Hollis Hall, Stoughton Hall, and Holworthy Hall c. 1858

Editor: This photograph, by John Adams Whipple, captures Hollis Hall, Stoughton Hall, and Holworthy Hall, at Harvard. It looks like an autumn scene. The bare trees frame the old buildings and create a somber, almost haunting, mood. What can you tell me about its cultural significance? Curator: Well, consider the context. Higher education, historically, served a privileged class. Who was excluded from these hallowed halls? Think about race, gender, socioeconomic status. This image, seemingly benign, reinforces that narrative. What do you make of the figures in the image? Editor: They seem to be all men, perhaps faculty and students? This reinforces the historical exclusivity you mention. Curator: Exactly. It prompts us to consider how institutions like Harvard are reckoning with their past and working towards a more equitable future. These images can be a mirror, reflecting both progress and the work that remains. Editor: I see that now. It's a reminder that even seemingly neutral images can reveal deeper social and historical truths. Curator: Precisely. Art is never created in a vacuum.