Charles H. Taylor, Charles Henry Lea Professor of Medieval History, will succeed Professor Mason Hammond next July as Master of Kirkland House, it was learned yesterday.

Hammond, Pope Professor of Latin Language and Literature, who has been master for nine and a half years, resigned his post for a two year leave of absence to become Professor in charge of Classical Studies at the American Academy in Rome.

In a statement to members of Kirkland House, Hammond said the length of his absence from the University made impossible the appointment of an Acting Master. The Corporation officially approved Taylor as his successor on Monday.

Taylor, who will assume his new duties this summer, brings to Kirkland an intimate association with the House system since 1931, first as tutor and as Associate of Adams House. Professor Reuben Brower, Master of Adams House, said he deeply regretted his loss. "He will be terribly missed on every level," Brower said.

A "Splendid" Appointment

Hammond, who plans to resume teaching at the University after his two-year absence, called his decision to leave Kirkland House "not easy." He felt that in Professor and Mrs. Taylor the House would find "the vision, understanding, and friendliness which will make the House outstanding."

Elliott Perkins, Master of Lowell House, called Taylor's appointment a "splendid" one. "I can't imagine anyone on the faculty who would make a better master," Gordon M. Fair, Master of Dunster House, commented yesterday. The other Housemasters concurred is their praise of Taylor's appointment and all expressed their regret at Professor Hammond's departure.

"I expect to spend my first year finding out the mores of Kirkland," Taylor said yesterday. He felt the Houses had "immense possibilities when combined with the tutorial system for this enterprise of education."

At Harvard Since 1921

Taylor, a graduate of Washington and Lee in 1919, came to Harvard as a History 1 section man in 1921 and has been here ever since, except for four years as an army historian during World War II. He earned his Ph.D. from the University in 1927, became an Assistant Professor the same year, and Charles Henry Lea Professor of Medieval History in 1942.

Besides teaching part of Social Science 1, he conducts a course in Medieval French History and one in Medieval Intellectual History. He runs a graduate seminar in Medieval History. At the moment Taylor expects to continue his teaching duties.