Temple University announced yesterday it has suspended Dr. Barrows Dunham, professor of philosophy, for his failure to answer questions before the House Un-American Activities Committee.

Dunham, who did graduate work here in the early '30's, was called before the House Committee one day after Wendell H. Furry, associate professor of Physics, had testified. The Temple professor was cited for contempt by the Committee after refusing to give anything but his name.

Harvard has taken no action against Furry, although Provost Buck last week issued a statement saying "Professor Wendell H. Furry's reported refusal to answer certain questions put to him by the House Un-American Activities Committee will be given full and deliberate consideration by the Harvard University authorities." Furry, however, has not been cited for contempt.

Dr. Robert J. Johnson, Temple president, who takes over tomorrow as head of the government overseas information program, in a letter mailed to Dunham last night told the head of the university's philosophy department "you have deliberately created a doubt as to your loyalty status."

Dunham declined to answer questions before the committee, probing possible Communist infiltration in the country's education system, beyond his name, age and address. He declined to answer questions about his occupation.

Yesterday, Dunham termed the House group's investigation "a medieval inquisition." He was not available for comment on the university's action.

Johnson's letter said the basis for the suspension was a Pennsylvania law called the state's loyalty oath. Under section 13, Johnson wrote Dunham, "Temple University is required to unequivocally set forth that the institution has no reason to believe any subversive persons are in its employ.' By your refusal to answer questions put to you by the congressional committee on the ground that to do so might be self-incriminating, you have deliberately created a doubt as to your loyalty status.

"I cannot agree that this lack of cooperation is consistent with your obligations as a teacher and your responsibilities to all members of Temple University and to the society of which it is a part."

Meanwhile, House and Senate committees seeking Communists in education disclosed this weekend they will join forces in a joint probe in order to avoid overlapping and duplication of separate investigations.

Under the plan, the House Un-American Activities Committee, chaired by Representative Harold H. Veldo (R-Ill.) combines activities with Senator William E. Jenner's (R-Ind.) Senate Internal Security Subcommittee