.
Collection Overview
Title: American School Band Directors Association Records, 1917-2021
ID: 12/9/178
Primary Creator: American School Band Directors Association (1953-)
Extent: 23.25 cubic feet
Arrangement:
Materials are arranged into seven series, which are as follows: Series 1) Administrative Records, Series 2) Presidents' Records, Series 3) Convention and Festival Records, Series 4) Special Projects, Series 5) Awards, Series 6) Ephemera, Series 7) Past President's Personal Papers.
Series 1) Administrative Records is arranged into four subseries, which are: Sub-Series 1) Founding Documents, Sub-Series 2) Financial Reports, Sub-Series 3) General Correspondence, and Sub-Series 4) Special Committee Correspondence and Meeting Minutes. Materials within these subseries are arranged chronologically.
Series 2) Presidents' Records is arranged chronologically by president and in the original order each president's files were maintained.
Series 3) Convention and Festival Records is arranged into five sub-series, which are: Sub-Series 1) Meeting Minutes, Directories, and Handbooks, Sub-Series 2) Committee Reports and Planning, Sub-Series 3) Programs, Sub-Series 4) Photographs and Audio Recordings, Sub-Series 5) Festivals. Sub-series 1-3 and 5 are arranged chronologically, sub-series 4 is arranged alphabetically.
Series 4) Special Projects is arranged into three sub-series, which are: Sub-Series 1) Research Committee Reports and Correspondence, Sub-Series 2) ASBDA Curriculum Guides, and Sub-Series 3) Commissioned Publications and Scores. All sub-series are arranged chronologically.
Series 5) Awards is arranged alphabetically by award and chronologically therein.
Series 6) Ephemera is unarranged.
Series 7) Past Presidents' Personal Papers is arranged into four sub-series, which are: Sub-Series 1) Dale C. Harris Personal Papers, Sub-Series 2) Ross Leeper Personal Papers, Sub-Series 3) Edgar Rooker Personal Papers, and Sub-Series 4) Jack Pierson Personal Collection. All four sub-series are arranged chronologically.
Date Acquired: 03/11/2023. More info below under Accruals.
Subjects: Band Clinics, Band Concerts, Bands, Bands (Music), Illinois School Band Association, Music--Societies, etc. -- United States
Languages: English
Scope and Contents of the Materials
Consists of meeting minutes, correspondence, organization constitution, programs, financial reports, photographs, awards, audio recordings, committee reports, and presidents' files documenting the founding and administrative management of the ASBDA between 1953 and 2012.
Biographical Note
The American School Band Directors Association, or ASBDA, is a professional association of band directors teaching at the elementary- or secondary-school level. Established in 1953, its objectives were to represent school band directors in the academic and business communities; to foster the exchange of ideas and methods that will advance the standards of musical and educational achievement; to stress the importance of the school band in the educational process and establish bands as a basic course in the school curriculum; to maintain a program for the improvement of school bands through research and experimentation; and to cooperate with existing associations that share the aim of promoting the band as a worthwhile medium of musical expression. Membership (by invitation) was and is open to active school band directors with a minimum of five years’ teaching experience who command the respect of their colleagues for the standard of performance and musicianship achieved by their bands.
The organization was initially led by Dale C. Harris, who was both a founding member and the organization's first president. In addition to his duties as president, Harris was a long-time band director at Pontiac High School in the Detroit suburb of Pontiac, Michigan. Harris had previously served as the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association and wished to develop a national organization devoted to elementary and secondary school band directors. At Harris's behest, fifty-nine delegates, including Edwin Franko Goldman and A. Austin Harding, met in Cedar Rapids, IA with the goal of establishing both an organization for school band directors and developing a comprehensive program for members to develop robust and successful programs. The first Executive Board of the ASBDA consisted of Harris (President); Pat Arsers (Vice President); R. Cedric Anderson (Secretary); George Patrick (treasurer); and John Farinacci, Dean L. Harrington, and H. L. Lidstrom (members at large). At this meeting, the organization also determined that The School Musician should become the official magazine of the organization.
In 1962, the organization published its first course of study for school band directors; this was followed in 1966 byThe Curriculum Guide, a step-by-step guide to teaching band that was given to new members or available for purchase for non-members. This book, officially published in 1973, included a revised publication in 1997. The ASBDA published on numerous research topics that were guided by the practical knowledge learned by master band directors.
In 1964, the organization presented its first award, the Edwin Franko Goldman Award to Capt. James Harper. The award was intended to serve as a token of appreciation for outstanding personal contributions to the school band movement. This award was given to several non-ASBDA recipients including Frank Simon, William D. Revelli, Karl King, Glenn Cliff Bainum, Mark Hindsley, Clarence Sawhill, and Frank Battisti. The association began presenting the A. Austin Harding Award in 1980 to individuals for valuable and dedicated service to the bands of America. The first recipient of this award was Leonard Falcone and other recipients include: Frederick Fennell, Donald Hunsberger, Paul E. Bierley, Alfred Reed, and Frank Tichelli. Additional past and present awards offered by the organization include the Carl Fischer Award, the Stanbury Award for young band directors, and the Al and Gladys Wright Lifetime Service to Bands Award.
In 1973, the ASBDA received a sizeable donation from H.B. Volkwein, which has allowed the organization to function through the 2000s. The organization's finances were overseen by longtime member, president, and treasurer Ross Leeper, who was a core founder of the ASBDA Education Foundation in 1987. In addition to securing sources of funding for the organization's long-term future, the foundation has funded projects that include an original score by James Curnow and a CD reissue of the Pontiac High School Silver Anniversary Concert, featuring Dale C. Harris, Edwin Franko Goldman, and William D. Revelli among others.
In 1994, the organization was cited as an one of the few professional music organizations that quickly adopted Title IX changes. In its innagural year, the organization did not accept any female directors. Although only two women were invited to join the ASBDA in the 1950s, this number quickly increased. By 1992, 141 of the organization's 1351 members were female. Carol Snook, who served as the organization's secretary in 1986, was the first woman elected to an executive position. Marriane Sandstrom was elected as the first female president in 1995. Organizational records suggest that gender equality is increasing in the organization.
Since its founding, the organization has held an annual conference in various US cities. Several conference sites include cities in Illinois, including Urbana (2nd conference), Joliet (6th conference), Evanston (36th conference), and Lisle (46th conference). In 2009, the organization changed its conference structure, so national conventions would meet biannually with regional conferences occuring in the off-years. The ASBDA continues to grow and expand as an organization and its biannual conference remains the principal vehicle for change within the organization.
Subject/Index Terms
Administrative Information
Repository:
The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
Accruals:
An additional six cubic feet of personal papers belonging to Ross Leeper and Dale C. Harris were donated by Jim Feltz on June 16, 2023.
Acquisition Source:
Linda Fox-Miller, ASBDA Executive Director
Acquisition Method:
Gift
Box and Folder Listing
Browse by Series:
[Series 1: Administrative Records, 1948-2018],
[
Series 2: Presidents' Records, 1954-2015],
[
Series 3: Convention and Festival Records, 1953-2018],
[
Series 4: Special Projects, 1957-2013],
[
Series 5: Awards, 1956-2014],
[
Series 6: Ephemera, 1997-2010],
[
Series 7: Past Presidents' Personal Papers, 1917-2021],
[
All]
- Series 1: Administrative Records, 1948-2018
- Consists of founding documents, constitution, teasurer reports, and committee correspondence and reports. Materials are arranged into four subseries: 1) Founding Documents, 2) Financial Reports, 3) General Correspondence, and 4) Special Committee Correspondence and Minutes.
- Sub-Series 1: Founding documents, Constitution, Officer Duties, Presidential Procedures, 1948-2014
- Consists of founding documents, constitution, and duties lists. Materials are arranged chronologically.
- Box 1
- Folder 1: Pre-Organization Correspondence, 1952-1953
- Folder 2: Pre-Organization Correspondence - Goldmann and Santelmann Letters, 1953
- Folder 3: Pre-Organization Correspondence - Prior to Cedar Rapids Convention, ca. 1953
- Folder 4: Correspondence Re: Organization of An American School Band Directors Assn,, May 27, 1953
- Folder 5: Charter Meeting, Cedar Rapids, Nov. 21-22, 1953
- Folder 6: Constitution Rough Draft and Working Copy with Additions and Deletions, Nov. 21-22, 1953
- Folder 7: Organizing Convention - Agenda, Nov. 21-22, 1953
- Folder 8: Organizing Convention - List of Delegates by State, Cedar Rapids, Nov. 21-22, 1953
- Folder 9: Official Constitution and By-Laws Adopted by Charter Members, 1953
- Folder 10: Telegram - Forrest L. McAllister to Editor, Detroit News, 1953
- Folder 11: Post Convention - Bulletin, Dec. 14, 1953
- Folder 12: ASBDA Minutes, Nov. 20, 1953-1958
- Folder 13: ASBDA Drop-Outs (1 of 3), 1954-1961
- Folder 14: ASBDA Drop-Outs (2 of 3), 1954-1957
- Folder 15: ASBDA Drop-Outs (3 of 3), 1954-1958
- Folder 16: Blank Certificates and Correspondence about Designs, 1955-1956
- Folder 17: Articles of Incorporation, Dec. 10, 1959
- Folder 18: Copyrights, 1959-1969
- Folder 19: Attendance Review Board, 1959-1972
- Folder 20: State Propcedures, 1959-1974
- Folder 21: ASBDA Officers Duties, ca. 1960
- Folder 22: Presidential Procedures in Sequence, 1963
- Folder 23: Sergeant at Arms, 1966-1967
- Folder 24: Constitution Revision Committee Correspondence and Proposals, 1967
- Folder 25: History of ASBDA, A, 2nd Edition; Dale C. Harris, ca. 1972-1983
- Folder 26: ASBDA Archives Reports, 1984-2014
- Folder 27: Certificate of Merit (Blank), ca. 1990-2010
- Folder 28: Constitutional Review Committee Plans and Slide Presentation, 2006
- Folder 29: ASBDA Handbook Revised, 2008
- Folder 30: Office Manager Report, 2008
- Box 19
- Folder 1: Convention Historical Interest - Al Galladora and Ralph Herman News Articles, 1948-1954
- Folder 2: Proposed Articles of Incorporation, 1954-1959
- Folder 3: Application of Trademark, 1960-1963
- Folder 4: Great Seal of ASBDA and Patent Office Registration, 1961-1963
- Folder 5: Constitution Revision Committee Proposed Revised DRAFTS, 1966
- Sub-Series 2: Financial Reports, 1953-2012
- Consists of financial reports. Materials are arranged chronologically.
- Box 1
- Folder 31: Financial Reports, 1953
- Folder 32: Financial Reports, 1954
- Folder 33: Financial Reports, 1957
- Folder 34: Financial Reports, 1958
- Folder 35: Financial Reports - Seymour Okun, Treasurer, 1959
- Folder 36: Financial Reports, 1960
- Folder 37: Financial Reports, 1963
- Folder 38: Financial Reports, 1964-1967
- Folder 39: Financial Reports, 1968
- Folder 40: Financial Reports, 1969
- Folder 41: Financial Records (1 of 2), 1972
- Folder 42: Financial Reports (2 of 2), 1972
- Box 2
- Folder 1: Financial Reports (1 of 2), 1973
- Folder 2: Financial Reports (2 of 2), 1973
- Folder 3: Financial Reports, 1975-1976
- Folder 4: Figuring Book, 1976
- Folder 5: Financial Reports, 1976
- Folder 6: Vouchers 101-188 First Report - Atlantic City, 1976
- Folder 7: Vouchers 189-264 - Second Report, 1976-1977
- Folder 8: Financial Reports, 1977
- Folder 9: Disbursements - Checking, 1978
- Folder 10: Financial Reports, 1978
- Folder 11: Treasurer's Records, 1979
- Folder 12: Vouchers 1001-1119, 1979
- Folder 13: Vouchers #1120-1185, 1979
- Folder 14: Expense Account Receipts - Office of the President, 1979
- Folder 15: Finances - President's Account, 1979
- Folder 16: Financial Reports, 1979
- Folder 17: Treasurer Receipt Forms - Robert W. Bouwa, 1979
- Folder 18: American National Bank Statements, 1979-1980
- Folder 19: Bank Savings Books, 1979-1980
- Folder 20: Financial Reports, 1979-1985
- Folder 21: Expense Vouchers - President's Copies, 1980
- Folder 22: Treasurer Reports - Ray Haney - Monthly Financial Statements, 1986-1987
- Folder 23: Treasurer Reports, 1981-1991
- Box 3
- Folder 1: Treasurer Records - William J. Svec, Jr. (1 of 3), 1991-1992
- Folder 2: Treasurer Records - William J. Svec, Jr. (2 of 3), 1991-1992
- Folder 3: Treasurer Records - William J. Svec, Jr. (3 of 3), 1991-1992
- Folder 4: Financial Report, 2011-2012
- Box 19
- Folder 6: Financial Reports, 1954
- Folder 7: Financial Reports, 1955
- Folder 8: Financial Reports, 1956-1957
- Folder 9: Financial Reports, 1959
- Folder 10: Financial Reports, 1961
- Folder 11: Financial Reports, 1962
- Folder 12: Financial Reports, 1970
- Folder 13: Financial Reports, 1971
- Box 20
- Folder 1: Treasurer Records, 1986-1988
- Sub-Series 3: General Correspondence, 1953-2009
- Consists of correspondence of various committees, executive board members, and general members. Materials are arranged chronologically.
- Box 3
- Folder 5: Correspondence, 1953
- Folder 6: ASBDA Canadian Correspondence, 1953-1957
- Folder 7: Early and Organizational Correspondence - E, 1953-1959
- Folder 8: Early and Organizational Correspondence - F, 1954-1959
- Folder 9: Early and Organizational Correspondence - G, 1954-1956
- Folder 10: Early and Organizational Correspondence - H, 1953-1959
- Folder 11: Early and Organizational Correspondence - I, 1954
- Folder 12: Early and Organizational Correspondence - J, 1953-1959
- Folder 13: Early and Organizational Correspondence - K, 1954-1956
- Folder 14: Early and Organizational Correspondence - L, 1953-1959
- Folder 15: Early and Organizational Correspondence - M, 1953-1959
- Folder 16: Early and Organizational Correspondence - Mc, 1953-1959
- Folder 17: Early and Organizational Correspondence - N, 1953-1959
- Folder 18: Early and Organizational Correspondence - O, 1954-1959
- Folder 19: Early and Organizational Correspondence - P, 1954-1959
- Folder 20: Early and Organizational Correspondence - R, 1954-1960
- Folder 21: Early and Organizational Correspondence - S, 1954-1956
- Folder 22: Early and Organizational Correspondence - T, 1954-1959
- Folder 23: Early and Organizational Correspondence - V, 1953-1957
- Folder 24: Early and Organizational Correspondence - W, 1953-1959
- Folder 25: Early and Organizational Correspondence - Y and Z, 1953-1954
- Folder 26: Correspondence, 1954-1956
- Folder 27: Correspondence, 1956
- Folder 28: Correspondence, 1957
- Folder 29: Correspondence, 1958
- Folder 30: Correspondence - Secretary - Philip J. Fuller, 1958
- Folder 31: Correspondence, 1959
- Folder 32: Correspondence - Editor, School Musician- Ernest McMillan, 1959
- Folder 33: Correspondence, 1959-1960
- Folder 34: Correspondence - Re: National Band Association, 1960
- Folder 35: Correspondence, 1961
- Folder 36: Correspondence, 1962
- Folder 37: Robert Dean and Mac E. Carr Letter
- Folder 38: Correspondence, 1963
- Folder 39: Correspondence, 1965-1966
- Folder 40: Correspondence - Raeford Worsted Company, 1965-1966
- Folder 41: Correspondence - Joliet Situation, 1966
- Folder 42: Correspondence (1 of 2), 1966-1967
- Box 4
- Folder 1: Correspondence (2 of 2), 1967
- Folder 2: Correspondence - Treasurer - Philip Waron, 1966-1967
- Folder 3: Correspondence - Secretary - Dale Harper, 1966-1967
- Folder 4: Correspondence - Vice President - Ardeen Foss, 1966-1967
- Folder 5: Correspondence - Reporter - Jim Clark, 1967
- Folder 6: Correspondence - Treasurer - Elwood Nichols, 1968-1969
- Folder 7: Correspondence - Treasurer's Outgoing E. Elwood Nichols, 1969
- Folder 8: Associate Membership Correspondence and E-mail, 2007-2009
- Sub-Series 4: Special Committee Correspondence, Reports, and Minutes, 1960-2018
- Consists of committee correspondence and reports. Materials are arranged alphabetically and chronologically therein.
- Box 4
- Folder 9: Archives Committee - Correspondence and Reports, 1984-1988
- Folder 10: Archives Committee Correspondence, 1974
- Folder 11: Archives Report, 2018
- Folder 12: Band Parent Associates Project - Newsletters, Bulletins, and Correspondence, 1967
- Folder 13: Band Parent Associates Project Correspondence, 1962-1963
- Folder 14: Bands in Education Committee Materials, 1966-1967
- Folder 15: Committee on Effects of Accelerated School Program, 1960-1963
- Folder 16: Community Band Participation - Semour Okun, 1963
- Folder 17: Education Foundation, 1986-2009
- Folder 18: Education Foundation Annual Report, Finance Spreadsheet, Convention Hotel Receipt, 1998-2000
- Folder 19: Education Foundation Pamphlets, c. 2000s
- Folder 20: Executive Board Bulletins, 1966-1967
- Folder 21: Interim Evaluation Committee Minutes, 1981
- Folder 22: Finance Committee, 1966-1967
- Folder 23: National Membership Committee - Elden Rosegart Chairman, 1959
- Folder 24: National Membership Committee - Associate Membership Chairman - Donald Stump, 1966-1967
- Folder 25: National Membership Committee - Notices of Status Changes, 1967
- Folder 26: National Membership Committee, 1972-1973
- Folder 27: National Membership Committee, 1985
- Folder 28: National Organizing Committee - Mac E. Carr Chairman, 1960-1961
- Folder 29: National Organizing Committee, 1961
- Folder 30: National Organizing Committee (1 of 3), 1966
- Folder 31: National Organizing Committee (2 of 3), 1966
- Folder 32: National Organizing Committee (3 of 3), 1966
- Folder 33: National Organizing Committee, 1971
- Folder 34: Project Funding Application for Sousa Band Register, 2000
- Folder 35: Office Manager - Annual Report, 2012-2014
- Folder 36: Special Committee Member Lists, Undated
- Folder 37: Special Committees Reports, Correspondence, Rosters, and Newsletters, 1973-2000
- Folder 38: Stars and Stripes Committee, 1966-1967
- Folder 39: State Chairman Handbook and Outline, 1975-1998
- Folder 40: Strategic Planning Committee, 2006-2007
- Folder 41: Research - Dale Harris, 1962-1963
- Box 20
- Folder 2: NABDCC Reports, 1961-1973
- Folder 3: Marching Band Role in Modern Education, 1966
- Box 22
- Item 1: Executive and Board Meeting Minutes, 2004
Tape Cassette. Side 1 - 1st Executive Board Meating 6/29/04 and first portion of 2nd Executive Board Meeting 6/30/04
Side 2 - 2nd Exectuive Board Meeting Continued 6/30/04
- Item 2: Executive Board Meetings and Minutes, 2004
Tape Cassette. Executive Board Meeting 07/01/04
Side 2 - Executive Board Meeting (Continued) 07/01/04
- Item 3: Executive Board and General Meetings and Minutes, 2004
Tape Cassette. Third Executive Board Meeting (Continued) 07/01/04 and Second General Meeting 07/01/04
Side 2 - Fourth Executive Board Meeting 07/02/04
- Item 4: Executive Board Meetings and Minutes, 2004
Tape Cassette. Fourth Executive Board Meeting - 07/02/04
Side 2 - Fourth Executive Board Meeting (Continued) 07/02/04
- Item 5: Business, Financial, and Executive Meetins and Minutes, Banquet, 2004
Tape Cassette. Third Business Meeting - 07/03/04, Financial and Joint Executive Meeting - 07/03/04, Banquet 07/03/04
Side 2 - Banquet (Continued) 07/03/04
- Item 6: Business Meeting, General Meeting, 2004-2005
Tape Cassette. Side 1 Business Meeting, 7/3/2004
Side 2 General Meeting, 7/6/2005
- Item 7: Executive and General Meeting, 2004
Tape Cassette. Side 1 2nd Executive Meeting, 6/30/2004
Side 2 1st General Meeting, 6/30/2004
- Item 8: General Meeting, 2004-2005
Tape Cassette. Side 1 General Meeting #1, 7/6/2005; General Meeting #2, 6/30/2004
Side 2 General Meeging #2, 6/30/2004
- Item 9: Executive Board Meeting, Banquet, 2004-2005
Tape Cassette. Side 1 Banquet, 7/3/2004
Side 2 Executive Board Meeting, 7/6/1995
- Item 10: Business Meeting, Banquet, 2005
Tape Cassette. Side A 2nd Business Meeting, 7/8/2005
Side B Banquet, 7/7/2005
- Item 11: Executive and Board Meeting, 2005
Tape Cassette. Side A Executive and Board Meeging, 7/7/2005
Side B: Business Meeting, 2nd, 7/8/2005
- Item 12: Business Meeting, 2005
Tape Cassette. Side A: Business Meeting, #3, 7/9/2005
Sub B Business Meeting, #3, 7/9/2005
- Item 13: Business Meeting, Banquet, 2005
Tape Cassette. Side A Business Meeting, #3, 7/9/2005
Side B Banquet, 7/9/2005
Browse by Series:
[Series 1: Administrative Records, 1948-2018],
[
Series 2: Presidents' Records, 1954-2015],
[
Series 3: Convention and Festival Records, 1953-2018],
[
Series 4: Special Projects, 1957-2013],
[
Series 5: Awards, 1956-2014],
[
Series 6: Ephemera, 1997-2010],
[
Series 7: Past Presidents' Personal Papers, 1917-2021],
[
All]