Dilley was an assistant director with The University of Pennsylvania Glee Club. The piece was first performed by his group at its annual concert at the Academy of Music in 1895.[1] For many years, the song was performed at Franklin Field, when the football team suffered a loss. Today, the song is still performed at University functions and sporting events by The University of Pennsylvania Band and The University of Pennsylvania Glee Club.
Aside from becoming the alma mater of the University of Pennsylvania, the song also serves as the official song of Lackawanna County. Also, until 1990, the song served as the official song for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
^ abGeorge Nitzsche - Pennsylvania in Song and Music: Origin of Some of the Classics - Franklin Field Illustrated Volume 25: Number 3 October 19th 1940
^Songs of the University of Pennsylvania: Brought under one cover by William Otto Miller '04. Fourth edition revised by the Musical Club and published by the Houston Club of the University of Pennsylvania. The Press of the University of Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: 1923.
Further reading
Cheney, Edward Potts. History of the University of Pennsylvania, 1740-1940. (1940.)
George Nitzsche - Pennsylvania in Song and Music: Origin of Some of the Classics - Franklin Field Illustrated Volume 25: Number 3 October 19, 1940