Mary Jane Peck Harrell
Men’s Glee Club History, 1982- 1983

Biographical Note:
Mary Jane Harrell (Class of 1938) was an admiring bystander of the Men’s Glee Club because her father, David Peck, had been director of the club for many years.PROVENANCE: Donated to the Archives by Harrell’s family after her death in 1983.

Quantity: 6 boxes (3 linear feet)

Scope and Content Note:
Harrell undertook a major research project in order to write a comprehensive story of the Grinnell College Men’s Glee Club (1894-1958). In 1982 she started the project by contacting over 300 former members of the club and received numerous responses to her questionnaire. She was able to outline the history and write first drafts for two chapters before her death.

The collection is divided into three series: Correspondence & drafts of history; Research materials, notes, etc.; Alumni files arranged chronologically by graduation year.

Related Materials:
Murray D. Welch’s “History of the Grinnell College Men’s Glee Club Concert Tour to the Pacific Northwest, 1915-1916.” (A copy is included in this collection.)

Suggested citation: Mary Jane Harrell papers, Grinnell College Libraries, Department of Special Collections, Grinnell, Iowa. Ms.01.48.

Box Listing:
Series 1: Correspondence and Drafts
Box 1:
The Grinnell College Glee Club; a history (MJH copy)
History...
Written drafts and outline
Possible illustrations
Letter to Glee Club Alumni with questionnaire
Alumni response list
Various items copied and enclosed with questionnaires
Correspondence (general)
Alden, Henry. Correspondence and programs
Infelt, Fred. Correspondence and photo
Harrell’s correspondence with Anne Kintner
Ownbey, Ruth (LJP diary excerpts; quotations from postcards)
Correspondence re Scoular
Seeber, Ramonda Jo. Correspondence
Wentworth, Irv. Correspondence and photo
Yourd, John. Correspondence
Correspondence with Development Office re GCGC History Fund
Kintner’s correspondence re Harrell and Yourd

Series 2: Drafts, Notes
Box 2:
Harrell notes
List of singers by year
Personnel rosters
Newspaper articles
Articles, pictures about D.E. Peck
Photocopies of articles about the Glee Club
Contests and competitions: Eisteddfod
Grinnell songs
Home concert, etc. programs
Tour itineraries
Press notices and personal endorsements
From 40th Reunion Book. Class of 1899
Oratorio Society
Materials from Ruth P. Ownby
“History of G.C. Men’s Glee Club Concert Tour to the Pacific Northwest”
College publications
Photos for book
Photograph of Glee Club, 1934-35?
Pictures (photocopies)

Box 3
3 x 5" index cards of singers, arranged chronologically by graduation year

Series 3: Alumni Files (3 boxes)

Items Discarded:
Sheet music, duplicate items, photocopies of material in the Grinnell College Archives.

Processed by Leslie Czechowski, December 1998.