See BOOK--- The Age of Transition: Minor Prophets and War and Peace

Abstract

Minor prophets: primarily talks about the changes in the Harvard presidency from Everett to Sparks, to Walker, and to Felton. All of these presidents were in their own way failures at the presidency or lacked a drive to really accomplish anything great. Everett was hated by all, Sparks was a pushover, Walker was too old and crotchety, and Felton died too quickly to make a change War and peace: Harvard was barely effected by the war. Enrollments didn’t decline too much, though the students from the south did leave at the end of the fall term never to return. Primarily the death of President Felton led to the hiring of President Hill, who was by all accounts inept and laughable. These 5 presidents represent the “dark years” of Harvard’s great presidents and it is after Hill that Charles Eliot assumes presidency. Consider this the rebirth of Harvard with the beginning of more clubs, renewed vision, and the abandonment of hazing.