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 7: Photographs, Ephemera and Uniforms

Box 8

Folder 22: Pictures of Harry Begian, ca. 1960, 1980
Folder 23: Postcards: Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts; British Museum, ca. 1966, 1978

Box 10

Folder 29: Haskell O. Sexton Photographs, 1917-1978

Box 11

Folder 4: Symphonic Band Photograph, 1933, 1959-60, 1971-1972, 1981-1982, 1988-1989
Folder 23: Photographs: Begian, U of I Bands (1 of 2), ca.1967-1985
Folder 24: Photographs: Begian, U of I Bands (2 of 2), ca.1967-1985
Folder 25: Photographs: Large Symphonic Band in Springfield, IL, March 30, 1978
Folder 26: Photographs: Marching Illini, 1971, 1976-77, 1980

Box 12

Folder 14: Wayne State University Photographs, ca.1960, 1965-66: Includes photographs of Michigan State University Concert Band 1964-1965 and Michigan State University Youth Music Symphonic Band 1962.
Folder 17: From the Hearts of Men: Bicentennial Videotape - UofI Band Harry Begian, 1976

Box 14

Folder 1: Address book and Cass Technical High School members list, undated
Folder 2: Address books, diary, Japanese language guide, prayer book, 1944
Folder 3: America's Band in Blue, in appreciation plaque, 1992
Folder 4: American Bandmaster's Association membership certificate, 1965
Folder 5: American School Band Director's Association, in appreciation plaque, 1984
Folder 6: "Bell Fronter" and Honorary Member of Mark Foutch's Brass Band plaque, 1972
Folder 7: City of Waukegan, in appreciation of your visit plaque, undated
Folder 8: Dr Harry Begian, guest conductor Hersey Band, 1971
Folder 9: Gamma Omicron chapter, Sinfonia Fraternity of America membership certificate, 1941
Folder 10: Garfield Symphonic Band in appreciation plaque, 1994-1995
Folder 11: Georgia All-State Senior High School Symphonic Band, Harry Begian, conductor plaque, 1991
Folder 12: Leblanc Music Educator's National Advisory Board, undated
Folder 13: Military insignia (1 of 3), ca. 1940s
Folder 14: Military insignia (2 of 3), ca. 1940s
Folder 15: Military insignia (3 of 3), ca. 1940s
Folder 16: Memo book, 1944
Folder 17: NCBA President's Award, 1996
Folder 18: Presented to Director Harry Begian, Salem-Keizer All-District High School Honor Band, 1996
Folder 19: Purdue University Bands, in appreciation plaque, 1987
Folder 20: Purdue University, in appreciation for his service to Purdue Bands plaque, 1985-1987
Folder 21: Royal Australian Navy Band, with appreciation plaque, 1983
Folder 23: St Cecilia Award, 1984
Folder 22: South Dakota All-State Band Guest Conductor plaque, 1981
Folder 24: Thank you, from the family, the Marching Illini, 1980

Box 15

Folder 1: Poster/Photographs, Begian, Cass Technical High School, May Festival, December 1955-1964
Folder 2: Photographs, Begian, Cass Technical High Concert and Marching Bands, 1949-1963
Folder 13: College Band Directors National Association, 1964, 1968-69, 1971-73, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1990-92

Box 17

Folder 25: Cass Tech reunion scrapbook

Box 21

Folder 1: Scrapbook

Box 24

Item 1: Navy Blue Uniform Pants: Accession No. 2007.120925.001A.
Item 2: Navy Blue University Bands Blazer: Accession No. 2007.120925.001B.

Box 25

Item 1: Orange University Bands Blazer: Accession No. 2007.120925.002.

Box 26

Folder 6: Milwaukee Police Band Honorary Membership Certificate, 1994
Folder 7: Concert Programs, ca. 1935-2000
Folder 8: Newspaper Clippings and Magazine Articles, ca. 1951-1966
Folder 9: U.S. Naval Acadamy Band Photograph, April, 1993

Box 28: Rolled photographs (for conservation)

Item 1: Oversized photo: Marching band performing at Fighting Illini vs. Michigan game at Memorial Stadium. Record attendance, 76127., 1983
Item 2: Poster. Rose Bowl '84: Illinois Fighting Illini, 1984
Item 3: Photograph. Georgia Intercollegiate Band at Georgia Music Educators Association. Columbia, GA., 1985: The first intercollegiate band in Georgia, with Harry Begian conducting.
Item 4: Poster: Wayne University bands with Begian photograph, undated
Item 5: Wayne University Band, ca. 1947: Begian was a special instructor and assistant in University Bands after World War II.

Box 29

Folder 1: Certificate, Begian, Induction into National Band Association Hall of Fame of Distinguished Band Conductors, February 1994
Folder 2: Photographs, Begian, Michigan State College Military Band and MSU Youth Symphonic Band; and Wayne State University [symphonic band] ca. 1966., 1935-1936 and 1959, 1961, 1966
Folder 4: Photographs from Australian Royal Military Band
Folder 7: La Traviata Poster - Begian Conducting, April 22
Folder 8: Photographs - Marching Illini, 1970, 1976, 1978
Folder 9: Photographs - University of Illinois Large Symphonic Band, 1970-71, 1973-74, 1974-75, 1976-77

MapCabinet 3

MapDrawer 1

Folder 1: Harry Begian oversized materials, 1925, 1930: Harvard Football Game, 1925 (oversized photograph); University of Illinois Symphonic Band poster, undated; and Michigan State College - White House, Oct. 31, 1930, Wash. D.C. (oversized photograph).