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Fogg Art Museum Scrapbook, May 1973-March 1978

ARCH.2003.39, Rendition: 806760

Mistral, us.mistral.pixtral-large-2502-v1:0

The image is a newspaper clipping from "Harvard Today," detailing the re-emergence of the "Centennial Flag of 1836" at Harvard University. The flag, which is approximately fifteen feet high and twenty feet wide, was raised from a wooden coffin stored in Widener Library's basement. The flag features the motto "Veritas" and was originally created in 1836, with the crimson color becoming the official Harvard hue in 1910.

The flag was accompanied by a warning from James B. Conant in 1936, stating that the container should not be opened until 2036. Despite this, the flag was unveiled for Harvard's 350th anniversary in 1986 and again for its Bicentennial exhibit. The article mentions the involvement of several key figures, including Henry P. Holst, Robert Shenton, Derek C. Bok, and Marjorie B. Cohn, who were surprised by the flag's condition and the accompanying warnings.

The flag's history includes its burial in Josiah Quincy's "History of Harvard University" and its mysterious warnings, adding to its intrigue. The article concludes by noting the flag's surprising installation in the Harvard Hall Bicentennial exhibit, despite the warnings.

Mistral, mistral.magistral-small-2509

The image shows a page from a publication titled "Harvard Today." The main article is titled "The flag of 1836 flies again" and discusses the history and recent re-discovery of the Harvard flag from 1836. The flag, which had been stored in a wooden coffin in Widenor Library's sub-sub-basement, was recently raised again and now flies over Harvard.

The flag, about fifteen feet high and twenty feet wide, features the motto "Veritas" on the Harvard seal and is adorned in blue and gold, the original colors before crimson became the official color. The article mentions that the flag was last flown in 1936 and was sealed in a container with instructions not to be opened until 2036. Despite this, it was unsealed and restored by the Fogg Museum's conservation team for the Harvard Hall Bicentennial exhibit.

The article also mentions other items awaiting discovery in the depths of Widener, including another box sealed by President Conant with instructions not to be opened until 2096. The text is accompanied by a black-and-white photograph showing the Fogg Museum's conservation team raising the flag.

Mistral, mistral.ministral-3-3b-instruct

The image is a newspaper article from Harvard Today titled "The flag of 1836 flies again." The article recounts the historical recovery and re-installation of the Harvard flag from the year 1836.

Key points from the article include:

  1. Discovery and Retrieval:

    • The flag was discovered in a wooden coffin stored in Widener Library’s sub-basement.
    • It was about fifteen feet high and twenty feet wide, and it had been incorporated into the Harvard seal for the first time since 1643.
  2. Historical Context:

    • The flag was first flown in 1836 and again in 1936, marking the 100th anniversary of Harvard's Centennial.
    • The flag is described as having been sealed in a container by former Harvard president James B. Conant in 1936, with a warning not to open it until 2036.
  3. Restoration Process:

    • The restoration efforts were led by Harley P. Holden, curator of the University archives, Robert Shenton, secretary of the Board of Overseers, and President Derek C. Bok.
    • The flag was carefully unsealed and conserved by Marjorie B. Cohen and her team in the Fogg Museum's conservation department.
  4. Exhibition:

    • The restored flag was displayed in the Harvard Hall Bicentennial exhibit, helping to celebrate Harvard’s rich history.
    • Elizabeth Wood, the exhibit's director, noted the historical significance and the numerous treasures that are being unearthed and preserved.
  5. Additional Discovery:

    • Another box, also sealed by President Conant with a similar warning, is mentioned as potentially containing more historical artifacts awaiting liberation.

The article highlights the meticulous efforts to preserve and exhibit historical artifacts, celebrating the heritage and continuity of Harvard University.

Mistral, mistral.ministral-3-8b-instruct

The image is a newspaper clipping from Harvard Today, titled "The flag of 1836 flies again." The article discusses the recent raising of an 1836 Harvard flag, which had been stored in a wooden coffin in Widener Library's sub-sub-basement.

Key points from the article include:

  1. The flag, about fifteen feet high and twenty feet wide, incorporated the motto "Veritas" into the Harvard seal for the first time since 1645. It was adorned with blue and gold and had a crimson hue, becoming the official Harvard flag around twenty years before crimson was officially adopted.

  2. The flag was first raised in 1836 and again in 1936, during the bicentennial celebrations. Former president James B. Conant had sealed the flag in a wooden coffin in 1936, with a warning that it should not be opened until 2036 and only with the authority of the president of Harvard University.

  3. Despite Conant's warning, the flag was unsealed last month by Harley P. Holden (curator of the University archives), Robert Shenton (secretary of the Board of Overseers), and President Derek C. Bok. Marjorie B. Cohen and her team from the Fogg Museum's conservation department were involved in retrieving the flag.

  4. The flag is now on display in the Harvard Hall Bicentennial exhibit. The article also mentions that another box, sealed by President Conant with a similar warning, is also awaiting liberation in the depths of Widener Library.

  5. The article notes that there might be more aging treasures in the library's depths, indicating a broader historical preservation effort at Harvard.

Mistral, mistral.ministral-3-14b-instruct

The image is a newspaper article titled "The flag of 1836 flies again" from Harvard Today. The article discusses the history and recent recovery of the Harvard flag of 1836, which had been stored in Widener Library's sub-sub-basement.

Key points from the article include:

  1. Flag Description: The flag is about fifteen feet high and twenty feet wide, featuring the motto "Veritas" (truth) in the Harvard seal. It was the first time the seal had been used since 1643 and was adorned in blue and gold, predating the official Harvard hue by twenty years.

  2. Historical Context: The flag flew in 1836 and again in 1936 for the Harvard Bicentennial celebration. It was titled the "Centennial Flag of 1836" and was sealed by President James B. Conant in 1936 with a warning not to open it until 2036.

  3. Recent Discovery and Recovery: Despite the warning, the flag was opened by Harley P. Holden (curator of the University archives), Robert Shenton (secretary of the Board of Overseers), and President Derek C. Bok. The flag was unrolled and supervised for installation in the Harvard Hall Bicentennial exhibit.

  4. Additional Historical Treasures: The article mentions that the flag was found in a wooden coffin, and there are more aging treasures waiting liberation in Widener Library. Another box, also sealed by Conant with a similar warning, remains unopened.

The article is accompanied by a photograph showing the conservation team from the Fogg Museum raising the flag.

Mistral, mistral.mistral-large-3-675b-instruct

The image is of a newspaper clipping from Harvard Today, detailing the story of the Harvard flag from 1836.

Headline:
"The flag of 1836 flies again"

Main Story:
The article recounts the history and recent rediscovery of the Harvard flag originally flown in 1836. Here are the key points:

  • The motto "Veritas" (Truth) was incorporated into the Harvard seal for the first time in 1643 and has been displayed in blue and gold since then. These colors became part of the official Harvard crimson much later.

  • The Rip Van Winkle behavior of the flag: It was flown in 1836 and again in 1986. The flag's journey is described as somewhat mysterious, with the original flag of 1836 referred to as the "Rip Van Winkle" flag.

  • The flag was enclosed in a container with a note from former President James B. Conant, dated 1936, which warned that the container should not be opened until 2036 and only by the authority of the President of Harvard University.

  • Despite the note’s instructions, Harley P. Holden, curator of the University archives, along with Robert Shenton (secretary of the Board of Overseers) and President Derek C. Bok, authorized the opening of the container last month. The conservation team from the Fogg Museum's conservation department was tasked with repairing the flag.

  • The flag was discovered stored in a wooden coffin-like box in the sub-sub-basement of Widener Library. It recently flew again over Harvard, spanning about fifteen feet high and twenty feet wide.

  • Holden retrieved the box for the exhibit and found it buried with a note inside mentioning President Conant's directive: "Do not open until 2036."

The article highlights the historical significance and the intriguing journey of the Harvard flag of 1836, which has now been restored and flown once more.

Azure OpenAI Service, gpt-4

The image you've provided shows a scanned page of a document, possibly from a newsletter or article, with the title "The flag of 1836 flies again." The document appears to be a clipping from "Harvard Today", and the date "April" can be seen in the upper right corner, although the year is not visible.

The article describes the reappearance of the Harvard flag of 1836. It discusses how the flag was flown in 1836 and again in 1956, and was labeled as the "Centennial Flag of 1836." The narrative explains that this flag was accompanied by a note written by a former president of the institution in 1936, instructing that the container should not be opened until 2036, emphasizing the historical significance and reverence for tradition at Harvard University.

At the bottom of the page, there is a captioned photo under the heading "The Fogg Museum's conservation team raises the flag." The image shows a group of people presumably handling the flag, but the photograph is not clear enough to discern the specific activities or the details of the flag.

Below the captioned photo, the article continues with text describing the flag's rediscovery in a sub-basement of Widener Library and how it was once again flown over Harvard. The dimensions of the flag are mentioned as about fifteen feet high and twenty-five feet wide. The document has a watermark or background that suggests age or deteriorating paper quality, with spots and signs of wear.

Azure OpenAI Service, gpt-4.1-mini-2025-04-14

The image is a scanned newspaper or magazine clipping featuring an article titled "The flag of 1836 flies again," with a handwritten note "HARVARD TODAY" next to the headline. The article discusses the rediscovery and display of the "Centennial Flag of 1836" at Harvard University. It mentions that the flag, about fifteen feet high and twenty feet wide, was stored in a wooden coffin in Widener Library’s sub-sub-basement and has now been raised to fly over Harvard.

The article describes the flag's Blue and gold colors with the motto "Veritas" on the Harvard seal, which reappeared in 1936 and was originally flown in 1836. It mentions a note from former Harvard president James B. Conant in 1936 warning the flag's container should not be opened until 2036 without presidential authority.

The unsealing of the flag was authorized by Harley P. Holden (curator of the University archives), Robert Shenton (secretary of the Board of Overseers), and President Derek C. Bok. Conservation work on the flag was carried out by Marjorie B. Cohen and her staff at the Fogg Museum, and the flag was installed in the Harvard Hall Bicentennial exhibit.

There is a black-and-white photograph on the left side showing the Fogg Museum's conservation team raising the flag. The image includes the credit for the photograph to Michael Medziwenski.

The article ends with a reference to Elizabeth Wood, director of the exhibit, and hints at other aging treasures stored in Widener, including another box with a similar warning not to open until 2036.

Amazon, us.amazon.nova-2-lite-v1:0

The image is a page from a publication titled "The flag of 1836 flies again," which appears to be from Harvard Today. The page features a combination of text and a photograph.

Photograph Description:

  • Image Content: The photograph shows a group of individuals, presumably part of the Fogg Museum's conservation team, raising a large historical flag.
  • Setting: The individuals are outdoors, and the flag is being hoisted on a pole. The flag is prominently displayed, and the team appears to be carefully handling the process.
  • Caption: Below the photograph, the caption reads: "The Fogg Museum's conservation team raises the flag."

Text Description:

  • Headline: The headline, "The flag of 1836 flies again," sets the context, indicating that the flag in question is a historical artifact from 1836, which is being reintroduced or displayed after a long period of storage.
  • Body Text: The accompanying text provides detailed information about the flag:
    • Historical Significance: The flag is described as the "Centennial Flag of 1886," which was officially endorsed by former Harvard President James B. Conant in 1936. It was stored in a wooden coffin in the Widener Library's sub-basement.
    • Dimensions: The flag is noted to be approximately fifteen feet high and twenty feet wide.
    • Symbolism: The flag incorporates the Harvard motto, "Veritas," and features the Harvard seal, which was first adopted in 1643. The colors blue and gold became the official Harvard colors twenty years before crimson was adopted.
    • Storage and Retrieval: The flag was stored in a sealed box accompanied by a note warning that it should not be opened until 2036. The box was retrieved by Elizabeth Wood, who consulted Josiah Quincy’s History of Harvard University. The flag was in surprisingly good condition, despite its age.
    • Exhibit Context: The flag was part of a Bicentennial exhibit at Harvard Hall. The conservation team, led by Harley P. Holden (curator of University archives), Robert Shenton (secretary of the Board of Overseers), President Derek C. Bok, and Marjorie B. Colen, oversaw the restoration and display of the flag.

Overall Context:

The page highlights the historical and symbolic importance of the 1836 Harvard flag, its preservation, and its recent reintroduction into public view as part of a special exhibit. The photograph visually captures the moment of the flag's unveiling, emphasizing the collaborative effort of the conservation team in restoring and displaying this significant artifact. The article underscores the flag's role in Harvard's heritage and its journey from storage to public display.

Amazon, amazon.nova-lite-v1:0

The image is a page from a magazine or newspaper, featuring an article titled "The flag of 1836 flies again." The article discusses the recent display of a historical flag at Harvard University. The flag, which was originally flown in 1836, has been restored and is now on display at the Harvard Fogg Museum. The article includes details about the flag's history, its restoration process, and the significance of its display. The page also includes a photograph of the flag, which appears to be a large, rectangular banner with a white background and a blue stripe in the center. The flag is displayed against a gray background, and the image is cropped to focus on the flag itself.