Finding Aid for Harry Begian Papers, 1926-97 | The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music

By Sarah A. Long and Kelly A. Carlson

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Collection Overview

Title: Harry Begian Papers, 1926-97

ID: 12/9/25

Primary Creator: Begian, Harry (1921-2010)

Extent: 25.5 cubic feet

Arrangement: The collection is arranged into seven series: Series 1, Clinics and Conference Presentations; Series 2, Sound Recordings; Series 3, Correspondence; Series 4, Administrative Records and Research; Series 5, Teaching Notes; Series 6, Music; and Series 7, Photographs and Uniforms. Materials are arranged in alphabetical and chronological order.

Date Acquired: 12/10/1995. More info below under Accruals.

Formats/Genres: Papers

Languages: English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

Consists of correspondence, photographs, scrapbooks, concert recordings, program notes, convention materials, research materials, and published articles that document Harry Begian's career as a conductor, teacher, guest speaker, and scholar from 1946-2005. In addition to administrative materials from his University career, this collection contains his personal teaching materials such as class notes, lesson plans, and conducting exercises. This collection also contains two boxes of his personal arrangements for high school and University bands.

Biographical Note

Harry Begian (1921-2010), University band conductor, composer, arranger, and pedagogue, has appeared as a guest conductor and speaker for numerous high school, University, and professional concert bands throughout the United States and internationally. Dr. Begian started his career as a band director during WWII at McKenzie High school in Detroit before he was drafted. After he finished serving in the war, he went on to become the director of the Cass Technical High School Symphonic Band from 1947-1964, making it one of the finest high school bands in the country.

Dr. Begian was director of bands at Wayne State University, his alma mater, from 1964-1967, and director of bands at Michigan State University from 1967-1970 before his 14 year tenure as director of bands at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign from 1970-1984. After his retirement from the University of Illinois, he went on to become the director of the Purdue University Symphonic Band from 1985-1987.

In addition to being a professional conductor and composer, Dr. Begian is also widely recognized for his pedagogical techniques, and he has published 17 articles on rehearsal analysis and conducting strategies. He has also been the subject of two dissertations, as well as numerous interviews published in the Instrumentalist. Dr. Begian has been the recipient of various awards, including the National Band Association's Citation of Excellence, The Edwin Franko Goldman Award, and the Notre Dame St. Cecelia Award among others.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Clinics and Conference Presentations],
[Series 2: Sound Recordings],
[Series 3: Correspondence],
[Series 4: Administrative Records and Research],
[Series 5: Teaching Notes and Scholarly Papers],
[Series 6: Music],
[Series 7: Photographs, Ephemera and Uniforms],
[Series 8: Correspondence: Church Functions and Congressional Records, 1961-1973, 1961-62, 1964-68, 1973, 1983],
[Series 9: Books],
[All]

Series 3: Correspondence

Box 3

Folder 1: Australia, 1983
Folder 2: Australia, July 15- Aug 30 1985
Folder 3: Band Roster/Seating Charts, 1985-1987
Folder 4: Big Ten Band Directors Association, 1971-74, 1976-82
Folder 5: Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp
Folder 6: Books Transferred to SABRE Reformer, 1980
Folder 7: Boston University, May 1966
Folder 8: Cass TechiNewsclipings, 1926, 1938, 1947-56, 1959-65, 1980
Folder 9: Cass Tech/ Detroit Public Schools Personnel File Correspondence, 1956-59, 1962
Folder 10: Cass Technical High School (1 of 2), 1947-65, 1967-70, 1973
Folder 11: Cass Technical High School (2 of 2), 1947-65, 1967-70, 1973
Folder 12: Cass Tech Concert Programs (1 of 2), 1942, 1947-66, 1968
Folder 13: Cass Tech Concert Programs (2 of 2), 1942, 1947, 1966, 1968
Folder 14: Cass Tech Photographs
Folder 15: Cass Tech Scrapbook, 1954-1955
Folder 16: Scrapbook: "Begian's Kool Kats" (Cass Technical High), ca. 1960
Folder 17: Gavange: The Beginning (1 of 2), 1947-64
Folder 18: Gavange: The Beginning (2 of 2), 1947-64
Folder 19: 1948 Triangle, 1948
Folder 20: 1949 Triangle, 1949
Folder 21: 1951 Triangle, 1951
Folder 22: 1958 Triangle, 1958
Folder 23: Chatfield Brass Band Library (Minnesota), 1980-81

Box 5

Folder 8: Bio - Personal, Begian Family
Folder 9: Cass Technical High School, ca. 1960
Folder 10: Student Papers, ca. 1964
Folder 11: Smith-Walbridge Music Camp, ca. 1985
Folder 12: Conducting: Dearborn Boy's Club Band, 1939-1940
Folder 13: Indiana Univeristy Bands, 1969-71, 1974, 1980, 1983, 1990
Folder 14: International Symphony of Port Huron and Sarnia, 1961-62
Folder 15: Mackenzie High School Band, 1941
Folder 16: Michigan Opera Company, 1960-61
Folder 17: National Music Camp at Interlochen, Michigan, 1956, 1962-1985
Folder 18: Northshore Concert Band, 1992
Folder 19: Purdue Band, 1985-1988
Folder 20: Purdue University Bands, 1977, 1979, 1980
Folder 21: Conductor Photographs, ca. 1965-75
Folder 22: Correspondents A-Bridges, 1964-96
Folder 23: Correspondence re: Emily Begian, 1944, 1966, 1984, 1986
Folder 24: Correspondence: Brian - D
Folder 25: Correspondence: E - Fautch
Folder 26: Correspondence: Franke - Galison
Folder 27: Correspondence: Gangware - Harris
Folder 28: Correspondence: Haynie - Hickman

Box 6

Folder 1: Correspondence: Hile-Husa
Folder 2: Correspondence: I-J
Folder 3: Correspondence: K
Folder 4: Correspondence: L-Markovich
Folder 5: Correspondence: Martenson - N
Folder 6: Correspondence: O - P
Folder 7: Correspondence: R-Simon
Folder 8: Correspondence: Smith - Swanson
Folder 9: Correspondence: T - V
Folder 10: Correspondence: W-Z
Folder 11: Correspondence: Unidentified
Folder 12: Michael Begian, 1987-88
Folder 13: Correspondence: Victor Bordo, 1957, 1966, 1970-71, 1973, 1977-1980, 1991-1996
Folder 14: J. Richard Duscomb, 1985, 1988-91
Folder 15: Leonard Falcone, 1937, 1941, 1964, 1969-72, 1974, 1977-78, 1980-81, 1983, 1985
Folder 16: Arnold Gabriel, 1969-71, 1973, 1976, 1978, 1980, 1993
Folder 17: Grainger, Percy, 1969, 1975, 1977, 1979-81
Folder 18: Hegerberg, Thad, 1973-81, 1984, 1994
Folder 19: Kevorkian, Jack - Cousin
Folder 20: Ralph Miller, 1990-91
Folder 21: Correspondence: Bill Moffit, 1967-69, 1973
Folder 22: Alfred Reed, 1977-78, 1980, 1985-95
Folder 23: William D. Revelli, 1951-53, 1964, 1968-70, 1973, 1975-83, 1986, 1993-94
Folder 24: William Schuman, 1969-70
Folder 25: Sinta, Donald
Folder 26: Spalding, Daniel, 1980, 1982, 1984-85, 1990
Folder 27: Welch, Myron D., 1967, 1975-83, 1994-95
Folder 28: Detroit Symphony Orchestra, 1955-56, 1987-88, 1994

Box 7

Box 7: Subject File, Correspondence: Fordson High School, Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic, 1989, 1935-97
Folder 1: Fordson High School Class of 1939; 50th Reunion, 1989
Folder 2: Grainger, Percy Aldridge
Folder 3: Carroll L. Wallace Dissertation Correspondence, 1989-90, 1992-95
Folder 4: David L. Stagg: DMA Degree Essay, 1985
Folder 5: Percy Grainger Album, 1947-77, 1988, 1991
Folder 6: Great American Marches Album, Oct. 1980 to Spring 1981
Folder 7: Japan: Tokyo Geijutsu Daigaku, National University of Finr Arts & Music, 1987
Folder 8: Mexican Tune, 1961
Folder 9: Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association, 1951-54, 93
Folder 10: Michigan State University, 1968-69, 1971
Folder 11: Michigan State University Bands, 1966-69, 1981
Folder 12: Michigan State University Band Articles, ca. 1968
Folder 13: Michigan State University Band Photographs, 1935-36, 1940, 1956, 1958-60
Folder 14: Michigan State University: Band Staff, 1969-70
Folder 15: MSU: Book Material w/ R.G. Sidnell, 1965
Folder 16: Michigan State University Bands Concert Programs and Flyers, 1957-61, 1963-70, 1977, 1980
Folder 17: Michigan State University Correspondence, 1966-68
Folder 18: Michigan State University Correspondence, 1969-70, 76, 78, 81
Folder 19: MSU Fight Song Publication and MSU Alma Mater, ca. 1956
Folder 20: Michigan State University Newsclippings, 1965-70, 77
Folder 21: MSU Photographs - 1969-70 Season, 1969-70
Folder 22: Michigan State University Photographs, 1967-70
Folder 23: Jack Seidler, Graduate Assistant at MSU, 1968-70
Folder 24: Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic, 1995
Folder 25: Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic (1 of 2), 1994
Folder 26: Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic (2 of 2), 1994
Folder 27: Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic (1 of 2), 1993
Folder 28: Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic (2 of 2), 1993
Folder 29: Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic (1 of 2), 1992
Folder 30: Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic (2 of 2), 1992
Folder 31: Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic, 1989

Box 9

Folder 9: South Oakland Symphony Society, 1962-1963
Folder 10: Tanglewood, 194-42, 1946-47
Folder 13: United States Air Force Band, 1965-68, 1972, 1977, 1980-81
Folder 14: United States Army Bands, 1955, 1966, 1970, 1972, 1980-82, 1990
Folder 15: U.S. Army Records and Materials WWII, 1943-46, 1955, 1985
Folder 16: United States Coast Guard Band, 1975, 1982
Folder 17: United States Marine Band "The President's Own", 1954, 1963, 1967, 1969, 1972, 1974, 1977-78, 1980-81, 1992
Folder 18: United States Navy Band, 1969, 1971-73, 1977
Folder 20: Raymond F. Dvorak, 1962, 1967, 1969, 1973, 1976-77, 1982-83
Folder 21: Mark H. Hindsley, 1976, 1980-81, 1995

Box 10

Folder 10: Reports and Correspondence: Guest Conducting Appearances, 1973-79, 1981-83

Box 12

Folder 6: Wayne State University, 1970
Folder 7: Wayne State University Harold Arnold Correspondence, 1967, 1971-75, 1977, 1980
Folder 8: Wayne State University Bands - before Harry Begian, 1944, 1946-47, 1953, 1956-57
Folder 9: Wayne State University Bands - Concert Programs, 1938-42, 1946-52
Folder 10: Wayne State University Band Warm-Ups, 1964-66
Folder 11: Wayne State University - Correspondence with Joe Labuta, Bob Lawson, and Dennis Tini, 1994-95
Folder 12: Wayne State University Newsclippings, 1951, 1964-68
Folder 13: Wayne State University - papers/essays by H.B., 1947

Box 17

Folder 16: Personal Correspondence, 1970-1981
Folder 17: Personal, 1972-73
Folder 18: Correspondence (Cass Tech.), 1984 & 2003
Folder 19: Personal papers and correspondence
Folder 20: E-Mail Correspondence
Folder 21: Student Correspondence
Folder 22: U of I last year correspondence
Folder 23: Perspectives Essay (Completed 9-13-02), correspondence, 2002

Box 18

Folder 52: Letters and pictures received since retirement from students and colleagues: Part 1
Folder 53: Letters and pictures received since retirement from students and colleagues: Part 2
Folder 54: Letters and pictures received since retirement from students and colleagues: Part 3

Box 26

Folder 1: Correspondence, 1968-1993
Folder 2: Application for Sabbatical Leave of Absence, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1982