#  About 

 



#  About Lowell House 

 

 

**Lowell House is one of the twelve residential Houses at Harvard University. We are a community of over 600 people: 400+ undergraduate students, 20 resident tutors and researchers drawn from Harvard’s graduate and professional schools, and over 200 affiliated faculty and scholars.**



 

 

 

       ![A bird's eye photo of the top of Lowell House during the fall with the Charles River in the background.](/sites/g/files/omnuum5006/files/styles/hwp_28_10__1920x685/public/2025-01/Lowell%20House%20%28Fall%202023%29.jpg?itok=3S7PK1EB) 

 

 



 

 



 

  [### History of Lowell House

 ](/history)Lowell House was built in 1929 as one of the first three Houses established by the gift of Edward Harkness to Harvard University. It was constructed by the firm of Coolidge, Shepley, Bulfinch, and Abbot, our neo-Georgian design won the Harleston Parker architectural medal in 1935.



 

   ![Lowell House in Winter](/sites/g/files/omnuum5006/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/lowell/files/possible_image_glowing_sunset.jpg?itok=w3-GOfaM) 

 

 

 

  [### The Lowell House Bells

 ](/lowell-house-bells)The Lowell House bells, a collection of 17 Russian bells, were given by Charles Crane as a gift to the house in 1930. The bells originally came from the St. Danilov Monastery in Moscow and were saved from being melted down by Stalin’s government.



 

   ![Lowell House Bells](/sites/g/files/omnuum5006/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/lowell/files/possible_photo_lowell_bells.jpg?itok=9m-iIlDV) 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

  [### Thursday Teas

 ](/thursday-teas)A beloved and longstanding tradition, the Faculty Deans host Tea in their residence from 5-6pm every Thursday of term. Everyone is welcome!



 

   ![two male students](/sites/g/files/omnuum5006/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/lowell/files/people_candid_2.jpg?itok=g5bQFRBh) 

 

 

 

  [### High Table

 ](/high-table)High Table is a venerable tradition in Lowell House dating back to Lowell's first faculty dean, Julian Lowell Coolidge, mathematics professor and ardent anglophile. He instituted High Table, much like the Oxford and Cambridge traditions, as a formal dinner with select seniors and Senior Common Room members of the House.



 

   ![group of people drinking tea and mingling](/sites/g/files/omnuum5006/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/lowell/files/high_table.jpg?itok=wexLKizP) 

 

 

 

  [### 1812 Overture

 ](/1812-overture)A long tradition at Lowell House, and now in conjunction with Arts First weekend at Harvard, this "pick-up" performance of the 1812 Overture in the Lowell House Courtyard has been open to the whole community and drawn many eager fans over the years.



 

   ![Student conducting an orchestra](/sites/g/files/omnuum5006/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/lowell/files/1812_overture.jpg?itok=rXeC7AUy) 

 

 

 

  [### Lowell Speeches

 ](/lowell-speeches)Students give five-minute speeches in our Dining Hall at the start of each spring semester. They select any personal topic and work with a mentor from our Senior Common Room.



 

   ![Harvard female student](/sites/g/files/omnuum5006/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/lowell/files/card_speeches.jpg?itok=YBKzs8sa) 

 

 

 

  [### Lowell House Opera

 ](/lowell-house-opera)Lowell House Opera produces operas of the highest caliber for audiences from Harvard and greater Boston. The oldest opera company currently performing in New England, LHO is the professionally-led company in residence at Harvard College grounded in a unique educational approach.



 

   ![students performing opera](/sites/g/files/omnuum5006/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/lowell/files/card_opera.jpg?itok=C7ochFQU) 

 

 

 

  [### Poemicals

 ](/poemicals)A weekly tradition hosted by Poet in Residence and Associate in South Asian Studies, Kevin McGrath, the Lowell House Poemical Society meets once a week on Tuesday evenings to read, listen, and share. Culminating every spring at the Annual May Day Poetry reading, this long standing tradition is open to anyone on a drop-in basis. It’s like yoga for the mind.



 

   ![Man reciting a poem](/sites/g/files/omnuum5006/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/lowell/files/poemicals.jpg?itok=l5pbBZVn)