To celebrate the first Juneteenth federal holiday in the U.S.A., the page of time is turned back to 6 May 2012, when the Dartmouth College Glee Club sung the spiritual, “Deep River,” at their Spring Concert in Rollins Chapel, Dartmouth College, 29 College Street, Hanover, New Hampshire, U.S.A. on that day at 2 p.m. for the First Year Family Weekend.
At this concert, the club was directed by Louis G. Burkot, M.M.. Mr. Burkot is now Director Emeritus. He retired from leading the club in June 2018. The Dartmouth College Glee Club consists of 50-60 dedicated singers.
Among those members present at this concert were Nathan Graves, Michelle Shankar, Evan Ross, Amber Dewey, Diana Pechter, Renee Gauthier, Madison Rezaei, Elizabeth Faiella, Andrew Bloomgarden, Nicolas Chuaqui, Monte Reed, Ethan Weinberg, Aryeh Drager, Sterling Beard, Alexander Engler, Austin Greenfield, Nicholas Knezek, and Jack Litherland.
This year, the club celebrates their 149th year of existence.
The song was published in 1876, on page 230 in the first edition of, “The Story of the Jubilee Singers: With Their Songs,” by J. B. T. Marsh. The lyrics are as follows:
Deep river, my home is over Jordan.
Deep river, Lord, I want to cross over into campground.
Oh, don't you want to go to that Gospel-feast?
That Promised Land, where all is peace?
In regard to Rollins Chapel:
Edward Ashton Rollins graduated from Dartmouth College with honors in 1851. He became an attorney, civil servant, and banker. He served as Speaker of the New Hampshire House of Representatives. Mr. Rollins served as the 4th Commissioner of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service. He served as president of a life insurance company and a bank. Mr. Rollins gave Dartmouth College funds to build the chapel for the express purpose that it serve as a Christian place of worship. He attended the first Morning Prayer Service ever held there in 1885. Five days later Mr. Rollins died, and he was honored at the chapel's first memorial service.
Rollins Chapel has several memorial windows.
The President Eleazar Wheelock window depicts Saint John the Baptist.
The President Francis Brown window depicts Saint John the Apostle.
The President Daniel Dana window depicts Saint Andrew the Apostle.
The President Bennet Tyler window depicts Saint Paul the Apostle.
There are 2 side transept windows made by Donald MacDonald of Boston. One depicts the Holy Forefather, Prophet, Saint, Seer, and Lawgiver Moses, and the other, Saint James the Apostle.