The following letter was written jointly by George and Samuel Neal of Kittery, Maine, who were attending Harvard College during the Civil War. I can’t be certain if the letter was written in 1862, 1863, or 1864 so I guessed 1863.

The letter, particularly the portion written by Samuel, contains a great description of the Harvard College tradition known as “Class Day.” This day marked the end of classes for the college term in June which would be followed by six weeks vacation and then when students returned to attend the next next term, the college seniors would return for their “Commencement” exercises.

According to an article appearing in the Harvard Crimson quoting a piece written in 1886, the class of 1838 inaugurated a new order of exercises to Class Day. “As soon as the morning programme was ended, the class committee placed a band in front of Stoughton, and as soon as the fair maidens could finish their ice cream and lemonade they were surprised by being invited to go down and dance about the tree. The band which had been practicing Fair Harvard (two years old) started up, also surprised, and began a series of quadrilles and waltzes, which they continued until dark. Toward evening, the seniors for the first time gathered about the old tree and began a wild quadrille of their own, in which they were soon joined by the whole college, the maidens looking on and applauding. Just as the sun was setting, the graduating class formed in line and passed around the yard, cheering the buildings in order.” The new arrangement apparently also introduced the custom of giving “Spreads” (banquets) which are mentioned in the letter following.

Transcription

Cambridge [Massachusetts’
Saturday night

I suppose you expect a letter from me tonight and with good reason since I did not write you last week, but I will endeavor to make some slight amends for my misconduct by writing two full pages this evening.

We sent our carpet bag home this morning and expect it again next Tuesday. You ought to have been here yesterday. We had a splendid time. It was a beautiful day. I never wanted the whole family here so much then. You could have seen Harvard in all its glory.

In the morning, vast crowds of people began to arrive from all quarters and at a little past ten the graduates formed in front of Holworthy [Hall] dressed in kid (white) gloves, swallowed tailed black coats, black vests, pants, and tall hats. Accompanied by the band, they went to the chapel and had prayer from Dr. [Andrew Preston] Peabody and after marching around after the Faculty, they came to the church. It was full of ladies. All ladies could enter but no man without tickets. After the Seniors had passed in, all hands made a fearful rush for the building among whom was your “brudder” who acquitted himself very honorably in pushing all he could. After prayer and music, we had the oration and poem. The Seniors sung the farewell ode and passed out of the church. A great crowd then rushed for the college buildings. About every student (Senior) had spreads and treated all his friends.

There was a large number of negro waiters and it is said that four Seniors invited 1,800 and expected 1,000 and that the spread would cost them $4,000 so you see it was all done on a grand scale. There were some ladies who had sent to Paris expressly for bonnets for the occasion. You have never seen ladies so splendidly dressed as they were here yesterday. About all of them in light airy dresses and the dresses were much handsomer than the women. I should think that there were 4 or 5 ladies for one gentleman.

In the afternoon there was dancing on the grounds until 6 o’clock when the Seniors went round to cheer the buildings and to run round the old class tree. All the four classes formed four rings around the tree and ran round it in great style and then the Seniors had a grand break down over it. ¹

In the evening a great crowd went to Dr. Peabody’s house (I got there just as the ice cream gave out) Oh!!!! The grounds of the college were splendidly illuminated and the band and glee club played and sang until a late hour when all separated. A great many of the Seniors, however, extended their enjoyments far into the night.

I wish I could come to Bradford but I can’t possibly. Don’t trouble yourself much about study or you will be all dragged out. Yours affectionate brother, — S

[In a different hand]

Cambridge
June 23rd

My dear Sister,

Since you were so kind to send me a letter (though exceedingly short), I will try to answer it. Sam has told you all about Class Day so there is but little to say about that. I enjoyed myself very much. There were a great many ladies present, & the Aristocrats, but I must say that as a whole they were the plainest looking set I ever saw.

On Saturday we went down Boston Harbor and had a splendid time. We were in the boat about five hours. My hands were slightly blistered when we got through.

Uncle Eben gave me a photograph of Grandfather taken from a daguerreotype. We are studying hard now for yearly examination. In consequence, we shall not be able to come to your Exhibition. There. Allie, I can’t write anymore. Goodbye. Your affectionate brudder, — George

P. S. [ ] sent me a catalogue from Exeter. You send me one of yours.

¹ Having searched the literature for a reference to the “class tree” at Harvard, the only thing I could find was an article recently appearing in the Harvard Political Review on 17 July 2023 pertaining to the “Washington Elm” that stood in Cambridge Common, next to the historic Harvard Yard. That tree fell sometime in 1923 and was estimated to have been between 204 and 210 years old.