Octals History

The College's musical tradition dates back to at least 1858 when the Medal of Honor winner and author, alumni Horatio Collins King wrote the Alma Mater, Noble Dickinsonia. The tradition of men's singing at Dickinson can be traced to at least 1868, with the publication of the first yearbook, The Microcosm, in the spring of that year. From then on, Dickinson was graced with the voices of male a cappella groups for an uninterrupted period of over seventy-five years.

In 1937 the College published a book titled Songs of Dickinson, which contains over seventy works from Dickinson's past. Following a rapid disappearance during the years of World War II, men's singing returned to campus in 1952 with the founding of a new Glee Club, which the following year made a record of college songs. They recorded another record in 1954 and lasted until the 1970s. For twenty years the limestone walls were devoid of student-run singing, until 1996 when The Octals were founded by eight intrepid young musicians.

Now sixteen years old, The Octals are Dickinson's only all-male a cappella group, are recognized as the oldest a cappella group on campus, and proudly carry on the torch of men's singing at the College. Every other year, The Octals gather with former members of the Glee Club at Alumni Weekend to cement this tradition and create new ones.

Alex Toole '14	Joe Stahley '13