Mitziga, Walter (1914-2005) | University of Illinois Archives

Walter Joseph Mitziga (1914-2005) was a book publisher and deacon at the First Baptist Church in Hammond, Indiana. He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio to parents Joseph and Salome Mitziga. At 14, Mitziga performed saxophone in the Second Roumanian Baptist Church Band for Boys (Detroit, MI), which was led by John T. Corean. This band performed during church services, including selections by Henry Fillmore and John Philip Sousa during the offertories. Mitziga also played saxophone in his high school band. In 1933, the Mitziga family moved to Chicago's South Side, and Walter joined a local Salvation Army Brass Band, playing clarinet with the group. He began conducting the group in 1938.

During WWII, Mitziga's interest in wind bands shifted to collecting audio recordings. Over the next several decades he amassed a unique collection of rare and unique 78s, documenting the early history of wind bands. This collection led to Mitziga self-publishing the book The Sound of Sousa: John Philip Sousa Compositions Recorded. Walter Mitziga married Florence Mitziga (1919-2012) in 1940. The couple had two daughters, Jean and Elaine. Mitziga died in Crown Point, Indiana on July 8, 2005.