As with most major Harvard appointments, the University president ultimately decides who will be the master of each of the College's residential domains.

But for all practical purposes, the process of appointing House masters is primarily the Dean of the College's responsibility. Harry R. Lewis '68, who has helped select five masters in the last three years, narrows down the choices using a House-based advisory committee and in consultation with other College administrators.

The search this spring to fill the position being vacated by outgoing 26-year Adams House Master Robert J. Kiely '60 and Co-Master Jana Kiely--like Lowell and Leverett Houses last year and Cabot and Pforzheimer Houses the year before--followed the same general procedure.

Inevitably though, each search is influenced by many of the personalities involved--of the House, the students and tutors on the search committee, the candidates. Thus, while Lewis has composed a set of guidelines to direct the process each time a mastership becomes available, there are few hard and fast rules for evaluating master candidates. (P)Except for the fact that the candidates 'identities are kept a secret throughout the period of consideration, no two searches are the same.

Making a Move

The decision to step down from the helm of a House is rarely one that masters take lightly. As was the case with the Kielys, masters often make initial plans to leave a House, only to postpone the decision for a number of years.

But when a master does make public his or her intention to vacate their master's residence, it usually occurs in the fall--giving Lewis a window of a few months to begin composing an initial list of potentialcandidates.

Suggestions for candidates, Lewis says, comefrom a number of sources: students, outgoingmasters, Faculty members, other administrators,and, frequently, candidate pools from pastsearches.

Using these suggestions, Lewis contacts many ofthe candidates himself--after all, "you don't wantto appoint someone who they themselves is stilltentative about it," he says--and listens toconcerns from deans and senior Faculty members,some of whom request that a person not beconsidered in order to allow them to dedicate moretime to their College duties.

With the "long list" whittled down to a moremanageable size of about 10--Adams House considerednine candidates this year, Lowell and Leverettabout 12--the time for House involvement begins.

The College's selection guidelines dictate thatthe dean appoints an advisory committee, but inpractice, House have a good degree of flexibilityin determining the composition of the committee.

According to Lowell House Senior Tutor EugeneC. McAfree, Lowell's master search last yearinvolved three students and three Faculty membersassociated with the House's senior common room(SCR). McAfree says he allowed the House's juniorcommon room to elect its three studentrepresentatives, while he was responsible forchoosing the SCR participants.

In Adams House, on the other hand, Senior TutorDavid B. Fithian selected four House residents,two SCR representatives and two resident tutors.

In both cases, the senior tutors alsoparticipated--a role which McAfee says is vital, ifonly so a centralized person is making the callsto candidates and reserving the right rooms forinterviews.

He compares the role of the senior tutor in theprocess to the middle of an hourglass--thecandidate pool above, the House below, with thetutor as the point-person in between.

"You really do need one person doing it," hesays. "The pivotal role we play is purelylogistical."

But once on the committee, many describe theprocess as egalitarian--even a bondingexperience--where all members work together despitewide age and power differentials, putting in longhours to find the best master for the House.