Finding Aid for John Philip Sousa Music and Personal Papers, circa 1880-1932 | The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music

Title: John Philip Sousa Music and Personal Papers, circa 1880-1932

ID: 12/9/51

Primary Creator: Sousa, John Philip (1854-1932)

Extent: 239.5 cubic feet

Arrangement:

The collection of papers is organized into four series:

Series 1) Original Music Manuscripts, which is arranged alphabetically by either composer or arranger with unidentified and unnumbered music placed at the end. Whenever possible an identification of the format of the music for each title(i.e., full score, condensed score, piano score, and parts) has been identified with the corresponding abbreviations, FS, CS, PS, P.

Series 2) Published Music, which is arranged sequentially by a number that was unique to the original Sousa music catalog with unidentified and unnumbered music placed at the end. Whenever possible an identification of the format of the music for each title(i.e., full score, condensed score, piano score, and parts) has been identified with the corresponding abbreviations, FS, CS, PS, P.

Series 3) Ephemera and Uniforms. Consisting of correspondence, newsclippings, programs, and artifacts, this series is arranged alphabetically by type of material.

and Series 4) Photographs, which is arranged alphabetically by subject.

Date Acquired: 00/00/1932. More info below under Accruals.

Subjects: Band Concerts, Band Musicians, Bands, Brass Bands, Clarke, Herbert L., Gilmore, Patrick S., Goldman, Edwin Franko, Harding, Albert Austin, Marines, United States, Military Bands, Military History, Military Music, Music Composition, Navy, United States, Pryor, Arthur, Sousa, John Philip, United States Marine Band

Formats/Genres: Papers

Languages: English

Consists of original and published music, arrangements of western European symphonic music for wind band by Sousa and other musicians, microfilm of original music, correspondence, newsclippings, photographs, programs and artifacts documenting the life and career of John Philip Sousa as musician, composer, bandleader, and "March King."   Of particular interest are the original parts to "Stars and Stripes Forever," correspondence between A. Austin Harding and Sousa, and photographs of Sousa with the Band.

John Philip Sousa (1854-1932) was born in Washington, DC on November 6, 1854.  It was an era of the 5-cent cigar, Saturday evening baths, the horse and buggy, candle-lit parlors and gas-illuminated street lights.  During his formative years Sousa witnessed the destructive forces of the Civil War as a child growing up in his nation's Capitol.  Later in life he experienced the new-found joys of Ford's automobile and the painful trauma of the War to end all wars.

Sousa joined the United States Marine Band as an apprentice musician on June 9, 1868, not even fourteen years old, and remained until 1875.  His Portuguese father, a trombonist with the band since 1850, believed if his son was a member of the band he could more readily monitor his son's youthful exploits and mentor his gift for music.  Five years after leaving the Marine Band Sousa was asked to return as its director in 1880, a post that he retained until August 1, 1892.

It was under Sousa's leadership that the Marine Band finally gained permission from President Benjamin Harrison to tour beyond the immediate region surrounding Washington, DC (i.e., Richmond, Baltimore and Philadelphia).  This first tour performance took place at Chicago's Auditorium Theatre.  After meeting David Blakely in Chicago Sousa was convinced that his talents would not be utilized to the fullest with the Marine Band.  Sousa signed a contract with Blakely on May 27, 1892 to form and direct a civilian band of his own creation.  On July 30, 1892 Sousa received a second honorable discharge from the Marine Band and began establishing what today has become best known as the John Philip Sousa Band by seeking out and engaging the finest nationally and internationally recognized musicians from America and Europe.  Among the most celebrated soloists to play with the band were Herbert L. Clarke (cornet), Arthur Pryor (trombone), Simone Mantia (euphonium), Estelle Liebling (soprano) and Maud Powell (violin).

Sousa made annual transcontinential tours with his famous band from 1892 until 1931.  In those thirty-nine years the Sousa Band traveled over 700,000 miles and presented over 10,000 concerts in 1,000 cities throughout the world.  Between the months of May and October 1893 the Sousa Band, for a repeat performance, furnished the music for the Columbian Exposition held in Chicago to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Columbus' discovery of the Americas in  1492.  This engagement solidified Sousa's legacy in the annals of music and band history.  During his life time Sousa composed 137 marches, 15 operettas, 5 overtures, 11 suites, 24 dances, 28 fantasies, and 322 arrangements of nineteenth-century western European symphonic works.  In addition he wrote numerous reviews, articles on music and music education, and seven books.

Sousa's "The Washington Post" march, written for the Washington Post Amateur Author's Association ceremony held at the Smithsonian Institution on June 15, 1889, became a sensation as the accompaniment to the newly created "two-step" dance.  This truly new American dance replaced the popular western-European waltz as the most popular form of entertainment in America and Europe.  On Christmas Day 1896 Sousa composed his most recognizable work, "The Stars and Stripes Forever," the only march ever declared the national march of the United States.  This work was the last piece that Sousa conducted in public before he died in Reading, PA on March 6, 1932.

Band Concerts
Band Musicians
Bands
Brass Bands
Clarke, Herbert L.
Gilmore, Patrick S.
Goldman, Edwin Franko
Harding, Albert Austin
Marines, United States
Military Bands
Military History
Military Music
Music Composition
Navy, United States
Pryor, Arthur
Sousa, John Philip
United States Marine Band

Repository: The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music

Accruals: An additional Band Steamer Trunk was located in the band building in 2025 and was added to the collection in July 2025.

Acquisition Method: The music and papers were bequested to the University Bands in 1932. Thirty-nine trunks and two boxes arrived at the University in August of that year. Responsibility for the papers was transferred to the University Library in 1994.

Appraisal Information:

Box 741, which originally contained panoramic photos, was reassigned during processing to become Panoramic Photo Box 1.

Box 742, which originally contained a portrait of Sousa, was reassigned during processing to become Oversized Portfolio Case 2.

Related Materials:

For original library correspondence about the Sousa Papers see also RS 35/3/68.

For microfilm copies of original manuscripts see RS 12/9/126

Other Note: Box 762, which contained microfilm reels 106 and 107 were added to RS 12/9/126 Box 1, see RS 12/9/126 for microfilm duplicates. Negatives for reels 108-115 can be found in box 2 of RS 12/9/126.