Named for former Harvard president Increase Mather, Class of 1656, increase was indeed on the mind of the architect who designed Mather House. Built in 1970, the towering Mather stands in contrast to some of its more traditional next-door neighbors. But an all but guaranteed single room keeps residents happy, despite the distance from the center of campus.
House Masters Sandra A. Naddaff '75 and Leigh G. Hafrey '73 (College sweet-hearts who met while living in the Quad) are dedicated to bringing music to Mather and even hired a music tutor when an entering blocking group showed special interest in jazz. The masters' two young sons are fond of sharing Chickwiches with the big kids in the dining hall and play a mean video game.
Pforzheimer House
Before renovations to Pforzheimer--then known as North--House, former Masters J. Woodland and Hanna M. Hastings joked that their House was at the bottom of every student's list of housing choices. But a multi-million dollar renovation completed in the late 1980s created an airy, two-story dining room and dramatically improved student accommodations. The House hosts the Quad Sound Studios and Harvard-Radcliffe Television headquarters.
Student rooms are spacious, and some even feature kitchenettes. The renovation maintained the House's character as a former Radcliffe dormitory; door hooks hearken back to the days when doors had to be kept ajar when male visitors were present. The House's master is the director of the Museum of Comparative Zoology; don't be surprised if you find yourself in a conversation about Antarctica with the McCarthys.
Quincy House
The former home to Dean of the College Harry R. Lewis '68, Quincy is the biggest House on campus with more than 450 students. Cement-block "New" Qunicy was actually completed in 1959, and red-brick "Old" Quincy dates back only 20 years earlier. You can have a single all three years, but in Old Quincy it'll be a walk-through.
House Master and Dean of the Extension School Michael Shinagel told The Crimson last year that he views his role as "the skipper of a major cruise ship" and has been known to offer sushi at masters' open houses. Co-master Marjorie North teaches students public speaking and drama in informal seminars. The masters' penthouse residence has been cited as one of the most glorious apartments in Boston.
John Winthrop House
John Winthrop House can get lost among its tower-topped neighbors of Lowell and Eliot.
But with a checkerboard floor and elegant wood-paneling, the House dining hall is hard to miss--and gets rave reviews for its round-the-clock schedule--open for drinks and study space throughout the night.
An especially active and enthusiastic sophomore class, many say, has re-energized the House Committee. House event highlights include 'Thropstock, Winthrop's miniature version of Springfest, and Debauchery night, when people have been known to run through the House dining room sans clothing. Look for House Master Paul D. Hanson in the dining hall during the day--he enjoys taking his meals among students.