Lowell House, built in 1930, was one of the first two Houses established by the gift of Edward Harkness. Built by the firm of Coolidge, Shepley, Bulfinch, and Abbot, the building won the Harleston Parker architectural medal in 1935. The House was named for the Lowell family, closely identified with Harvard since John Lowell graduated in 1721.
The house system at Harvard began in 1928, under President Lowell with a $13 million dollar gift by Edward Harkness. Modeled after the colleges at Oxford, the system was intended to strengthen the social bonds between students, and to encourage more informal interaction among students, tutors, and faculty. The Houses offer some academic instruction, have their own dining halls and libraries, and promote extracurricular activities relating to music, theater, sports, and other special interests. Each House is overseen by a Master, a senior faculty member who lives in a private residence within the house. House staff includes an Allston Burr Resident Dean (formerly Senior Tutor), responsible for overseeing students' academic and personal well-being, as well as resident and non-resident tutors. The staff and non-resident faculty associates make up the Senior Common Room, which hosts dinners and other events.
From the description of Records of residential life in Lowell House, ca. 1930-2006. (Harvard University). WorldCat record id: 428434296
