Harvard Commencement, 1961

Shot for Life Magazine by Alfred Eisenstaedt, the same photographer who brought us the wonderfully atmospheric shots of New Haven commuters. Top hats and morning coats by day, white dinner jackets at night. 

10 Comments on "Harvard Commencement, 1961"

  1. Awful photographic technique. Wish my mom and dad were in the pictures though.

  2. Harvard09 | May 31, 2009 at 7:30 am |

    Are you sure those pictures are from commencement? That looks much more like Eliot House’s annual spring formal, the ‘Eliot Fête.’

  3. Old School Tie | March 17, 2019 at 2:14 pm |

    As OTT as anything at Eton. Toffs rule…

  4. Harrington Stevens | March 17, 2019 at 3:38 pm |

    @ Old School Tie

    Surely you jest.

    Piccies of Eton show those to the manner born.

    This is dress-up, especially the women.

  5. What a beautiful time to be alive! All the clothes fit perfectly! Notice the real silk tophats. And the dresses! Best period in fashion history.
    Don’t even want to look at modern Harvard commencements.

  6. whiskeydent | March 18, 2019 at 5:02 am |

    @lard4

    Yeah, that Eisenstaedt guy only had 90 Life covers. He took that photo we’ve seen a million times of the sailor kissing the nurse at the end of WWII. He obviosly knew so much less than you about photographic technique than you.

  7. Old School Tie | March 18, 2019 at 6:11 am |

    I know, Harrington, there is a difference. Although these days you would be surprised at who you might find boarding at Eton. Times are a-changing.

  8. Pietro Coniglio | March 18, 2019 at 6:11 am |

    Those women look so uncomfortable in those high heels.

  9. “Il faut souffrir pour etre belle.”

  10. Mark Russell | March 18, 2019 at 12:12 pm |

    Christian:
    If that were true, my wife says high heels would make her the most beautiful woman in the world.

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