Finding Aid for Mark H Hindsley Papers, 1920-83 | The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music

Title: Mark H Hindsley Papers, 1920-83

ID: 12/9/20

Primary Creator: Hindsley, Mark H. (Mark Hubert) (1905-1999)

Extent: 36.9 cubic feet

Arrangement:

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.

Subjects: American Bandmasters Association, Band, Football, Band Buildings, Band Clinics, Band Concerts, Band Theory, College Band Directors National Association, Concerts, Military Training, Music, Music Competitions, Reserve Officers Training Corps, Songs

Formats/Genres: Papers

Languages: English

The Mark Hindsley collection contains music manuscripts, correspondence, publications, concert programs, concert band and Army uniforms, audio and video recordings, conference proceedings, plaques, and news clippings that document his career as a conductor, arranger, educator and administrator during his tenure at Indiana University, Cleveland Heights Schools, the United States Army, and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign between 1925 and 1970. This collection provides a unique view of the development of the band program at the University of Illinois, and the development of the bandmaster's profession in the United States. The papers are organized in four series that represent the predominant areas of Hindsley's career as arranger, bandmaster, educator, and administrator. Some interesting documents contained in the collection include his patented tuning methods, University of Illinois' Chief Illiniwek's training routines, band formation routines, and his renowned band arrangements.

Mark Hindsley (1905-1999): Arranger, conductor, composer, and longtime band director of the University of Illinois Bands and the Marching Illini; 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.

American Bandmasters Association
Band, Football
Band Buildings
Band Clinics
Band Concerts
Band Theory
College Band Directors National Association
Concerts
Military Training
Music
Music Competitions
Reserve Officers Training Corps
Songs

Repository: The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music

Accruals: 1/18/1968; 6/21/1982; 3/6/2014 remaining portion of "Ad majorum" which was found in basement of Hort Field Lab. 6/20/2022 remaining class handouts used by Mark Hindsley were transferred from University Bands to the Center.

Acquisition Method: The papers were donated to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign by Mark Hindsley in 1968 and 1982. Additional records were donated by Mrs. Hindsley in 1999 after the death of Mark Hindsley.