Song of the Graduates dates from the Spring of 1852, and was drawn for publication as a music cover, while Whistler was at West Point.

Sarony & Major lith., Song of the Graduates, Firth, Pond & Co., New York, 1852

The published cover reads 'UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY / SONG OF THE GRADUATES./ 1852./ MUSIC BY APELLES./ WORDS BY A CADET.' and below the decorative border, 'DESIGNED BY CADET WHISTLER.' The drawing was lithographed by Sarony & Major, printed in black ink on cream or ivory wove paper, and published by Firth, Pond & Co., New York, 1852.

Copies of the cover are in several collections, including the Art Institute of Chicago 91933.281), Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (1985.1161.17), Boston Museum of Fine Art (1991.829) and National Gallery of Art, DC (1948.11.307). The size of the sheet is about 13 1/16 x 10 1/16" (33.2 x 25.6 cm) and the image size 336 x 222 mm.

The drawing has not been located.

It is fully catalogued in MacDonald 1995 (cat. rais.) [more] (cat. no. 108).