On The Banks of The Old Raritan

"On the Banks of the Old Raritan" is the alma mater of Rutgers University. The lyrics and music were written by Howard N. Fuller, a member of the Rutgers College Class of 1874, in 1873. The mp3 of this can be downloaded here

Fuller was approached by fellow Rutgers College student Edwin E. Colburn, from the class of 1876, who was influential in organizing the Rutgers University Glee Club. Colburn organized the glee club in response to the first edition of the Carmina Collegensia published by Oliver Dison and Company, in Boston, in 1869, which was advertised as a complete collection of American college songs. Colburn deplored that Rutgers College had no official school song, and many students were surprised that Rutgers with several school songs was not included in the collection. Colburn asked Fuller to compose a tune and some lyrics that he may use for the Glee Club, in its first public concert to be performed later that evening in Metuchen, New Jersey. Fuller wrote the lyrics in two hours setting them to the tune of a popular melody On the Banks of the Old Dundee. According to a later interview with the Rutgers Alumni Monthly, Fuller stated he chose "On the Banks of the Old Dundee" as the song "immediately struck me that the air of that song had the right melody and the stirring and martial swing for an effective college song."

"On the Banks of the Old Raritan" and thirteen other Rutgers songs appeared in the second addition of the Carmina Collegensia, published in 1876.

It is often sung at university occasions, including performances of the Rutgers University Glee Club, and other campus musical groups, at convocation and commencement exercises, and especially at the conclusion of athletic events.