The university linens service becomes the Linen agency, the financial backbone of HSA in its early years and still an HSA staple as HSA Cleaners today.
HSA rents out its first refrigerator, inspiring the agency now known as HSA Dorm Essentials.
1957
1958
From its first ramshackle home above a liquor store at 102 Mt. Auburn St., HSA moves to more comfortable digs in the basement of 4 Holyoke St.
Let’s Go debuts as a 25-page pamphlet for passengers on HSA’s charter flights to Europe. Today Let’s Go reigns supreme over the travel-writing market but the charter flights, sadly, are no more.
1960
1963
HSA explodes out of its 4 Holyoke offices into a second location at 12 Garden St. Then 12 Garden St. is imploded to make way for a parking lot and the satellite office moves to 993A Mass. Ave.
Six HSA Entertainment employees cruise Boston in four-piece suits, fedoras, and a 1928 Packard to promote the gangster movie “The St. Valentine’s Day Massacre.”
1967
1968
HSA conquers more ground, expanding to a third location at 2 Trowbridge St.
HSA contributes to the civil-rights movement with a student-produced documentary on the challenging job market for minorities as well as a student-published book on college opportunities for African-Americans.
1969
1970
Andrew Nelson is named HSA’s second General Manager but struggles with ill health for most of his term.
HSA bids adieu to the 993A Mass. Ave. office. Farewell, sweet cubicles!
1971
1973
Brad Howe, a former Linen and Europe-by-Air manager, takes over as General Manager.
Robert Maxcy is tapped as General Manager but lasts only seven days in the job. His replacement, Dan DelVecchio, endures approximately seven years, 358 days longer.
1975
1975
No longer must Harvard students languish in ignorance: HSA publishes its first Unofficial Guide to Life at Harvard, today produced by HSA Marketing.
A heavy storm combines with poor drainage to force the evacuation of HSA HQ, which floods with two inches of sewage.
1977
1979
In a related development, HSA flees its Holyoke St. dominion for the unsullied chambers of Thayer Hall B, right in the middle of Harvard Yard.
HSA Instructional Services educates students in the delicate intricacies of disco, the subtle refreshment of jazz, and the swingin’ elegance of ballroom dancing.
1979
1981
Lynn Liakos is elected HSA’s first female President.
Hope Spruance becomes HSA’s first female General Manager.
1983
1986
Now under the auspices of Harvard Student Resources, the Bartending Course devastatingly stops using real alcohol. Remarkably, enrollment continues to increase.
Harold Rosenwald, one of HSA’s original founders, retires from the Board of Directors after 32 years of service as legal counsel, advisor, and friend to HSA.
1989
1990
New General Manager Michele Ponti takes over for Spruance.
1992
Richard Olken begins an influential term as General Manager.
Yard renovations force HSA into a new abode at 53A Church St.
1993
1998
Richard Olken steps down as General Manager, and Board member Blair Brown steps in as interim GM.
Bob Rombauer starts his tenure as HSA’s eighth permanent General Manager.
1999
2001
HSA acquires the rights to The Harvard Shop and merges it with The Campus Store to forge a class ring- and sweatshirt-selling behemoth at 52 JFK St.
The inaugural SAT SOS course ushers in a new agency, Tutoring.
2006
2007
Current General Manager Jim McKellar takes the reins.
The first Summer Business Academy whets the entrepreneurial spirit of a new generation: high-schoolers.
2010
2013
The Harvard Shop’s third location opens at 65 Mt. Auburn St., just beside HSA HQ.
HSA welcomes its 13th and 14th agencies, GroupGear and Boston Apparel Co.
2014
2015
HSA Cleaners moves to its current home at 69 Mt. Auburn St., bringing all of HSA’s agencies together again.
HSA founds DEV, a web and app development company that employs student engineers (front and backend) and designers (UX/UI and graphics).
2017
2018
HSA acquires student-founded startup Campus Insights, a Gen Z and millennial user research firm.
The Summer Business Academy is rebranded to The Academies at Harvard, teaching more than 600 high school students about business, coding, politics, and pre-medical sciences.
2019
2021
HSA acquires Trademark Tours, the most successful and well-respected visitor services company in Harvard Square.2021
Today
We proudly stand with over 800 employees across 10 diverse businesses, collectively generating a remarkable $13 million in revenue. Be a part of our unfolding history.
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