Finding Aid for American School Band Directors Association Records, 1917-2021 | The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music

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Collection Overview

Title: American School Band Directors Association Records, 1917-2021

ID: 12/9/178

Primary Creator: American School Band Directors Association (1953-)

Extent: 23.25 cubic feet

Arrangement:

Materials are arranged into seven series, which are as follows: Series 1) Administrative Records, Series 2) Presidents' Records, Series 3) Convention and Festival Records, Series 4) Special Projects, Series 5) Awards, Series 6) Ephemera, Series 7) Past President's Personal Papers.

Series 1) Administrative Records is arranged into four subseries, which are: Sub-Series 1) Founding Documents, Sub-Series 2) Financial Reports, Sub-Series 3) General Correspondence, and Sub-Series 4) Special Committee Correspondence and Meeting Minutes. Materials within these subseries are arranged chronologically.

Series 2) Presidents' Records is arranged chronologically by president and in the original order each president's files were maintained.

Series 3) Convention and Festival Records is arranged into five sub-series, which are: Sub-Series 1) Meeting Minutes, Directories, and Handbooks, Sub-Series 2) Committee Reports and Planning, Sub-Series 3) Programs, Sub-Series 4) Photographs and Audio Recordings, Sub-Series 5) Festivals. Sub-series 1-3 and 5 are arranged chronologically, sub-series 4 is arranged alphabetically.

Series 4) Special Projects is arranged into three sub-series, which are: Sub-Series 1) Research Committee Reports and Correspondence, Sub-Series 2) ASBDA Curriculum Guides, and Sub-Series 3) Commissioned Publications and Scores. All sub-series are arranged chronologically.

Series 5) Awards is arranged alphabetically by award and chronologically therein.

Series 6) Ephemera is unarranged.

Series 7) Past Presidents' Personal Papers is arranged into four sub-series, which are: Sub-Series 1) Dale C. Harris Personal Papers, Sub-Series 2) Ross Leeper Personal Papers, Sub-Series 3) Edgar Rooker Personal Papers, and Sub-Series 4) Jack Pierson Personal Collection. All four sub-series are arranged chronologically.

Date Acquired: 03/11/2023. More info below under Accruals.

Subjects: Band Clinics, Band Concerts, Bands, Bands (Music), Illinois School Band Association, Music--Societies, etc. -- United States

Languages: English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

Consists of meeting minutes, correspondence, organization constitution, programs, financial reports, photographs, awards, audio recordings, committee reports, and presidents' files documenting the founding and administrative management of the ASBDA between 1953 and 2012.

Biographical Note

The American School Band Directors Association, or ASBDA, is a professional association of band directors teaching at the elementary- or secondary-school level. Established in 1953, its objectives were to represent school band directors in the academic and business communities; to foster the exchange of ideas and methods that will advance the standards of musical and educational achievement; to stress the importance of the school band in the educational process and establish bands as a basic course in the school curriculum; to maintain a program for the improvement of school bands through research and experimentation; and to cooperate with existing associations that share the aim of promoting the band as a worthwhile medium of musical expression. Membership (by invitation) was and is open to active school band directors with a minimum of five years’ teaching experience who command the respect of their colleagues for the standard of performance and musicianship achieved by their bands.

The organization was initially led by Dale C. Harris, who was both a founding member and the organization's first president. In addition to his duties as president, Harris was a long-time band director at Pontiac High School in the Detroit suburb of Pontiac, Michigan. Harris had previously served as the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association and wished to develop a national organization devoted to elementary and secondary school band directors. At Harris's behest, fifty-nine delegates, including Edwin Franko Goldman and A. Austin Harding, met in Cedar Rapids, IA with the goal of establishing both an organization for school band directors and developing a comprehensive program for members to develop robust and successful programs. The first Executive Board of the ASBDA consisted of Harris (President); Pat Arsers (Vice President); R. Cedric Anderson (Secretary); George Patrick (treasurer); and John Farinacci, Dean L. Harrington, and H. L. Lidstrom (members at large). At this meeting, the organization also determined that The School Musician should become the official magazine of the organization.

In 1962, the organization published its first course of study for school band directors; this was followed in 1966 byThe Curriculum Guide, a step-by-step guide to teaching band that was given to new members or available for purchase for non-members. This book, officially published in 1973, included a revised publication in 1997. The ASBDA published on numerous research topics that were guided by the practical knowledge learned by master band directors.

In 1964, the organization presented its first award, the Edwin Franko Goldman Award to Capt. James Harper. The award was intended to serve as a token of appreciation for outstanding personal contributions to the school band movement. This award was given to several non-ASBDA recipients including Frank Simon, William D. Revelli, Karl King, Glenn Cliff Bainum, Mark Hindsley, Clarence Sawhill, and Frank Battisti. The association began presenting the A. Austin Harding Award in 1980 to individuals for valuable and dedicated service to the bands of America. The first recipient of this award was Leonard Falcone and other recipients include: Frederick Fennell, Donald Hunsberger, Paul E. Bierley, Alfred Reed, and Frank Tichelli. Additional past and present awards offered by the organization include the Carl Fischer Award, the Stanbury Award for young band directors, and the Al and Gladys Wright Lifetime Service to Bands Award.

In 1973, the ASBDA received a sizeable donation from H.B. Volkwein, which has allowed the organization to function through the 2000s. The organization's finances were overseen by longtime member, president, and treasurer Ross Leeper, who was a core founder of the ASBDA Education Foundation in 1987. In addition to securing sources of funding for the organization's long-term future, the foundation has funded projects that include an original score by James Curnow and a CD reissue of the Pontiac High School Silver Anniversary Concert, featuring Dale C. Harris, Edwin Franko Goldman, and William D. Revelli among others.

In 1994, the organization was cited as an one of the few professional music organizations that quickly adopted Title IX changes. In its innagural year, the organization did not accept any female directors. Although only two women were invited to join the ASBDA in the 1950s, this number quickly increased. By 1992, 141 of the organization's 1351 members were female. Carol Snook, who served as the organization's secretary in 1986, was the first woman elected to an executive position. Marriane Sandstrom was elected as the first female president in 1995. Organizational records suggest that gender equality is increasing in the organization.

Since its founding, the organization has held an annual conference in various US cities. Several conference sites include cities in Illinois, including Urbana (2nd conference), Joliet (6th conference), Evanston (36th conference), and Lisle (46th conference). In 2009, the organization changed its conference structure, so national conventions would meet biannually with regional conferences occuring in the off-years. The ASBDA continues to grow and expand as an organization and its biannual conference remains the principal vehicle for change within the organization.

Subject/Index Terms

Band Clinics
Band Concerts
Bands
Bands (Music)
Illinois School Band Association
Music--Societies, etc. -- United States

Administrative Information

Repository: The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music

Accruals: An additional six cubic feet of personal papers belonging to Ross Leeper and Dale C. Harris were donated by Jim Feltz on June 16, 2023.

Acquisition Source: Linda Fox-Miller, ASBDA Executive Director

Acquisition Method: Gift

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Administrative Records, 1948-2018],
[Series 2: Presidents' Records, 1954-2015],
[Series 3: Convention and Festival Records, 1953-2018],
[Series 4: Special Projects, 1957-2013],
[Series 5: Awards, 1956-2014],
[Series 6: Ephemera, 1997-2010],
[Series 7: Past Presidents' Personal Papers, 1917-2021],
[All]

Series 3: Convention and Festival Records, 1953-2018

Consists of National Convention planning documents, programs, photographs, audio recordings, and festival materials. Materials are arranged into five sub-series: 1) Meeting Minutes, Directories, and Handbooks, 2) Committee Reports and Planning, 3) Programs, 4) Photographs, Audio, and Audio-Visual Recordings, and 5) Festivals.

Sub-Series 1: Meeting Minutes, Directories, and Handbooks, 1953-2018

Consists of planning documents, meeting minutes, member directories, and handbooks, which were created for the national convention. Materials are arranged chronologically.

Box 10

Folder 21: Minutes of Conventions 1-7 - Official Copy, 1953-1959
Folder 22: ASBDA Annual Convention (Organizing Meeting) Official Minutes, 1953-1985
Folder 23: Minutes of Conventions 3-5, 1955-1957
Folder 24: Minutes and Proceedings, 1956-1957
Folder 25: 6th Annual Convention - Pt. II Attachments, Dec. 14-17, 1958
Folder 26: Memorandum on McAllister Tribute, Joliet Illinois, 1958
Folder 27: Minutes and Proceedings, 1958
Folder 28: Index ASBDA Convention Minutes, 1953 Constitutions and By-Laws, 1974 Convention Pass, 1955-1974
Folder 29: Minutes and Proceedings, 1959-1960
Folder 30: Minutes and Proceedings - Directory and Handbook, 1960
Folder 31: Minutes and Proceedings - Directory and Handbook, 1961
Folder 32: Minutes and Proceedings - Directory and Handbook, 1962
Folder 33: Minutes and Proceedings - Directory and Handbook, 1963
Folder 34: Minutes and Proceedings - Directory and Handbook, 1964
Folder 35: Minutes and Proceedings - Directory and Handbook, 1965

Box 11

Folder 1: Minutes and Proceedings - Directory and Handbook, 1966
Folder 2: Minutes and Proceedings - Directory and Handbook, 1967
Folder 3: Minutes and Proceedings - Directory and Handbook, 1968
Folder 4: Convention Registration Form, 1969
Folder 5: Minutes and Proceedings - Directory and Handbook, 1969
Folder 6: Minutes and Proceedings - Directory and Handbook, 1970-1971
Folder 7: Index of ASBDA Minutes, 1971
Folder 8: Minutes and Proceedings - Directory and Handbook, 1972-1973
Folder 9: Minutes and Proceedings - Directory and Handbook, 1974-1975
Folder 10: Minutes and Proceedings - Directory and Handbook, 1976-1977
Folder 11: Minutes and Proceedings - Directory and Handbook, 1978-1979
Folder 12: Minutes and Proceedings - Directory and Handbook, 1980-1981
Folder 13: Minutes and Proceedings - Directory and Handbook, 1982-1983
Folder 14: Directory, 1982-83 and Handbook, 1986-87, 1982-1987
Folder 15: Minutes and Proceedings, 1984-1985
Folder 16: Directory and Handbook, 1984-1985
Folder 17: Directory, 1986-87 and Handbook, 1982-87, 1982-1987
Folder 18: Minutes and Proceedings, 1986-1987
Folder 19: Minutes and Proceedings, 1988-1989
Folder 20: Directory, 1988-1989
Folder 21: Directory, 1990-91 and Handbook, 1989-93, 1989-1993
Folder 22: Minutes and Proceedings, 1990-1991
Folder 23: Minutes and Proceedings, 1992-1993
Folder 24: Directory and Handbook, 1993-1995
Folder 25: Minutes and Proceedings, 1994-1995
Folder 26: Minutes and Proceedings, 1996-1997
Folder 27: Directory and Handbook, 1996
Folder 28: Minutes and Proceedings, 1998
Folder 29: Directory and Handbook, 1998-1999
Folder 30: Minutes and Proceedings - Directory and Handbook, 2000

Box 12

Folder 1: Minutes and Proceedings - Directory and Handbook, July 2001
Folder 2: Minutes and Directory, August 2002
Folder 3: Minutes and Directory, June 2003
Folder 4: Minutes and Directory, June and July 2004
Folder 5: Minutes and Directory, July 2005
Folder 6: Minutes and Directory, June 2006
Folder 7: Minutes and Directory, June 2007
Folder 8: Minutes and Directory, June 2008
Folder 9: Minutes and Directory, June 2009
Folder 10: Minutes and Proceedings, July 2010
Folder 11: Directory, 2010-2011
Folder 12: Minutes and Proceedings, June 2012
Folder 13: Executive Board Minutes, 2014
Folder 14: Minutes and Proceedings, July 2014
Folder 15: Minutes and Proceedings, June and July 2016
Folder 16: Newly Revised ASBDA Handbook, 2017
Folder 17: Director's Jazz Reading Band, 2018

Sub-Series 2: Committee Reports and Planning, 1954-2013

Consists of committee reports of the national convention planning committee. Materials are arranged chronologically.

Box 12

Folder 18: Convention Correspondence, Bulletins, and Program Outlines, 1954
Folder 19: Second Convention Program Formatting Draft, 1954
Folder 20: Convention Sites Committee, 1959-1981
Folder 21: Convention Planning and Correspondence, 1966
Folder 22: Correspondence- Convention Planning, 1966-1967
Folder 23: Correspondence - Convention Speakers, 1966-1967
Folder 24: Correspondence - National Convention in Boulder, 1966-1967
Folder 25: Report of the Committee on Convention Planning to the Executive Board, 1977
Folder 26: Procedure Excerpts from ASBDA Convention Minutes, 1974
Folder 27: Procedure Excerpts from ASBDA Convention Minutes, 1964-1975, 1976
Folder 28: Convention Scheduling, 1985
Folder 29: Convention Application Requewst form, Financial Report, 1992-1993
Folder 30: Illinois Convention Planning and Correspondence, 1998
Folder 31: ASBDA Convention Nashville, TN, 2009
Folder 32: ASBDA Region 3 Conference, 2011
Folder 33: ASBDA Region 2 and 3 Conference, 2013

Box 21

Folder 4: Convention Planning - Notes, 1960
Folder 5: Correspondence. Convention Planning, 1964
Folder 6: Convention Planning, 1966
Folder 7: National Convention Planning Committee, 1967-1973
Folder 8: ASBDA Region 2 Conference, 2011

Sub-Series 3: Programs, 1954-2018

Consists of national convention programs. Materials are arranged chronologically.

Box 12

Folder 34: Convention Programs - 2nd to 7th, 1954-1959
Folder 35: Convention Programs - 8th to 12th, 1960-1964

Box 13

Folder 1: Convention Programs - 13th to 17th, 1965-1969
Folder 2: Convention Programs - 18th to 22nd, 1970-1974
Folder 3: Convention Programs - 23rd to 27th, 1975-1979
Folder 4: Convention Programs - 28th to 32nd, 1980-1984
Folder 5: Convention Programs - 33rd to 37th, 1985-1989
Folder 6: Convention Programs - 38th to 42nd, 1990-1994
Folder 7: Convention Programs - 43rd to 47th, 1995-1999
Folder 8: Convention Programs - 48th to 52nd, 2000-2004
Folder 9: Convention Programs - 53rd to 57th, 2005-2009
Folder 10: Convention Programs - 58th to 62nd, 2010-2018
Folder 11: Regional Conference Program, 2011
Folder 12: Convention Schedule and Agenda, 2018

Box 25

Folder 1: Industry Banquet ASBDA Program, 1963

Sub-Series 4: Photographs, Audio, and Audio-Visual Recordings, 1965-2006

Consists of staged and candid photographs and audio recordings of performing ensembles at the national convention. Materials are arranged alphabetically.

Box 22

Item 14: Aiken High School Concert Band, 1986: Tape Cassette. Aiken, South Carolina, Keith Moore, Director. North High School Concert Band Competition;-Festival; Virginia Beach, Virginia, 5/15-17/1986.
Item 15: Austintown Fitch High School Concert Band, Youngstown, Ohio, 1986: Tape Cassette. Youngstown, Ohio; National High School Concert Band Competition-Festival, Virginia Beach, VA, May 15-17, 1986.
Item 16: Berea High School Symphonic Winds, Burea, Ohio, 1986: Tape Cassette. National High School Concert Band Competition-Festival, Virginia Beach, VA, 5/15-17/1986.
Item 17: Clare High School Concert Band, Clare, Michigan, 1986: Tape Cassette. National High School Concert Band Competition-Festival, Virginia Beach, VA, 5/15-17/1986.
Item 18: Fitzgerald High School Concert Band, Warren, Micbigan, 1986: Tape Cassette. National High School Concert Band Competition-Festival, Virginia Beach, VA, 5/15-17/1986.
Item 19: Glenoak High School Symphonic Band, North Canton, Ohio, 1986: Tape Cassette. National High School Concert Band Competition-Festival, Virginia Beach, VA, 5/15-17/1986.
Item 20: Hinsdale South High School Concert Band, Darien, Illinois, 1986: Tape Cassette. National High School Concert Band Competition-Festival, Virginia Beach, VA, 5/15-17/1986.
Item 21: James Madison High School Concert Band, Vienna, VA, 1986: Tape Cassette.
Item 22: Kempsville High School Concert Band, Virginia Beach, VA, 1986: Tape Cassette. National High School Concert Band Competition-Festival, Virginia Beach, VA, 5/15-17/1986.
Item 23: Lake Baddock Hich School Concert Band, Burke, VA, 1986: Tape Cassette. National High School Concert Band Competition-Festival, Virginia Beach, VA, 5/15-17/1986.
Item 24: Lapeer West High School Concert Band, Lapeer, MI, 1986: Tape Cassette. National High School Concert Band Competition-Festival, Virginia Beach, VA, 5/15-17/1986.
Item 25: Lapeer West Gugh Scgiik Symphonic Band, Lapeer, MI, 1986: Tape Cassette. National High School Concert Band Competition-Festival, Virginia Beach, VA, 5/15-17/1986.
Item 26: Marquette Senior High School Wind Ensemble, 1986: Tape Cassette. National High School Concert Band Competition-Festival, Virginia Beach, VA, 5/15-17/1986.
Item 27: Oak Glen High School Concert Band, New Coumberland, WV, 1986: Tape Cassette. National High School Concert Band Competition-Festival, Virginia Beach, VA, 5/15-17/1986.
Item 28: Port Huron Northern High School Symphonic Band, Port Huron, MI, 1986: Tape Cassette. National High School Concert Band Competition-Festival, Virginia Beach, VA, 5/15-17/1986.
Item 29: Port Huron Norhern High School Concert Band, Port Huron, MI, 1986: Tape Cassette. National High School Concert Band Competition-Festival, Virginia Beach, VA, 5/15-17/1986.
Item 30: Reynoldsburg High School High School Symphonic Band, Reynoldsburg, OH, 1986: Tape Cassette. National High School Concert Band Competition-Festival, Virginia Beach, VA, 5/15-17/1986.
Item 31: Shenandah High School Wind Endsemb/e, Clifton Park, NY, 1986: Tape Cassette. National High School Concert Band Competition-Festival, Virginia Beach, VA, 5/15-17/1986.
Item 32: Thomas Downey High School Concert Band, 1986: Tape Cassette. National High School Concert Band Competition-Festival, Virginia Beach, VA, 5/15-17/1986.
Item 33: Vernon-Verona-Sherrill Central School Concert Band, Verona, NY, 1986: Tape Cassette. National High School Concert Band Competition-Festival, Virginia Beach, VA, 5/15-17/1986.

Box 23

Item 1: Big Time Jazz Orchestra - ASBDA 50th Annual Convention, 2002: CD.
Item 2: Duluth Central High School Concert Band & Jazz Ensemble - ASBDA 50th Annual Convention, 2002: CD.
Item 3: Hermantown Middle School Band - ASBDA 50th Annual Convention, 2002: CD.
Item 4: Twin Ports Wind Ensemble - ASBDA 50th Annual Convention, 2002: CD.
Item 5: All-State Concert Band - Minnesota Music Educators Association, 2002-03: CD.
Item 6: All-State Jazz Ensemble - Minnesota Music Educators Association, 2002-03: CD.
Item 7: All-State Symphonic Band - Minnesota Music Educators Association, 2002-03: CD.
Item 8: The Arapahoe High School Wind Ensemble - ASBDA 54th Annual Convention, 2006: CD.
Item 9: Boulder Concert Band - ASBDA 54th Annual Convention, 2006: CD.
Item 10: Cheyenne Mountain District Summer Band - ASBDA 54th Annual Convention, 2006: CD.
Item 16: Arkansas All-State Band with Welcome by President Clinton - Opening Session 1994 Convention, 1994: VHS.

Box 24

Item 2: The Sounds of Sousa, Vol. 1 - A Tribute by ASBDA, 1965: LP.
Item 3: The Sounds of Sousa, Vol. 2 - A Tribute by ASBDA, 1969: LP.
Item 4: ASBDA - in Dixieland, 1973: LP.
Item 5: Sounds of Karl L. King - University of Iowa Symphony Band, 1976: LP.
Item 6: Chatfield Brass Band - ASBDA 27th Annual Convention, 1979: LP.
Item 7: Duluth Central High School Jazz Ensemble/Concert Band - ASBDA 27th Annual Convention, 1979: LP.
Item 8: Minnesota ASBDA All-Star Band - ASBDA 27th Annual Convention, 1979: LP.
Item 9: Sauk Centre High School - ASBDA 27th Annual Convention, 1979: LP.
Item 10: Tartan High School Jazz Ensemble/Concert Band - ASBDA 27th Annual Convention, 1979: LP.

Box 25

Folder 2: Festival Photo Album, 1986

Sub-Series 5: Festivals, 1983-1989

Consists of national contest festival records and plaques for contestants. Materials are arranged chronologically.

Box 13

Folder 13: National Contest Festival Materials - National Band Competition History, 1983-1984
Folder 14: National School Concert Band Competition Festival Seal, 1984
Folder 15: National Band Competition Festival - David Reul, Chairman, 1984-1985
Folder 16: National Contest Festival Material - National Band Competition, 1984-1985
Folder 17: National Contest Festival Material - National Band Contest, 1984-1987
Folder 18: National Contest Festival Material - National Band Competition, 1985-1986
Folder 19: National Contest Festival Material - National Band Competition, 1986
Folder 20: National High School Concert Band Competition - Festival Entry Form, 1986
Folder 21: National Contest Festival - Adjudication Forms, 1987

Box 21

Folder 9: National Contest Festival Organization, Correspondence, Forms and Photos, 1985-1986

Box 25

Folder 6: National School Concert Band Competition Festival Plaque, c. 1980-1989