Rensselaer’s Glee Club was one of the longest-lived student organizations on campus. Preceded by class glee clubs, an Institute-wide organization was established in 1874. The all-male singing group continued until it disbanded around 1983. The club enjoyed particular success during the mid-20th century, especially under the direction of Professor Joel Dolven. From the late 1940s until his retirement in 1970, the group performed widely, both on campus and off, often with the RPI orchestra and/or musicians from other colleges. The Glee Club also performed on radio broadcasts and in competitions, taking first place at both a Welsh eisteddfod (Utica, 1949) and the Harvest Song Festival (Carnegie Hall, 1950). The club’s annual Campus Carols performances were popular among both students and local townspeople, drawing large crowds to the festively decorated Houston Field House. The group also produced several LP albums, which were digitized by alumnus Charles Kelly in 2005.

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