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Collection Overview
Title: Peter J Griffin Papers, 1910-2011
ID: 12/9/29
Primary Creator: Griffin, Peter J. (1961)
Other Creators: Isbell, Andrew "Andy" Edward, Smith, Gary E. (1942-)
Extent: 8.25 cubic feet
Arrangement: The collection is arranged into seven series: Series 1, Drill Charts; Series 2, Correspondence and Administrative Records; Series 3, Audio and Visual Records; Series 4, Epherma; Series 5, Andy Isbell Papers; Series 6, Gary Smith Papers; and Series 7) Mary E. Mell Sheet Music Collection. Materials are arranged in alphabetical and chronological order.
Date Acquired: 05/11/2011. More info below under Accruals.
Subjects: Alumni, Audio-Visual Material, Band, Football, Band Department, Bands, Faculty, Football, Marching bands, Marching Illini, Music, School of, Music Educators National Conference, Music teachers, Photographs, Radio
Formats/Genres: Music instruction, Papers
Languages: English
Scope and Contents of the Materials
Consists of Marching Illini Drill Charts, correspondence, audio-visual recordings, photographs, and newspaper clippings documenting Dr. Griffin's time as Assistant Director of Bands (1994-2011) and Director of the Marching Illini (2006-2011) at the University of Illinois. Of particular note is the "Second Band" Presentation that was given in 2006 at the Midwest clinic, the MENC convention in 2008, and the CBDNA convention in 2009. This collection also contains records from Andy Isbell, a trumpeter in Marching Illini from 1983 to 1987 and voice of the Marching Illini from 1996 to 2018, and Gary Smith, director of the Marching Illini from 1976 to 1997.
Biographical Note
Dr. Peter Griffin (1961- ) grew up in Evergreen Park, Illinois. His mother played piano and father played flute in Irish sessions. He joined band on baritone and trombone in 5th grade and later graduated from Evergreen Park High School, serving as drum major. He attended the University of Illinois, earning a bachelors of music education in 1983. As an undergraduate, he performed in the British brass band and the marching band, serving as a section leader for three years. Following his graduation, he taught grades 5-12 in Fowler, Colorado for three years. In 1987, he earned his masters degree in music education from the University of Illinois. Following this, he taught at Mitchell High School in Colorado Springs. While teaching in Colorado he also performed with Rocky Mountain Brassworks (Denver), the Pueblo Symphony Orchestra, and the Pueblo Municipal Band. He started a doctoral degree in music education in 1990. After taking a break to join the faculty of the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1992, he graduated with his DMA in 2004. At Wisconsin, Dr. Griffin conducted one of its concert bands, was Assistant Director of the marching and Varsity bands, and taught in the School of Music.
Griffin became Assistant Director of Bands at Illinois in 1994. In addition to his conducting responsibilities at the University of Illinois, Dr. Griffin taught conducting and marching band procedures in the School of Music. He was the conductor of the Illini Marching Band Festival and the Illinois Superstate Concert Band Festival from 1994-2006. He also served as head clinician and co-director of the Smith-Walbridge Drum Major Clinics from 1993-2005, and has served as a clinician, guest conductor, and adjudicator across the state of Illinois and throughout the United States. Dr. Griffin served as head clinician of the University of New Hampshire Marching Band Clinic from 1999-2002, was co -producer/director of the pre-game and halftime shows at the 1998 and 2000 Peach Bowl in Atlanta, Georgia. Griffin has published articles in The Instrumentalist Magazine and the National Band Association Journal. In January 2006 he presented a clinic at the Illinois Music Education Association state convention in Peoria, and in December 2006 the Midwest Clinic in Chicago. In January 2008 he directed the Marching Illini in performances at the Rose Bowl Parade and Rose Bowl, and in March 2008 the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Dublin, Ireland. In April 2008 he presented a clinic at the Music Educators National Conference Biennial Convention in Milwaukee, and in March 2009 at the College Band Directors National Association national convention in Austin, TX.
In 2011, Griffin became the Chair of the Music Department at Elmhurst College in Elhurst, Illinois. As chair, he oversaw the renovation of the music building on the Elmhurst campus. He also taught conducting and marching band procedures. He retired from Elmhurst College in 2022.
Subject/Index Terms
Administrative Information
Repository:
The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
Accruals:
Mary E. Mell sheet music collection donated September 26, 2025.
Acquisition Source:
Peter J. Griffin
Acquisition Method:
Gift
Box and Folder Listing
Browse by Series:
[
Series 1: Drill Charts, 1985-2010],
[Series 2: Correspondence and Administrative Records, 1986-2011],
[
Series 3: Audio and Visual Records, 1952-2010],
[
Series 4: Ephemera],
[
Series 5: Andy Isbell Papers, Drill Charts, and Footnotes, 1978-1987],
[
Series 6: Gary Smith Papers, Newspaper Clippings, and Photographs, 1910-1997],
[
Series 7: Mary E. Mell Sheet Music Collection, 1911-1921],
[
All]
- Series 2: Correspondence and Administrative Records, 1986-2011
- Box 2
- Folder 3: Bibliographies, 1984, 1986
- Folder 4: Reference Material, 1985, 1987, 1992
- Folder 5: Quad Concert Programs, 1989-1991, 1994
- Folder 6: Conducting Letters - Kohut, MUS 142 [PARTLY RESTRICTED until 2070], 1990-1991
- Folder 7: Marching Illini, 1990, 1994-1999, 2005-2006 2009
- MI Band Festival Program, Indianan Roadtrip Handbook, Invoice, Iowa Trip Handbook, St. Louis Roadtrip Handbook, schedule, press guide, Section Leader and TA Camp Handbook, notes, invoice
- Folder 8: Brass Band, 1993-1995, 2001-2007
- fingering charts, notes on arranging for brass band and scoring, articles on brass band, range of instruments, roster, programs
- Folder 9: Liberty Bowl, 1994
- itinerary, invoices
- Folder 10: ABA University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, 1995
- concert program, itinerary, room list
- Folder 11: Ireland Trip, 1995
- itinerary, flight information
- Folder 12: MI Section Leaders, 1995-1997, 2002
- notes, schedule, handbooks
- Folder 13: Letters, 1995-2007
- Thank you letters/notes/emails
- Folder 14: Band Camp, Days 1-7, 1996-2000
- notes, schedule, handbooks, drill charts
- Folder 15: Brass Band Tours, 1996-2006
- programs, ads, Chicagoland Invitational Concert Band Festival, members of band, postcard, itineraries, newspaper (oversized)
- Folder 16: Symphonic Band Tour, England, 1997
- Concert orders, excuse letter, ensemble members, itinerary, notes
- Folder 17: David Stanhope Interview, 20 October 1998
- audio cassette and 2 3.5 inch floppy disks, transcript, interview questions, curriculum vitae 1998
- Folder 18: Micron PC.com Bowl, 1999
- notes, program, footnotes, itinerary, schedule, operations manual, newsletter, pamphlet, trip manual
- Folder 19: MI Press on Micron PC.com Bowl, 1999
- newspaper clippings (originals and photocopies)
- Folder 20: The University of Illinois Orange and Blues Band Directors Manual, ca. 2000
- Folder 21: London Tattoo, 2001
- schedule, map, drill charts, program
- Folder 22: England Trip, 2001
- handbook, drill charts, correspondence
- Folder 23: Purdue Trip, 2001
- directions, map, drill charts, information sheet, correspondence
- Folder 24: Alumni Band, 2001-2005
- correspondence (mostly Thomas Caneva and Joe Rank), meeting minutes/agenda, Illinois legacy cd project, bylaws, notes on Homecoming (2003), newsletter, notes, alumni band demographics, alumni list
- Folder 25: Sugar Bowl, 2002
- patch, guidebook, itinerary, flight plans, notes, invoice, postcard
- Folder 26: 2002-2003 School Year Engagements, 2002-2003
- seating chart, correspondence, itinerary, flight info, hotel info, contracts, programs
- Folder 27: Orchestra Hall Chicago, 31 March 2005
- program, bus list, itinerary, circle of honor, receipt of dinner
- Folder 28: Association of Concert Bands National Convention, Quincey Il, 2005
- programs, magazine
- Folder 29: Sunday with Veterans, 2005
- speech, drum major manual, itinerary, orientation sheet, drill charts
- Folder 30: Commencement, 2005-2006
- Commencement Program and Rules/Procedures
- Folder 31: Assembly Hall Concerts, 2005-2007
- notes, drill charts, correspondence, forms, script, program
- Folder 32: IMEA, 2006
- Paper/Speech, research notes, how to research, notes, correspondence, memo - The University of Illinois Band: A Second Look at the First 40 Years
- Folder 33: University of Illinois Wind Symphony, Carnegie Hall, 2006
- programs, tickets, advertisements, itineraries, correspondence, liability paper, invoices, review
- Folder 34: One Hundred Years of Illinois Loyalty Concert, 3 March 2006
- Script, research articles/notes, program, photocopied music, newspaper articles, thank you notes
- Folder 35: MI Teach Syllabus, 2006
- daily schedule, repertoire list, drill chart
- Folder 36: MI 2006, 2006-2007
- correspondence, handbook, schedules, drill charts, squad numbers, drumline technique guide, notes, music
- Folder 37: Midwest, 2006-2007
- Programs, correspondence, "The Second Band" presentation, The Instrumentalist
- Box 3
- Folder 1: Big Ten Band Directors Association Membership Directory, 1992-1999
- Folder 2: Big Ten Band Directors Association Membership Directory, 1999-2006
- Folder 3: Correspondence, 2006-2010
- Folder 4: MI 2007, 2007
- notes, show ideas, section leader camp guide, list of repertoire from each season (96-05), drill charts, demographics sheet, forms, correspondence
- Folder 5: Indiana Trip, 2007
- notes, itinerary, lists, handbook for trip, correspondence
- Folder 6: Drum Major Tryouts, 2007
- scoring, critique sheet, audition req
- Folder 7: Midwest, 2007
- Wind Symphony Program
- Folder 8: St. Louis Trip, 2007-2010
- Itinerary, correspondence, wristband, schedule, halftime and pregame, seating chart
- Folder 9: MENC Milwaukee, 2006, 2008
- "The Second Band Presentation," correspondence, notes, program
- Folder 10: 94th Rose Bowl University Participation Manual, 2008
- Folder 11: Contents from Leather Rose Bowl Folder sleeve, ca. 2008
- business cards and brochures
- Folder 12: Rose Bowl Parade and Game Information, 2008
- itinerary, Bowl Bound newsletter, staff trip book, trip book, parade info, directors guide from rose bowl, release/waiver/insurance guide
- Folder 13: Rose Bowl Travel/Housing Transfers, 2008
- travel arrangements, invoices, notes
- Folder 14: Rose Bowl Notes, 2008
- notes, correspondence, invoices
- Folder 15: Rose Bowl Rehearsal Information, 2008
- drill charts, music, notes
- Folder 16: Rose Bowl non-game day events, 2008
- correspondence and notes
- Folder 17: Rose Bowl Correspondence, 2008
- thank you notes/emails, correspondence
- Folder 18: Ireland, 2008
- correspondence, itineraries, lists, advertisements
- Folder 19: Section Leader and Band Camp, 2009
- daily rehearsal schedules
- Folder 20: Assembly Hall, 2009
- program, script, notes
- Folder 21: CBDNA - Austin, TX, 2009
- "The Second Band Presentation", correspondence
- Folder 22: Chicago Trip, 2009
- insurance liability invoice, correspondence, program order, notes, bus list, itinerary, host family list, bus invoice, per diem sign out, performance contract
- Folder 23: Alumni Band, 2009
- correspondence, logistics, minutes, newsletter, notes
- Folder 24: MI Formal, 2009-2010
- speech, program, notes
- Folder 25: Section Leader Interviews, 2010
- Interview and final list
- Folder 26: Illinois Superstate Concert Band Festival, 2010
- Program, notes, guide
- Folder 27: University of Illinois versus Northwestern, Wrigley Field, 2010
- Itinerary, list, seating arrangement, bus list, invoice, correspondence, notes
- Folder 28: Texas Bowl, Houston, TX, 2010
- Postcard, patch, wristbands, bowl manual, correspondence, Deep in the Heart of Texas Score, Itinerary, drill charts, checklists, band list, contracts, insurance forms, notes room list
- Folder 29: Curriculum/Scheduling, 2010-2011
- correspondence, bands schedule/guidelines
- Folder 30: IMEA Presentation, 2011
- IMEA program, mag, presentation, presentation notes
- Folder 31: Champaign Legacy Talk, undated
- Folder 32: Bands History, University of Illinois, undated
- correspondence, obituary, published articles, programs
- Folder 33: MI History, 1 of 2, undated
- notes
- Folder 34: MI History, 2 of 2, undated
- Folder 35: MI, undated
- photocopied articles, programs, notes
- Box 8 OVERSIZE
- Folder 1: Press on British Brass Band Tours, 6 April 2006
- Folder 2: Press on U of I Wind Symphony, 23 February 2006
- Folder 3: Marching Illini Press on MicronPC.com Bowl, 1999
- Folder 4: 100 Years of Illinois Loyalty Concert, 2 March 2006
- Press
Browse by Series:
[
Series 1: Drill Charts, 1985-2010],
[Series 2: Correspondence and Administrative Records, 1986-2011],
[
Series 3: Audio and Visual Records, 1952-2010],
[
Series 4: Ephemera],
[
Series 5: Andy Isbell Papers, Drill Charts, and Footnotes, 1978-1987],
[
Series 6: Gary Smith Papers, Newspaper Clippings, and Photographs, 1910-1997],
[
Series 7: Mary E. Mell Sheet Music Collection, 1911-1921],
[
All]
Holdings 
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