About

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 scholars drawn from Harvard’s graduate and professional schools, and over 200 affiliated faculty and visiting scholars.

History

Lowell House in Winter

History of Lowell House

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 Bells

The 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. 

Traditions

two male students

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!

group of people drinking tea and mingling

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. 

Student conducting an orchestra

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. 

Harvard female student

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.

students performing 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.

Man reciting a poem

Poemicals (Calendar)

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.