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 1: Administrative Records, 1948-2018

Consists of founding documents, constitution, teasurer reports, and committee correspondence and reports. Materials are arranged into four subseries: 1) Founding Documents, 2) Financial Reports, 3) General Correspondence, and 4) Special Committee Correspondence and Minutes.

Sub-Series 1: Founding documents, Constitution, Officer Duties, Presidential Procedures, 1948-2014

Consists of founding documents, constitution, and duties lists. Materials are arranged chronologically.

Box 1

Folder 1: Pre-Organization Correspondence, 1952-1953
Folder 2: Pre-Organization Correspondence - Goldmann and Santelmann Letters, 1953
Folder 3: Pre-Organization Correspondence - Prior to Cedar Rapids Convention, ca. 1953
Folder 4: Correspondence Re: Organization of An American School Band Directors Assn,, May 27, 1953
Folder 5: Charter Meeting, Cedar Rapids, Nov. 21-22, 1953
Folder 6: Constitution Rough Draft and Working Copy with Additions and Deletions, Nov. 21-22, 1953
Folder 7: Organizing Convention - Agenda, Nov. 21-22, 1953
Folder 8: Organizing Convention - List of Delegates by State, Cedar Rapids, Nov. 21-22, 1953
Folder 9: Official Constitution and By-Laws Adopted by Charter Members, 1953
Folder 10: Telegram - Forrest L. McAllister to Editor, Detroit News, 1953
Folder 11: Post Convention - Bulletin, Dec. 14, 1953
Folder 12: ASBDA Minutes, Nov. 20, 1953-1958
Folder 13: ASBDA Drop-Outs (1 of 3), 1954-1961
Folder 14: ASBDA Drop-Outs (2 of 3), 1954-1957
Folder 15: ASBDA Drop-Outs (3 of 3), 1954-1958
Folder 16: Blank Certificates and Correspondence about Designs, 1955-1956
Folder 17: Articles of Incorporation, Dec. 10, 1959
Folder 18: Copyrights, 1959-1969
Folder 19: Attendance Review Board, 1959-1972
Folder 20: State Propcedures, 1959-1974
Folder 21: ASBDA Officers Duties, ca. 1960
Folder 22: Presidential Procedures in Sequence, 1963
Folder 23: Sergeant at Arms, 1966-1967
Folder 24: Constitution Revision Committee Correspondence and Proposals, 1967
Folder 25: History of ASBDA, A, 2nd Edition; Dale C. Harris, ca. 1972-1983
Folder 26: ASBDA Archives Reports, 1984-2014
Folder 27: Certificate of Merit (Blank), ca. 1990-2010
Folder 28: Constitutional Review Committee Plans and Slide Presentation, 2006
Folder 29: ASBDA Handbook Revised, 2008
Folder 30: Office Manager Report, 2008

Box 19

Folder 1: Convention Historical Interest - Al Galladora and Ralph Herman News Articles, 1948-1954
Folder 2: Proposed Articles of Incorporation, 1954-1959
Folder 3: Application of Trademark, 1960-1963
Folder 4: Great Seal of ASBDA and Patent Office Registration, 1961-1963
Folder 5: Constitution Revision Committee Proposed Revised DRAFTS, 1966

Sub-Series 2: Financial Reports, 1953-2012

Consists of financial reports. Materials are arranged chronologically.

Box 1

Folder 31: Financial Reports, 1953
Folder 32: Financial Reports, 1954
Folder 33: Financial Reports, 1957
Folder 34: Financial Reports, 1958
Folder 35: Financial Reports - Seymour Okun, Treasurer, 1959
Folder 36: Financial Reports, 1960
Folder 37: Financial Reports, 1963
Folder 38: Financial Reports, 1964-1967
Folder 39: Financial Reports, 1968
Folder 40: Financial Reports, 1969
Folder 41: Financial Records (1 of 2), 1972
Folder 42: Financial Reports (2 of 2), 1972

Box 2

Folder 1: Financial Reports (1 of 2), 1973
Folder 2: Financial Reports (2 of 2), 1973
Folder 3: Financial Reports, 1975-1976
Folder 4: Figuring Book, 1976
Folder 5: Financial Reports, 1976
Folder 6: Vouchers 101-188 First Report - Atlantic City, 1976
Folder 7: Vouchers 189-264 - Second Report, 1976-1977
Folder 8: Financial Reports, 1977
Folder 9: Disbursements - Checking, 1978
Folder 10: Financial Reports, 1978
Folder 11: Treasurer's Records, 1979
Folder 12: Vouchers 1001-1119, 1979
Folder 13: Vouchers #1120-1185, 1979
Folder 14: Expense Account Receipts - Office of the President, 1979
Folder 15: Finances - President's Account, 1979
Folder 16: Financial Reports, 1979
Folder 17: Treasurer Receipt Forms - Robert W. Bouwa, 1979
Folder 18: American National Bank Statements, 1979-1980
Folder 19: Bank Savings Books, 1979-1980
Folder 20: Financial Reports, 1979-1985
Folder 21: Expense Vouchers - President's Copies, 1980
Folder 22: Treasurer Reports - Ray Haney - Monthly Financial Statements, 1986-1987
Folder 23: Treasurer Reports, 1981-1991

Box 3

Folder 1: Treasurer Records - William J. Svec, Jr. (1 of 3), 1991-1992
Folder 2: Treasurer Records - William J. Svec, Jr. (2 of 3), 1991-1992
Folder 3: Treasurer Records - William J. Svec, Jr. (3 of 3), 1991-1992
Folder 4: Financial Report, 2011-2012

Box 19

Folder 6: Financial Reports, 1954
Folder 7: Financial Reports, 1955
Folder 8: Financial Reports, 1956-1957
Folder 9: Financial Reports, 1959
Folder 10: Financial Reports, 1961
Folder 11: Financial Reports, 1962
Folder 12: Financial Reports, 1970
Folder 13: Financial Reports, 1971

Box 20

Folder 1: Treasurer Records, 1986-1988

Sub-Series 3: General Correspondence, 1953-2009

Consists of correspondence of various committees, executive board members, and general members. Materials are arranged chronologically.

Box 3

Folder 5: Correspondence, 1953
Folder 6: ASBDA Canadian Correspondence, 1953-1957
Folder 7: Early and Organizational Correspondence - E, 1953-1959
Folder 8: Early and Organizational Correspondence - F, 1954-1959
Folder 9: Early and Organizational Correspondence - G, 1954-1956
Folder 10: Early and Organizational Correspondence - H, 1953-1959
Folder 11: Early and Organizational Correspondence - I, 1954
Folder 12: Early and Organizational Correspondence - J, 1953-1959
Folder 13: Early and Organizational Correspondence - K, 1954-1956
Folder 14: Early and Organizational Correspondence - L, 1953-1959
Folder 15: Early and Organizational Correspondence - M, 1953-1959
Folder 16: Early and Organizational Correspondence - Mc, 1953-1959
Folder 17: Early and Organizational Correspondence - N, 1953-1959
Folder 18: Early and Organizational Correspondence - O, 1954-1959
Folder 19: Early and Organizational Correspondence - P, 1954-1959
Folder 20: Early and Organizational Correspondence - R, 1954-1960
Folder 21: Early and Organizational Correspondence - S, 1954-1956
Folder 22: Early and Organizational Correspondence - T, 1954-1959
Folder 23: Early and Organizational Correspondence - V, 1953-1957
Folder 24: Early and Organizational Correspondence - W, 1953-1959
Folder 25: Early and Organizational Correspondence - Y and Z, 1953-1954
Folder 26: Correspondence, 1954-1956
Folder 27: Correspondence, 1956
Folder 28: Correspondence, 1957
Folder 29: Correspondence, 1958
Folder 30: Correspondence - Secretary - Philip J. Fuller, 1958
Folder 31: Correspondence, 1959
Folder 32: Correspondence - Editor, School Musician- Ernest McMillan, 1959
Folder 33: Correspondence, 1959-1960
Folder 34: Correspondence - Re: National Band Association, 1960
Folder 35: Correspondence, 1961
Folder 36: Correspondence, 1962
Folder 37: Robert Dean and Mac E. Carr Letter
Folder 38: Correspondence, 1963
Folder 39: Correspondence, 1965-1966
Folder 40: Correspondence - Raeford Worsted Company, 1965-1966
Folder 41: Correspondence - Joliet Situation, 1966
Folder 42: Correspondence (1 of 2), 1966-1967

Box 4

Folder 1: Correspondence (2 of 2), 1967
Folder 2: Correspondence - Treasurer - Philip Waron, 1966-1967
Folder 3: Correspondence - Secretary - Dale Harper, 1966-1967
Folder 4: Correspondence - Vice President - Ardeen Foss, 1966-1967
Folder 5: Correspondence - Reporter - Jim Clark, 1967
Folder 6: Correspondence - Treasurer - Elwood Nichols, 1968-1969
Folder 7: Correspondence - Treasurer's Outgoing E. Elwood Nichols, 1969
Folder 8: Associate Membership Correspondence and E-mail, 2007-2009

Sub-Series 4: Special Committee Correspondence, Reports, and Minutes, 1960-2018

Consists of committee correspondence and reports. Materials are arranged alphabetically and chronologically therein.

Box 4

Folder 9: Archives Committee - Correspondence and Reports, 1984-1988
Folder 10: Archives Committee Correspondence, 1974
Folder 11: Archives Report, 2018
Folder 12: Band Parent Associates Project - Newsletters, Bulletins, and Correspondence, 1967
Folder 13: Band Parent Associates Project Correspondence, 1962-1963
Folder 14: Bands in Education Committee Materials, 1966-1967
Folder 15: Committee on Effects of Accelerated School Program, 1960-1963
Folder 16: Community Band Participation - Semour Okun, 1963
Folder 17: Education Foundation, 1986-2009
Folder 18: Education Foundation Annual Report, Finance Spreadsheet, Convention Hotel Receipt, 1998-2000
Folder 19: Education Foundation Pamphlets, c. 2000s
Folder 20: Executive Board Bulletins, 1966-1967
Folder 21: Interim Evaluation Committee Minutes, 1981
Folder 22: Finance Committee, 1966-1967
Folder 23: National Membership Committee - Elden Rosegart Chairman, 1959
Folder 24: National Membership Committee - Associate Membership Chairman - Donald Stump, 1966-1967
Folder 25: National Membership Committee - Notices of Status Changes, 1967
Folder 26: National Membership Committee, 1972-1973
Folder 27: National Membership Committee, 1985
Folder 28: National Organizing Committee - Mac E. Carr Chairman, 1960-1961
Folder 29: National Organizing Committee, 1961
Folder 30: National Organizing Committee (1 of 3), 1966
Folder 31: National Organizing Committee (2 of 3), 1966
Folder 32: National Organizing Committee (3 of 3), 1966
Folder 33: National Organizing Committee, 1971
Folder 34: Project Funding Application for Sousa Band Register, 2000
Folder 35: Office Manager - Annual Report, 2012-2014
Folder 36: Special Committee Member Lists, Undated
Folder 37: Special Committees Reports, Correspondence, Rosters, and Newsletters, 1973-2000
Folder 38: Stars and Stripes Committee, 1966-1967
Folder 39: State Chairman Handbook and Outline, 1975-1998
Folder 40: Strategic Planning Committee, 2006-2007
Folder 41: Research - Dale Harris, 1962-1963

Box 20

Folder 2: NABDCC Reports, 1961-1973
Folder 3: Marching Band Role in Modern Education, 1966

Box 22

Item 1: Executive and Board Meeting Minutes, 2004

Tape Cassette. Side 1 - 1st Executive Board Meating 6/29/04 and first portion of 2nd Executive Board Meeting 6/30/04

Side 2 - 2nd Exectuive Board Meeting Continued 6/30/04

Item 2: Executive Board Meetings and Minutes, 2004

Tape Cassette. Executive Board Meeting 07/01/04

Side 2 - Executive Board Meeting (Continued) 07/01/04

Item 3: Executive Board and General Meetings and Minutes, 2004

Tape Cassette. Third Executive Board Meeting (Continued) 07/01/04 and Second General Meeting 07/01/04

Side 2 - Fourth Executive Board Meeting 07/02/04

Item 4: Executive Board Meetings and Minutes, 2004

Tape Cassette. Fourth Executive Board Meeting - 07/02/04

Side 2 - Fourth Executive Board Meeting (Continued) 07/02/04

Item 5: Business, Financial, and Executive Meetins and Minutes, Banquet, 2004

Tape Cassette. Third Business Meeting - 07/03/04, Financial and Joint Executive Meeting - 07/03/04, Banquet 07/03/04

Side 2 - Banquet (Continued) 07/03/04

Item 6: Business Meeting, General Meeting, 2004-2005

Tape Cassette. Side 1 Business Meeting, 7/3/2004

Side 2 General Meeting, 7/6/2005

Item 7: Executive and General Meeting, 2004

Tape Cassette. Side 1 2nd Executive Meeting, 6/30/2004

Side 2 1st General Meeting, 6/30/2004

Item 8: General Meeting, 2004-2005

Tape Cassette. Side 1 General Meeting #1, 7/6/2005; General Meeting #2, 6/30/2004

Side 2 General Meeging #2, 6/30/2004

Item 9: Executive Board Meeting, Banquet, 2004-2005

Tape Cassette. Side 1 Banquet, 7/3/2004

Side 2 Executive Board Meeting, 7/6/1995

Item 10: Business Meeting, Banquet, 2005

Tape Cassette. Side A 2nd Business Meeting, 7/8/2005

Side B Banquet, 7/7/2005

Item 11: Executive and Board Meeting, 2005

Tape Cassette. Side A Executive and Board Meeging, 7/7/2005

Side B: Business Meeting, 2nd, 7/8/2005

Item 12: Business Meeting, 2005

Tape Cassette. Side A: Business Meeting, #3, 7/9/2005

Sub B Business Meeting, #3, 7/9/2005

Item 13: Business Meeting, Banquet, 2005

Tape Cassette. Side A Business Meeting, #3, 7/9/2005

Side B Banquet, 7/9/2005