Yale Postcards

Branford College

Overview of Branford College

Branford College was created in 1933 when Yale divided the Memorial Quadrangle—James Gamble Rogers’s 1917–21 Gothic masterpiece—into two new residential colleges, with Branford occupying the larger portion, and Saybrook College occupying the other. Its courtyards and entryways fold around some of Yale’s most iconic architecture, notably including the base of Harkness Tower and its 54-bell carillon anchoring one corner of the main courtyard. Named for the nearby town where Yale once briefly resided, Branford retains a reputation—dating to its earliest days—for being serene and full of hidden architectural gems.

Then-and-Now at Branford College

In the below, the view on the left is what appears in one of the postcards from the collection, and the view on the right is a photo taken of the same camera angle in 2025.  Use the slider to see how these views compare more than a century apart!

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Then Now
Then Now
Then Now

Postcard Views of Branford College

Click or tap any of the postcard photos in the below gallery to zoom-in and explore further.

Front and Back of Branford College Postcards

Mouse-over or tap any of the below postcards to see what the other side looks like!