Mark H Hindsley Papers, 1907-2002 | The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music

Materials are arranged in five series, which are as follows: Series 1) Music, ca. 1940-1999; Series 2) Personal Papers and Administrative Records, ca. 1907-1998; Series 3) Professional Association Correspondence, Photographs and Memorabilia, ca. 1931-1999; Series 4) Awards, Memorials and Memorabilia, ca.1905-2002; and Series 5) Uniforms.

Series 1) Music is arranged in four sub-series: 1) Hindsley Transcriptions, 2) Hindsley Compositions, 3) Transcriptions by Other Composers, and 4) Compositions by Other Composers.

Series 2) Personal Papers is arranged in thirteen sub-series: 1) Correspondence, 2) Publications - General, 3) Lectures and Presentations, 4) Cleveland HS Memorabilia, 5) Military Service Memorabilia, 6) Military Service Related, 7) Indiana University Memorabilia, 8) University of Illinois - Teaching and Conducting Notes, 9) University of Illinois - Photos, 10) University of Illinois - Concert and Marching Band Files, 11) University of Illinois - Band Sound Recordings, 12) Guest Conducting Programs and Notes, 13) University of Illinois - Administrative Files.

Series 3) Professional Association Correspondence is arranged in four sub-series: 1) ABA Correspondence Files, 2) CBDNA Correspondence Files, 3) Other Professional Organization Correspondence Files, and 4) Professional Organization Photos.

Series 4) Awards  is arranged in four sub-series: 1) Education and Awards, 2) Obituaries and Memorials, 3) Personal - General, 4) Photos.

Papers are then arranged alphabetically or chronologically thereunder.

Mark Hindsley (1905-1999) was an arranger, conductor, composer, and longtime band director of the University of Illinois Bands and the Marching Illini. Hindsley graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Chemistry from Indiana University before going on to earn a Master of Arts in Music degree there in 1927. Hindsley began his career at Indiana University at Bloomington, where he served as band director and music instructor until 1929. From 1929-1934 Hindsley worked as Director of Instrumental Music in the public schools of Cleveland Heights, Ohio.

In 1934 he was appointed Assistant Director of Bands at the University of Illinois under A. Austin Harding, where he was assigned as director of the marching band and conductor of the First Regimental Band. Under Hindsley's direction the marching band field routines have become an Illini tradition. His work was interrupted by military service in the Air Force between 1942 and 1946, rising to the rank of lieutenant colonel. During this time he supervised more than 150 Air Force bands and was assigned to the music faculty at American University of Biarritz, France. In 1948 Mark Hindsley succeeded Harding as Director of Bands at Illinois; he stayed active in that position and as Professor of Music until his retirement in 1970.

Mark Hindsley made a series of 59 recordings of the University of Illinois bands. During his lifetime Hindsley wrote more than 75 transcriptions of major orchestral works including Strauss' Don Juan and Wagner's Tannhauser, and he authored eight books and more than 40 journal articles on band education. Hindsley's involvement with several professional band organizations included his role as president of both the College Band Directors National Association in1947 and the American Bandmaster's Association in 1957. His research in wind instrument intonation influenced the design of several instruments in both the United States and Europe. He was granted a patent for mechanisms on valve brass instruments. After his formal retirement Mark Hindsley continued his work as a transcriber, and served as guest conductor, adjudicator and clinician for different band organizations.