The Brownell Club was a social club on campus formed in 1949 by five members of the sophomore class. The club served as a place for “independents,” or students not interested in fraternities, to partake in social activities. The club most likely was named after Trinity's first president, Thomas Church Brownell. As with many other clubs on campus, the Brownell Club had student-voted officer positions like President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer.

1955 Ivy group picture of the Brownell Club. Photo credit: Trinity College Archives

During its first year on campus, the total number of Brownell Club members grew to 80 men. After its official recognition by Trinity's Senate in 1949, the Brownell Club occupied a room in the Campus Cottage, a building once used as a dining hall and formerly called Stickney Hall. This building was located where McCook Hall currently stands and was demolished in 1962. The Brownell Club itself remained active until 1969.

A major component of the activities the club participated in were intramural sports matches played against Trinity's Greek life organizations and included wrestling and squash matches. When compared to fraternities academically, the average GPA of the Brownell Club was often higher than the average GPAs of Trinity's Greek Life organizations.

Trinity College in the Twentieth Century (2000) by Peter and Anne Knapp, pp. 47, 125.

The Trinity College Handbook, 1969-1970.

The Trinity Tripod, 02/25/1964.

The Ivy, 1955.

The Trinity Tripod, 02/15/1950.

The Trinity College Handbook, 1949-1950.

The Trinity Tripod, 03/30/1949.