University Bands Collection

Overview

Scope and Contents

Biographical Note

Subject Terms

Detailed Description

Instruments

Photographs

Uniforms

Ephemera

Music

Pressbooks

University of Illinois Band 16mm Films

Bound Concert Programs

University of Illinois Band Videocassettes and Sound Recordings

Administrative Records

Direct Cut Discs


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Finding Aid for University Bands Collection, circa 1840-2021 | The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music

By Tracy Parish, Adriana Cuervo, Kelly A. Carlson, and William Fisher

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Collection Overview

Title: University Bands Collection, circa 1840-2021View associated digital content.

ID: 12/9/93

Primary Creator: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. University Bands

Extent: 114.85 cubic feet

Arrangement:

Arranged in eleven series:

Series 1) Instruments, ca. 1810-1950 consists of instruments purchased by University Bands. These instruments were available for use by students and many have been assigned inventory numbers, were stamped, or were given a university property sticker. These materials are unarranged.

Series 2) Photographs, ca. 1890-2011 consists of photographs, copy prints, and negatives. Materials are arranged by ensemble and chronologically therein.

Series 3) Uniforms, ca. 1920-2021 consists of marching uniforms, jackets, pants, hats, pins, ties, and Chief Illiniwek outfits. Materials are unarranged.

Series 4) Ephemera, ca. 1912-2024 consists of posters, correspondence, programs, sound recordings, alumni newsletters, magazines, awards, and commemorative Cheez-It box. Materials are unarranged.

Series 5) Music, ca. 1901-1975, consists of published and unpublished sheet music that were included in the University of Illinois Band Library. Materials received after 2022 are arranged alphabetically by title, prior to 2022, materials were unarranged.

Series 6) Pressbooks, 1935-1975, consists of three oversized pressbooks, containing newspaper reviews and clippings about the band. Materials are arranged chronologically.

Series 7) University of Illinois Band 16mm Films, 1932-1985 consists of 16mm film reels of the University Bands. Materials are arranged chronologically.

Series 8) Bound Concert Programs, 1906-1985 consists of 12 bound books of concert programs. Materials are arranged chronologically. NOTE: these materials are located in the Sousa Reference Collection.

Series 9) University of Illinois Band Videocassettes and Sound Recordings, 1979-2002 includes tape cassettes, CDs, beta tapes, cassette tapes, U-Matic, VHS, DVDs, and BetaCam tapes. Materials are arranged chronologically.

Series 10) Administrative Records, 1906-2010, includes band conference and clinic programs, festival adjudications, Illinois commencement programs and band concerts, Marching Illini programs, ISYM programs, and WILL Radio broadcasts that were managed by the Assistant Directors of Bands between 1956 and 1974, including Eldon Oyen who joined the University Bands staff in 1969. Materials are arranged chronologically and starting with the 2024 accession alphabetically by subject.

and Series 11) Direct Cut Discs, 1937-1956 includes alumninum and acetate direct cut 12" and 14" Discs. Materials are unarranged.

Date Acquired: 09/16/2004. More info below under Accruals.

Subjects: Alumni Association, American Bandmasters Association, Awards, Band, Football, Band Department, Begian, Harry, Brass Instruments, Chief Illiniwek, Clarke, Herbert L., College Band Directors National Association, Fillmore, Henry (1881-1956), Films, Goldman, Edwin Franko, Harding, Albert Austin, Hindsley, Mark H., Illinois School Band Association, Illinois Summer Youth Music, Keene, James F., Marching Illini, Musical Instrument Collections, Musical Instrument Makers - Europe, Musical Instrument Makers - United States, Music Educators National Conference, National Music Camp (Interlochen, MI), Radio Station - WILL, Rose Bowl, Sousa, John Philip, Summer Youth Music, University Records, Woodwind Instruments

Formats/Genres: Audio-Visual Material, Concert Programs, Correspondence, Musical instruments, Newspaper Clippings, Papers, Photographs, Posters, Scrapbooks, Sheet music, Sound Recordings

Languages: English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

Consists of musical instruments, band uniforms, photographs, music, newsclippings, pressbooks, audiovisual recordings, concert programs, and administrative records, documenting the history of the University of Illinois Bands Department since its creation in 1905.

Biographical Note

The University of Illinois Military Band was established in 1870 for the purpose of providing music for functions within the military department of the Illinois Industrial University. From 1868 to 1894, the band was administered by student leaders and from 1895 to 1904 was led by various university faculty members. From 1905-1907, the band was led by Albert Austin Harding, who was an undergraduate in engineering.

In 1907, Harding was named the first director of bands, serving in this role for over forty years (1907-1948) and leading the band to a position of national prominence. Under Harding, the University of Illinois band became the first band to perform at a collegiate baseball game (1906) and a collegiate football game (1907); one of the few collegiate bands to receive a march written by John Philip Sousa (1929); and a laboratory ensemble for many of Harding's mentees, which included William D. Revelli, Frederick Fennell, Clarence Sawhill, Ray Dvorak, and Glen Cliffe Bainum. In 1929, Harding became one of the founding members of the American Bandmasters Association.

In 1932, upon the death of John Philip Sousa, Sousa left his vast library of sheet music and original manuscripts in the care of the University of Illinois Band. In 1955, the Band Department had grown so large that they required a new building to be constructed. In 1958 the Harding Band Building was completed, becoming the first permanent building specifically constructed for a collegiate band program in the country.

Subsequent directors of the Band Department include: Mark H. Hindsley (1948-1970), Harry Begian (1970-1984), James F. Keene (1985-2008), Abel Saldivar Ramirez (2008-2009), Robert Rumbelow (2009-2014), Linda Moorhouse (2014-2015), Stephen Peterson (2015-2022), and Kevin Geraldi (2022- ). The University Band Department also saw the rise of several important assistant directors and directors of the Marching Illini, including: Ray Dvorak, Glen Cliffe Bainum, Clarence Sawhill, Everett Kisinger, Guy Duker, Eldon Oyen, Harvey Herman, Gary E. Smith, Ken Steinsultz, Peter Griffin, Tom Cavena, Roby George, Barry Houser, Jesse Leyva, Elizabeth Peterson, and Kimberly Fleming.

The Band Department is currently a unit of the University of Illinois School of Music, which is in turn a unit of the College of Fine and Applied Arts. Ensembles under the administration of the Band Department include the UI Wind Symphony, two symphonic bands, three concert bands, a British Brass Band, Clarinet Choir, the UI Basketball Band, the Orange & Blues and the Marching Illini.

Subject/Index Terms

Alumni Association
American Bandmasters Association
Awards
Band, Football
Band Department
Begian, Harry
Brass Instruments
Chief Illiniwek
Clarke, Herbert L.
College Band Directors National Association
Fillmore, Henry (1881-1956)
Films
Goldman, Edwin Franko
Harding, Albert Austin
Hindsley, Mark H.
Illinois School Band Association
Illinois Summer Youth Music
Keene, James F.
Marching Illini
Musical Instrument Collections
Musical Instrument Makers - Europe
Musical Instrument Makers - United States
Music Educators National Conference
National Music Camp (Interlochen, MI)
Radio Station - WILL
Rose Bowl
Sousa, John Philip
Summer Youth Music
University Records
Woodwind Instruments

Box and Folder Listing


Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Instruments, ca. 1810-1950],
[Series 2: Photographs, ca. 1890-2011],
[Series 3: Uniforms, ca. 1920-2021],
[Series 4: Ephemera, 1912-2000],
[Series 5: Music, ca. 1901-1975],
[Series 6: Pressbooks, 1935-1975],
[Series 7: University of Illinois Band 16mm Films, 1932-1985],
[Series 8: Bound Concert Programs, 1906-1985],
[Series 9: University of Illinois Band Videocassettes and Sound Recordings, 1979-2004],
[Series 10: Administrative Records, 1906-2010],
[Series 11: Direct Cut Discs, 1937-1956],
[All]

Series 2: Photographs, ca. 1890-2011View associated digital content.

Consists of Photographs, Copy Prints, and Negatives. Arranged by ensemble and chronologically by year.

Note: Boxes 80 and 81 were originally located at University Archives, transferred to the Sousa Archives sometime around 2011, and eventually processed in 2024. Some of these folders contained "accession numbers." These numbers have been retained but no information is currently known about their original order.

Box 37
Folder 1: Tours and Random, 1928-ca.1936
Folder 2: Certificates, 1930-1967
Folder 3: Marching Band, 1932-1952View associated digital content.
Folder 4: Marching Band, 1953-1963View associated digital content.
Folder 5: Marching Band, 1964-1974View associated digital content.
Box 38
Folder 1: Concert Bands, 1906-1916View associated digital content.
Folder 2: Concert Bands, 1917-1925View associated digital content.
Folder 3: Concert Bands, 1926-1930View associated digital content.
Box 39
Folder 1: Concert Bands, 1932-1942View associated digital content.
Folder 2: Concert Bands, 1942-1949View associated digital content.
Folder 3: Military Band/Marching Band, 1888-1910
Folder 4: Military Band, 1899-1900View associated digital content.
Folder 5: Concert Band, 1940
Box 40
Folder 1: Concert Bands, 1950-1960View associated digital content.
Folder 2: Concert Bands, 1961-1965View associated digital content.
Folder 3: Concert Bands, 1966-1975View associated digital content.
Folder 4: Ninth Annual Grand Concert American Band Masters Association, 1938
Box 41
Folder 1: Concert Bands, 1893-1986
Folder 2: Marching Band, 1935-1957
Folder 3: Marching Band, ca. 1984-1995
Folder 4: Champaign, IL Military Band, ca. 1894; U of I Battallion, 1893
Box 42
Folder 1: University of Illinois Military Band, 1890
Folder 4: Big 10 Band Directors Association, 1990
Taken at the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic
Box 44
Folder 1: Harding, ca. 1920-1956
Folder 2: Hindsley, 1931-1980
Folder 3: Begian, ca. 1960-1980
Folder 4: Revelli, ca. 1970s
Folder 5: Duker, ca. 1960-1980
Folder 6: Kisinger, ca. 1950-1976
Folder 7: Associations, 1958-1990
Folder 8: Bandmembers/Individuals, 1950-1990
Folder 9: Building Pictures, ca. 1960-1980
Folder 10: Concerts, 1946-1966
Folder 11: Football Band/MI, ca.1970sView associated digital content.
Folder 12: Negatives - Symphonic Band, 1890-1973
Folder 13: Notable Individuals, ca. 1950s-1980s
Folder 14: Sousa, ca. 1900-1936
Box 45View associated digital content.
Folder 1: UI Symphonic Bands, 1945-1949
Folder 2: UI Concert Bands, 1950-1954
Folder 3: UI Concert Bands, 1955-1959
Folder 4: UI Concert/Symphonic Bands, 1960-1964
Folder 5: UI Concert/Symphonic Bands, 1965-1969
Folder 6: UI Symphonic Bands, 1970-1974
Folder 7: UI Symphonic Bands, 1975-1979View associated digital content.
Folder 8: UI Symphonic Bands, 1980-1989View associated digital content.
Folder 9: UI Symphonic Bands, 1990-1999
Box 70
Folder 1: "The Illinois Legacy" article from News-Gazette, February 2005
Folder 2: Fools Crow Artifact Photos, July 3, 2007
Folder 3: Fools Crow Artifact photos and CD, July 3, 2007
Box 76
Folder 1: Marching Illini Photo Spread, 2011
Box 80
Folder 1: Concert Band, with Mark Hindsley and Edwin Franko Goldman, ca. 1953
Folder 2: Concert Band, 1953-1961
University Archives Accession number [09_038_007]
Folder 3: Concert Band, 1962-1966
Folder 4: Concert Band, 1967-1971
Folder 5: First Regimental Band, 1955-1970
University Archives Accession number [09_015_001]
Folder 6: Marching Illini, Field Formations, Photos and Negative, ca. 1948-1970
University Archives Accession number [03_006_001]
Folder 7: Marching Illini Photographs, ca. 1977
Folder 8: Percussion Section, February 19, 1958
Folder 9: Second Concert Band, 1971
University Archives Accession number [02_004_001]
Folder 10: Second Regimental Band, 1959-1968
University Archives Accession number [09_018_001]
Folder 11: Symphonic Band, 1971-1979
University Archives Accession number [01_006_004]
Folder 12: Symphonic Band, Negatives, 1976
Folder 13: Symphonic Band, Photos and Negative, ca. 1980
University Archives Accession number [09_018_002]
Folder 14: Symphonic Band, 1980-1982
University Archives Accession number [01_006_003]
Folder 15: Symphonic Band, Photo and Negatives, 1990-1994
University Archives Accession number [09_014_001]
Folder 16: University of Illinois Military Band in 1890, Copy Print Photograph and Negative, ca. 1960
Original image dated 1890, copy print produced much later. University Archives Accession number [09_009_002]
Folder 17: Wind Symphony, ca. 1986-1995
University Archives Accession number [03_012_001]
Folder 18: American Bandmasters Association Banquet, March 3, 1955
University Archives Accession number [14_004]
Folder 19: Band Building, ca. 1950
Image of Band Building Prior to Renovation in 1958. University Archives Accession number [01_006_002]
Folder 20: Harry Begian, Portraits, ca. 1980s
Folder 21: Chief Photographs and Negatives, ca. 1970s-80s
Folder 22: Former Conducting Students and Members of ABA, Portraits, ca. 1955
Images include: Milburn Carey, Harold Hines, Lowell Little, and George [?] Wilson. University Archives Accession number [14_038]
Folder 23: Tom Harris, Portrait, ca. 1960s
Box 81
Folder 1: Mark Hindsley, Candids and Portrait, ca. 1978
Folder 2: Patrick Gilmore Negative of Print from 1892 and Sousa Print, ca. 1960
Negative and copy print produced much later than 1890s. University Archives Accession number [14_005]
Folder 3: Illinois Summer Youth Music [ISYM], candids, ca. 1970-1971
University Archives Accession number [13_005_002]
Folder 4: National College Band Director's Association Concert, Negative, December 20, 1958
University Archives Accession number [13_005_004]
Folder 5: Eldon Oyen, Portrait, ca. 1980s
Folder 6: US Marine Band and Interlochen Sousa Uniform Display, ca. 1978 and 1985
Box 86
Folder 1: University of Illinois Alumni Band Photographs, 1893 - 2001
Includes Alumni Band Homecoming postcards, photograph of Jim Schrodt (2001), 'insight' (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign photobook) promo card, photograph of University of Illinois Band at Worlds Columbian Exposition Chicago (June, 1893).
Oversize Panoramic Photo Box 2
Folder 1: Harry Begian with South Dakota All-State High School Band, 1953
Folder 2: Harry Begian with Wayne State College Band, ca. 1947
Folder 3: Summer Music Camp, Wayne State College, 1953
Folder 4: All-State Band, 1947
Folder 5: Mark Hindsley with School for Special Services, 5th Special Service Officers Course, 1942
Folder 6: Fighting Illini, Illinois 16 vs Michigan 6, 1983
Folder 7: Marching Illini Panoramic Photos, 1999 and 2002
Oversize Portfolio Case 3: Marching Band spells "Illini" at Memorial Stadium, undated
Oversize Portfolio Case 5: 70th Rose Bowl game University of Illinois vs. UCLA, color photograph and tickets, January 2, 1984
Also includes two tickets to the 1988 1st/2nd round NCAA Southeast Regional Championship at Cincinnati Riverfront Coliseum.
Oversize Portfolio Case 7: University of Illinois Bands, black and white photograph, March 5, 1936
Oversize Portfolio Case 8: University of Illinois Concert Band 59th Anniversary, black and white photograph, March 9-10, 1949
Oversize Portfolio Case 11: Harry Begian Posters, ca. 1970
Shares Folder with Musical Americana RS 12/9/50, Oversize Portfolio Case 11.

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Instruments, ca. 1810-1950],
[Series 2: Photographs, ca. 1890-2011],
[Series 3: Uniforms, ca. 1920-2021],
[Series 4: Ephemera, 1912-2000],
[Series 5: Music, ca. 1901-1975],
[Series 6: Pressbooks, 1935-1975],
[Series 7: University of Illinois Band 16mm Films, 1932-1985],
[Series 8: Bound Concert Programs, 1906-1985],
[Series 9: University of Illinois Band Videocassettes and Sound Recordings, 1979-2004],
[Series 10: Administrative Records, 1906-2010],
[Series 11: Direct Cut Discs, 1937-1956],
[All]
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