in 1911 following increasing complications from an automobile accident in occurring 1901from which he never fully recovered. 

On the reverse of the image in an old fountain pen are the names of 3 Harvard Alums :

'H.H. Murdock '01'  - we found information related to his role as 'Treasurer' for the Memorial Society (related to the Old college bell)

' J. Foster Jr. '02'  - Joseph Foster Jr. was later engaged as a 'manufacturer' in Boston, MA at 530 Atlantic Ave.

'C.H. Derby '03' - Mr.Derby was Vice-President of the 'Harvard Dining Association'.

We're fairly certain more can be revealed from studying the photo and what it's purpose was. We immediately notice on the wall a man in an 'H' Harvard sweater and several other photos (which were also likely taken by Tupper). Also worth mentioning is the presence of what appears to be a Remington standard model 2 typewriter, one of the earliest commercially available 'keyboard style' typewriters.

A quaint and interesting capture of a Harvard school office 'in action'.

Please email any questions -