# Marching and Chowder Society

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marching-and-chowder-society/134472>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 30, 2002, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marching-and-chowder-society/134472 "2002-10-30T01:20:53Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\
**Post date:** [December 28, 2010, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marching-and-chowder-society/134472/21 "2010-12-28T13:49:48Z")

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> [@Sigmagirl](#):
>
> But the true burning question is: Has **samclem** sobered up?

But now he only drinks in moderation! 😃

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**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\
**Post date:** [December 29, 2010, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marching-and-chowder-society/134472/22 "2010-12-29T00:40:47Z")

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> [@Sigmagirl](#):
>
> But the true burning question is: Has **samclem** sobered up?

> [@Polycarp](#):
>
> But now he only drinks in moderation! 😃 \*

Even though 50+ dopers reported your \*post and suggested you be banned for that one, I’ll spare your life since it’s the Season. 😛

To answer the first question–nope, I’m drinking wine right now, just not trying to multi-task.

While I haven’t had much time to revisit the origins, we certainly have many more tools(online databases +Google Books) than we used to. I’m off Friday. I see a project ahead.

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**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\
**Post date:** [December 29, 2010, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marching-and-chowder-society/134472/23 "2010-12-29T01:56:00Z")

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Also from a 1939 Federal Writers Project “Guide to New York City”

> [@](#):
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> The HOTEL ALGONQUIN, associated with the theatrical and literary life of the city, is east of Sixth Avenue on Forty-fourth Street. Under the management of Frank Case this French Renaissance structure has served as headquarters for the Round Table, the Thanatopsis and Literary Inside Straight Clubs, and the Forty- fourth Street Chowder and Marching Club.

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**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\
**Post date:** [December 29, 2010, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marching-and-chowder-society/134472/24 "2010-12-29T02:10:45Z")

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For a quick start, here’s one from 1935:

Boston and the Boston legend by Lucius Morris Beebe, Edward Howard Suydam - 1935

> [@](#):
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> Professor John Livingston Lowes of Harvard has been no stranger to its board, and at one time a mysterious undergraduate organization known as the Michael Mullins Chowder and Marching Society put in a not too reticent appearance, …

And Technology review: Volume 37  
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Association of Class Secretaries, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Alumni Association, MIT Alumni/ae Association - 1934

> [@](#):
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> He was discovered by Fales and your Secretary, and they desired to initiate him to the Kennebunk Beach Chowder and Marching Club.

That appears to be the earliest of that exact phrase, but it becomes fairly common in the late 1930s.

What seems apparant is that the wording is a later humorous retelling of the actual name.

See [Amherst graduates’ quarterly, Volume 17, 1928](http://books.google.com/books?id=EcAmAQAAIAAJ&q=%22Marching+club+and+Chowder+Society%22&dq=%22Marching+club+and+Chowder+Society%22&hl=en&ei=PZYaTcmwL8T7lwf_xqjACw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CCcQ6AEwAQ)

> [@](#):
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> The Young Mens Marching Club and Chowder Society of the class of 1908 gathered around the chowder bowl at the Amherst Club Stadium on Friday, September 30, 1927.

Merchandising week: Volume 18 - Page 124 1917 - Full view

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> ‘Twas th’ next mornin’ afther a hard night with th’ Killarney Chowder an’ Marching Club av th’ First Ward.

And the ur-site for now:

Fifth year record, class of 1906, Princeton university - Page 327  
Princeton University. Class of 1906 - 1912 - 357 pages - Full view

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> 1906 CHOWDER AND MARCHING CLUB FIRST GRAND ANNUAL SUMMER CONGRESS OF SPORTS Outdoor Elixir!

Have fun doing some deeper research.

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