Lilliam Hellman, the well-known playwright and author, who was blacklisted in the '50s for suspected ties with the Communist Party, has been selected by South House as this fall's Atherton Lecturer.

Harvard established the lectureship in 1966 at the bequest of Frederic W. Atherton, a Harvard graduate, to "bring to the University, annually, distinguished lecturers concerned with ethical subjects or topics relating to ethical or social criticism."

Hellman will lead a question and answer session rather than lecture, in the South House's Cabot Hall living room on October 25, Jerome E. Fischer, executive assistant to the master of South House said yesterday.

In a letter of acceptance, Hellman said, "I am for sentimental reasons going to say yes. I feel obligated to Harvard for the past years I have spent here." Hellman taught at Harvard in 1961 and 1968.

The selection of the lecturer is done on an alphabetical rotation basis through the houses.