Henry Hicks (1929-2022) | University of Illinois Archives

Henry F. Hicks Jr. (1929-2022) was born in Fall River, Massachusetts. His interest in collecting music recordings began with his father, Henry F. Hicks Sr. Through his father's influence, Hicks developed a love of both popular and circus music. Hicks attended Bridgewater State Teacher College, graduating in 1951. Soon after, he joined the United States Regular Army, rising to the rank of Corporal in his service during the Korean War.

Upon leaving the Army, Hicks returned to Fall River to teach junior high school; after a short period at this post, Hicks started teaching history at Needham High School. It was at Needham High School that he met Amy Hicks (1932- ), who had been hired to teach and coach gymnastics. In 1952, he atttended Harvard University, earning a masters degree in education. Hicks attended Boston University on a postgraduate fellowship. By 1962, Henry and Amy married and settled in Needham, where they raised their two children. During his tenure at Needham High School, Hicks was the recipient of a John Hayes fellowship at Columbia University, for which he took a year sabbatical. Hicks published several academic articles on the Revolutionary War, U.S. maritime history, and circus history.

In addition to teaching history, Mr. Hicks served as a local historian and President of the Needham Historical Society. Henry's collection, which was originally composed of both his and his father's 78 and LP records, later expanded to CDs focused on circus music, music performed by international military bands, and music performed by non-military bands. The couple acquired CDs through their travels to Europe (most frequently to England) and through the Midland CD Company and Juno Discourier. When the couple moved from Fall River to Hingham, Massachusetts in February 2021, the collection was donated to the Sousa Archives and Center for American Music at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Hicks died in his Hingham home on March 28, 2022.