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Harvard Varsity Club
Harvard Varsity Club

Lettersweaters

Susan and Cory '90 Thabit Lettersweater Program

The Harvard Varsity Club lettersweater is one of the oldest and greatest traditions in college athletics across the country. Each year, Harvard undergraduate student-athletes who earn a Major H in any of Harvard’s 42 varsity programs receive an exclusive Polo Ralph Lauren lettersweater.

While other universities and colleges have adopted and followed our tradition, the Harvard Varsity Club’s renowned partnership assures that no other athlete in the country receives lettersweaters of comparable quality— one more example of ‘Your Team for Life’ setting the standard for Harvard student-athletes!

Important note for student-athletes and parents:

  • Sweaters are 100% merino wool and DRY CLEAN ONLY
  • If lost or damaged, a replacement sweater may be purchased five years after the date of receiving one’s first sweater.

  • Each athlete is eligible to receive ONE lettersweater upon being awarded a Major H in any of Harvards 42 varsity sports. Additional lettersweaters are not awarded for additional major H’s – it’s ONE lettersweater per student-athlete.

Susan and Cory '90 Thabit Lettersweater Program

The Harvard Varsity Club lettersweater is one of the oldest and greatest traditions in college athletics across the country. Each year, Harvard undergraduate student-athletes who earn a Major H in any of Harvard’s 42 varsity programs receive an exclusive Polo Ralph Lauren lettersweater.

While other universities and colleges have adopted and followed our tradition, the Harvard Varsity Club’s renowned partnership assures that no other athlete in the country receives lettersweaters of comparable quality— one more example of ‘Your Team for Life’ setting the standard for Harvard student-athletes!

Important note for student-athletes and parents:

  • Sweaters are 100% merino wool and DRY CLEAN ONLY
  • If lost or damaged, a replacement sweater may be purchased five years after the date of receiving one’s first sweater.

  • Each athlete is eligible to receive ONE lettersweater upon being awarded a Major H in any of Harvards 42 varsity sports. Additional lettersweaters are not awarded for additional major H’s – it’s ONE lettersweater per student-athlete.

Tradition

Lettersweater History

The tradition of the Harvard lettersweater dates back to the early 1880s when the crew team adopted a white sweater with a crimson “H” as their uniform. As football, baseball, and track began to compete on an intercollegiate level during the 1880s, the need arose for official Harvard athletic attire. Accordingly, in 1896, the Athletic Committee overseeing undergraduate sports met to discuss the options for outfitting Harvard’s athletes. After some deliberation, the Committee decided to prescribe each team a sweater that used a unique color scheme of crimson, black, and white.

Unique lettersweaters for each sport remained until 1957 when the number of varsity sports (10) and minor h colors was beginning to outnumber the possible permutations of colors in the lettersweaters. After receiving a recommendation from the Undergraduate Athletic Council, the Faculty Committee on Athletic Sports agreed to standardize the lettersweaters for all major sports. The hockey team’s color combination was chosen— a classic black sweater with a crimson “H” bordered in white. Today, it is the official lettersweater for all Harvard Major H recipients.

Members: $150

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Non-Members: $250

Purchase

Please note our policies around lettersweaters:

  • Undergraduate student-athletes may pick up their lettersweater between 9:30 am – 4:30 pm between Monday – Friday while school is in session, or upon request during holidays/summer break.
  • Did you forget to pick up your lettersweater before Commencement? Recent grads may pick up a complimentary sweater before the next fall’s Harvard-Yale weekend. After that, lettersweaters will be available by purchase only.
  • Alumni who never received a sweater as an undergraduate or are interested in purchasing a replacement sweater should contact the HVC at 617.495.3535.
  • Active, dues-paying members of the HVC are eligible for a discount.
  • Lettersweater purchases require verification of receiving a Major H.

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