1961 - 2010
Meeting Minutes
1961 Harvard Square Men’s Business Association Monthly Board Meeting Reports, Harvard Square, Cambridge
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1962 Harvard Square Men’s Business Association Monthly Board Meeting Reports, Harvard Square, Cambridge
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1963 Harvard Square Men’s Business Association Secretary Notes, Harvard Square, Cambridge
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1964 Harvard Square Men’s Business Association Monthly Board Meeting Reports, Harvard Square, Cambridge
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1965 Harvard Square Men’s Business Association Monthly Board Meeting Reports, Harvard Square, Cambridge
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1966 Harvard Square Men’s Business Association Monthly Board Meeting Reports, Harvard Square, Cambridge
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1967 Harvard Square Men’s Business Association Monthly Board Meeting Reports, Harvard Square, Cambridge
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1968 Harvard Square Men’s Business Association Monthly Board Meeting Reports, Harvard Square, Cambridge
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1969 Harvard Square Men’s Business Association Monthly Board Meeting Reports, Harvard Square, Cambridge
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1970 Harvard Square Men’s Business Association Monthly Board Meeting Reports, Harvard Square, Cambridge
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Articles
Marilyn Benders, “Fashion Wins High Marks at Harvard Weekend.” New York Times, October 19, 1964
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John H. Fenton, “Harvard Warns Class on Drugs.” New York Times, April 15, 1967
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Anonymous, “Dr. King Starts Peace Crusade.” New York Times, April 23, 1967
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Anonymous, “McLaughlin asks City to Undertake Renewal Project in Harvard Square” The Harvard Crimson. [Cambridge, MA] February 10, 1967
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Donald Janson, “Damage Estimated at $100,000 after Harvard Riot.” New York Times, April 17, 1970
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Anonymous, “In Harvard Square, ‘Street People’ are Changing Liberal Ideas.” New York Times, August 19, 1970
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Meeting Minutes
1971 Harvard Square Men’s Business Association Monthly Board Meeting Reports, Harvard Square, Cambridge
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1971 Christmas Decorations Approved from Harvard Square Men’s Business Association Monthly Board Meeting Reports, Harvard Square, Cambridge
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1971 Secretaries Notes from Harvard Square Men’s Business Association Monthly Board Meeting Reports, Harvard Square, Cambridge
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1972 Harvard Square Men’s Business Association Monthly Board Meeting Reports, Harvard Square, Cambridge
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1972 Secretaries Notes from Harvard Square Men’s Business Association Monthly Board Meeting Reports, Harvard Square, Cambridge
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Articles
Anonymous, “Hotel in Cambridge Given New Design.” The New York Times,Jan 4, 1973
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Kifner, John, “Scaled-Down Plans for Kennedy Library Unveiled; Cost, With GlassPyramid Gone, Put at $15-Million.” The New York Times, June 8, 1974
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Anonymous, “A Cowboy at Harvard.” The Wall Street Journal, Jan 17, 1974
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Ada Louise, “What’s a Tourist Attraction Like The Kennedy Library Doing in a Nice Neighborhood Like This?” The New York Times, June 16, 1974
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Richard H.P., “Expansion: The Growing Pains Harvard Might Suffer.”The Harvard Crimson. [Cambridge, MA] Nov 01, 1974
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Reinhold, Robert, “Cambridge Merchants Adapt to Recession: Net Ample if Narrower.” The New York Times, Jan 22, 1975
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Kifner, John, “Cambridge Loses Kennedy Museum.” The New York Times, Feb 7, 1975
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Kifner, John, “Kennedy Museum Blocked by Combination Forces.” The New York Times, Feb 12, 1975
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Anonymous, “Campus Site Likely for Kennedy Center.” The New York Times, May 16, 1975
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1st Annual Octoberfest held in Harvard Square (Later rebranded as Oktoberfest)
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Newsletters
March 1984 Harvard Square Business Association Newsletter Vol 1, Harvard Square, Cambridge
Nov – Dec 1985 Harvard Square Business Association Newsletter Vol II: 7-8, Harvard Square,Cambridge, 1985
Summer 1986 Harvard Square Business Association Newsletter Vol III: 1-2, Harvard Square,Cambridge, 1986
1987 Jan – Feb 1987 Harvard Square Business Association Newsletter Vol III: 5-6, Harvard Square,Cambridge, 1987
April – June 1989 Harvard Square Business Association Newsletter Vol VI: 1-3, Harvard Square, Cambridge, 1989
March – April 1990 Harvard Square Business Association Newsletter Vol VII: 1-2, Harvard Square, Cambridge 1990
Articles
Anonymous, “Octoberfest Brings Crowds, Contest to Harvard Square.” The Harvard Crimson. [Cambridge, MA] Oct 09, 1984
Anonymous, “Plaque in Square Honors Hardhat Killed by Crane.” The Harvard Crimson, [Cambridge, MA] Oct 29, 1985
Wiegand, David, “An Evening to Remember: Harvard Square Business Association marks 75th Anniversary.” Cambridge (Mass.) Chronicle, May 22, 1986
1986 Cambridge Chronicle: 75th Anniversary. Harvard Square, Cambridge. Dole Publishing, 15 May 1986
Newsletters
March 1984 Harvard Square Business Association Newsletter Vol 1, Harvard Square, Cambridge
Nov – Dec 1985 Harvard Square Business Association Newsletter Vol II: 7-8, Harvard Square,Cambridge, 1985
Summer 1986 Harvard Square Business Association Newsletter Vol III: 1-2, Harvard Square,Cambridge, 1986
1987 Jan – Feb 1987 Harvard Square Business Association Newsletter Vol III: 5-6, Harvard Square,Cambridge, 1987
April – June 1989 Harvard Square Business Association Newsletter Vol VI: 1-3, Harvard Square, Cambridge, 1989
March – April 1990 Harvard Square Business Association Newsletter Vol VII: 1-2, Harvard Square, Cambridge 1990
Articles
Anonymous, “Octoberfest Brings Crowds, Contest to Harvard Square.” The Harvard Crimson. [Cambridge, MA] Oct 09, 1984
Anonymous, “Plaque in Square Honors Hardhat Killed by Crane.” The Harvard Crimson, [Cambridge, MA] Oct 29, 1985
Wiegand, David, “An Evening to Remember: Harvard Square Business Association marks 75th Anniversary.” Cambridge (Mass.) Chronicle, May 22, 1986
1986 Cambridge Chronicle: 75th Anniversary. Harvard Square, Cambridge. Dole Publishing, 15 May 1986
Newsletters
March 1984 Harvard Square Business Association Newsletter Vol 1, Harvard Square, Cambridge
Nov – Dec 1985 Harvard Square Business Association Newsletter Vol II: 7-8, Harvard Square,Cambridge, 1985
Summer 1986 Harvard Square Business Association Newsletter Vol III: 1-2, Harvard Square,Cambridge, 1986
1987 Jan – Feb 1987 Harvard Square Business Association Newsletter Vol III: 5-6, Harvard Square,Cambridge, 1987
April – June 1989 Harvard Square Business Association Newsletter Vol VI: 1-3, Harvard Square, Cambridge, 1989
March – April 1990 Harvard Square Business Association Newsletter Vol VII: 1-2, Harvard Square, Cambridge 1990
Articles
Anonymous, “Octoberfest Brings Crowds, Contest to Harvard Square.” The Harvard Crimson. [Cambridge, MA] Oct 09, 1984
Anonymous, “Plaque in Square Honors Hardhat Killed by Crane.” The Harvard Crimson, [Cambridge, MA] Oct 29, 1985
Wiegand, David, “An Evening to Remember: Harvard Square Business Association marks 75th Anniversary.” Cambridge (Mass.) Chronicle, May 22, 1986
1986 Cambridge Chronicle: 75th Anniversary. Harvard Square, Cambridge. Dole Publishing, 15 May 1986
Newsletters
2008, “Harvard Square Business Listings” Harvard Square, Cambridge, 2008
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February 27, 2009, “The HSBA 99th Annual Meeting” Harvard Square, Cambridge, 2009
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February 26, 2010, “The HSBA 100th Annual Meeting” Harvard Square Cambridge, 2010
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Articles
Anonymous, “Oktoberfest.” Press released. [Cambridge, MA] 2001
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Anonymous, “Potter-mania hits Harvard square.” Cambridge Chronicle. [Cambridge, MA] July 26,2007
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Crimson Staff, “Building a Sensible Square.” The Harvard Crimson. [Cambridge, MA] Nov. 26, 2007Anonymous, “Go green, Get Warm! FREE Hot Breakfast” Press released. [Cambridge, MA] 2010
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Anonymous, “Obamarama Inaugural Gala on Ice” Press released. [Cambridge, MA] 2009
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Anonymous, “Go green, Get Warm! FREE Hot Breakfast” Press released. [Cambridge, MA] 2010
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Anonymous, “Harvard Square Celebrates Black History Month and Hosts a Public PoetryReading and Vigil for Haiti led by the Cambridge ‘Poet Populist’ Jean Dany Joachim” Press released. [Cambridge, MA] 2010
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Anonymous, “Palmer Street: ‘Hyphen Theater’ The Harvard Square Design Project” Office forthe Arts at Harvard in association with the Cambridge Arts Council. [Cambridge, MA] 2004
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Archives
The Harvard Square Business Association History 1910-1990s
- In 1910 The Harvard Square Business Men’s Association was organized as a result of subway construction in the Square, which, as business owners believed, was interrupting business. The Association began with ~forty members.
- While the Association focused on a number of projects to serve and improve the business community, until the 1960s most of the efforts were put towards improving transportation including parking and traffic flow in the square—It wasn’t until the 1970s that they turned their main interest to improving the future of Harvard Square’s businesses.
- Through the 1920s the Association became more involved in city affairs, including being an integral part in the addition of electric lights to the square. In the 1920s they continued to come up with new ideas to improve Harvard Square partly by inviting members, planners, businessmen, and public officials to monthly meetings to discuss the possibilities.
- By the 1930s the number of members had increased 400% (185) and included women. Monthly meetings had the greatest consistent attendance yet, and were finally held on a regular basis. Although the focus was still on traffic issues, by the late 1930s the Association began sponsoring Christmas decorations.
- During the 1940s the Harvard Square Business Men’s Association took a greater interest in world affairs, which included speeches at monthly meetings on foreign matters. However, the Association had some strong concerns including a 1942 “DimOut”, and unresolved traffic problems due in part to the lack of parking meters as a result of the war.
- The 1950s started off with a bang when the Association received parking meters in January 1950. They kept up their strength with a 60-day trial period restricting all day parking on both sides of Boylston Street in Cambridge. The decade went out just as significantly when, in 1959 the Association backed Harvard University’s petition to change the zoning to allow them to build Holyoke Center: Harvard Square’s first high rise building.
- Unlike the 1950s, the 1960s was one of the least productive decades. During this time member attendance was at an all time low, the Association voted against changing the name to The Harvard Square Business Association, and although they decided to vote a woman to its board of directors at the next election, nothing came of it until the 1980s.
- After riots broke out in 1970 the Harvard Square Business Men’s Association held the most widely attended meeting as of that time (132 members showed up), and began working with police to keep the Square safe and clean. During this time they finally supported the subway, and even encouraged an extension to alewife. Most importantly, in 1972 they officially changed their name to The Harvard Square Business Association. The 1970s also marks the first annual Octoberfest.
- The 1980s marked yet another time of change for the Association when membership grew to 300 and in 1983 the basic structure was changed. This included the addition of Sally Alcorn as the first female full-time executive director of the Association, and the establishment of a permanent office at 18 Brattle Street in Cambridge.
- The Association continued its interest in improving parking through the 1980s and 1990s, and in the late 1980s began working with Harvard University to try to get public parking access at University Place’s garage. Furthermore, businesses were encouraged to take a very active role in the Square’s success by keeping their sidewalks clean and by continuing to be involved with The Harvard Square Business Association.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE HISTORY OF HARVARD SQUARE AND THE HARVARD SQUARE BUSINESS ASSOCIATION:
cambridgema.gov/CDD/econdev/aboutcambridge/harvardsq
Harvard Square History and Development
by Charles M. Sullivan, Executive Director
Cambridge Historical Commission
Late 1800's
Early photo Harvard Square 1865, “Looking South: Farewall’s Store on left; Lyceum Hall, site of the Coop, is at right.” Cambridge Planning Board Collection, Cambridge Historical Commission, 1865
Anonymous, “Sand Fleas at Harvard.” The New York Times, Aug 17, 1889
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Anonymous, “Harvard SquareAwakes.” The New York Times, Sep 29, 1891
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Anonymous, “Boston’s New Electric Cars.” The New York Times, March 13, 1892
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Presidents
Presidents of The Harvard Square Business Association
George G. Wright 1910 – 1915
John Amee 1915 – 1923
George G. Wright 1923 – 1928
Edwin R. Sage 1928 – ?
George E. Cole ? – 1933
Howard H. Fiske 1933 – 1935
Frederic A. Olssen 1935 – 1936
Dr. Newton A. DeWitt 1936 – 1939
Claus O. Gelotte 1939 – 1947
Frank S. Knapp 1941 – 1943
William I. Galvin 1943 – 1946
C. Rodney Sage 1946 -1948
Richard A. Dow 1948 – 1949
Robert I. Slate 1949 – 1951
Benjamin F. Olken 1951 – 1953
Bradlee F. Clarke 1953 – 1956
James W. Brine 1956 – 1958
Gilbert H. Greenwood 1958 – 1960
John Morrill 1960 – 1962
Charles L. Wolf 1962 – 1964
Stuart Mabie 1964 – 1966
Jack Williams 1966 – 1968
Robert Doyle 1968 – 1969
Arthur West 1969 – 1971
Robert Doyle 1971 – 1972
Edward Ver Planck 1972 – 1974
Howard Davis 1974 – 1977
Alexander M. Cahaly 1977 – 1978
John H. Dyer 1978 – 1980
Charles E. Sage 1980 – 1984
Sheldon Cohen 1984 – 1988
Tod Beaty 1988 – 2001
John DiGiovanni 2002 – 2022
Mary Catherine Deibel 2022 – 2023
Jessica Sculley 2023 – Present