Finding Aid for Frank McGrann Personal Papers and Sound Recordings, 1906-2004 | The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music

Title: Frank McGrann Personal Papers and Sound Recordings, 1906-2004

ID: 12/9/183

Primary Creator: Frank McGrann (1880-1962)

Other Creators: John McGrann

Extent: 4.85 cubic feet

Arrangement: Organized in 5 series. Series 1: Correspondence and Personal Papers. Series 2: Photographs. Series 3: Scores and Published Music. Series 4: Sound Recordings. Series 5: Sousa and Band Ephemera. Series 1 is organized by both recipient and date. Series 2 is organized by the size of the photograph for the boxes and date within the boxes. Series 3 is organized by song title. Series 4 is organized alphabetically by song title and disc size. Series 5 is organized by type of item.

Date Acquired: 09/19/2024

Subjects: Band Musicians, Bands, Banking, Clarke, Herbert L., Conductors (Music), Goldman, Edwin Franko, Military Bands, Pennsylvania, Pryor, Arthur, Sousa, John Philip

Formats/Genres: Audio-Visual Material, Correspondence, Photographs, Sound Recordings, Uniforms

Languages: English

Consists of band programs, articles, sound recordings, photographs, published music, and  correspondence with Hebert L Clarke, Albert Knecht, Frank Simon, Frank Holton, and other band leaders, documenting Frank McGrann's career as a musician, conductor, and arranger. Of note is a sound recording of McGrann's eulogy given at Herbert L Clarke's funeral.

Frank "Squire" McGrann (1880-1962) was born at Grand View Farm in Lancaster, Pennsylvania on November 13, 1880. The son of Bernard J. and Mary F. Dougherty McGrann, he graduated high school from Mercersburg Academy. As a boy, McGrann played the trombone. After graduating, McGrann played with Christ Burger's Military Band, which later became Burger's 4th Regiment Band at the Lancaster Elk's Lodge #134. At the age of 23, he joined the Conestoga National Bank of Lancaster, serving as its director for over 50 years. From 1918 to 1924 and from 1930 to 1948, he served as Mannheim Township's Justice of the Peace.

Through his connections with the bank and due to his interest in wind bands, McGrann sponsored many talented bands to visit Lancaster, including the John Philip Sousa Band, the Arthur Pryor Band, the Frederick Innes Band, the Herbert L. Clarke Band, and the Edwin Franko Goldman Band. Although an amateur conductor, he served as the director of the Conestoga Bank Brass Band, which only gave two performances in 1939 and 1940. Through his sponsorship of band concerts, he established close working relationships and friendships with many of the band directors above. He was a close confidant to Herbert L. Clarke, delivering a eulogy at Clarke's funeral. Due to his contributions to the band world, McGrann was elected as an associate member of the American Bandmasters Association in 1947.

In 1942, McGrann sold some of his land to the recording company, RCA, so they could construct a new factory in Lancaster. This RCA factory specialized in television vaccuum tube manufacturing and led to the creation of many new jobs in the city. With an avid interest in technology, McGrann installed both the first private telephone exchange in the state of Pennsylvania and a recording studio in his home, where he recorded his original arrangements for band and solo compositions for brass instruments. McGrann was married to Blanche E. Hebb McGrann (ca.1881-1961), with whom they had one son, John McGrann. Frank McGrann died in Lancaster, PA on January 15, 1962.

Band Musicians
Bands
Banking
Clarke, Herbert L.
Conductors (Music)
Goldman, Edwin Franko
Military Bands
Pennsylvania
Pryor, Arthur
Sousa, John Philip

Repository: The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music

Acquisition Source: John McGrann

Acquisition Method: Gift

Related Materials: See also Frank McGrann Collection at the University of Maryland: https://archives.lib.umd.edu/repositories/4/resources/328.