Alden remembers the very formal invitation he and his blockmates received as sophomores, inviting them to join "the queens of Adams House" for a formal garden tea party welcoming incoming sophomores. But when Alden and a few friends--all dressed in drag--arrived at the event, they were surprised to see that most everyone else was in black tie.

Still, Alden says Kiely--clad all in black, par usual-- came up to them, put his arm around Alden and welcomed the group into the House as if they were the most conventionally dressed people there.

"He was clearly happy to see a bunch of misfits," Alden says. "It was a nice first moment."

According to Thomas M. Lauderdale '92, who was a legend during his days at Adams for throwing the wildest parties around (including one bacchanalia that forced the closing of the House pool), Adams had the most "edge" of any House, precisely because the Kielys were willing to take in everyone--the socialists, beatniks and gays.

"The Kielys were unabashedly progressive, daring and supportive of an increasingly diverse, liberal and at times insane population of people," Lauderdale says. "It was an unspoken conspiracy between students and the House masters."

Lauderdale has taken his show on the road, now touring with his band Pink Martini in what he calls "Adams House on wheels."

Arts First

But among the most marginalized students on campus throughout the '70s, '80s--and some would argue '90s--were those involved in the arts at Harvard. Spending long hours in the lab, Kiely says, has always carried more prestige than, say, practicing piano for an equal amount of time each day.