A Austin Harding Papers

Overview

Scope and Contents

Biographical Note

Subject Terms

Detailed Description

Music

Personal Papers and Administrative Records

Professional Association Papers

Photographs, Ephemera and Uniforms



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Finding Aid for A Austin Harding Papers, 1895-1958 | The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music

By LeAnn Splitter, Adriana Cuervo, and Kelly A. Carlson

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Collection Overview

Title: A Austin Harding Papers, 1895-1958Add to your cart.View associated digital content.

ID: 12/9/22

Primary Creator: Harding, Albert Austin (1880-1958)

Extent: 50.3 cubic feet

Arrangement: The Papers are arranged into four series: Series 1, Music, Sub-Series 1, Manuscript Arrangements by Harding, Sub-Series 2, Published Arrangements by Harding, Sub-Series 3, Manuscript Arrangements not by Harding, Sub-Series 4, Photo Negatives of Manuscript Arrangements, Sub-Series 5, Published Music not by Harding, Sub-Series 6, Solo/Ensemble Music and Method Books; Series 2, Personal Papers and Administrative Records, Sub-Series 1, Subject Files, Sub-Series 2, Correspondence, Sub-Series 3, Concert Programs, Sub-Series 4, Band Administrative Files, Sub-Series 5, Publications, Sub-Series 6, Course Materials, Sub-Series 7, Speeches and Biographical Material, Sub-Series 8, Honors and Awards, Sub-Series 9, Post-Retirement; Series 3: Professional Association Papers, Sub-Series 1, American Bandmasters Association, Sub-Series 2, National Music Camp (Interlochen), Sub-Series 3, University of Illinois Band Clinic, Sub-Series 4, Illinois High School Band Conference, Sub-Series 5, Contests and Guest Engagements, Sub-Series 6, Pi Kappa Lambda; and Series 4, Photos, Ephemera and Uniforms, Sub-Series 1, Photographs; Sub-Series 2, Ephemera; Sub-Series 3, Uniforms.

Subjects: American Bandmasters Association, Band, Football, Band Buildings, Band Clinics, Band Concerts, Band Department, Band Theory, Music Competitions, National Music Camp (Interlochen, MI)

Formats/Genres: Papers

Languages: English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The A. Austin Harding Papers consists of music, correspondence, concert programs, administration files, publications, course materials and photographs that document the career of A. Austin Harding, Director of Bands at the University of Illinois from 1906 until 1948. Of particular interest are the manuscript arrangements made by Harding especially for the University of Illinois Concert Band; correspondence with influential band leaders and composers of the time including John Philip Sousa, Frederick Fennell, William Revelli, and Percy Grainger; and materials dealing with the evolution of the University band program from a small military band to the large band program it became by the time of Harding's retirement.

Biographical Note

Albert Austin Harding was asked to direct the University of Illinois Band by the head of the School of Music in the spring of 1905 while he was still a senior in the College of Engineering. Harding accepted and was officially a member of the faculty in the fall of 1905. To Harding, the position was only a temporary arrangement, as his goal at the time was to become a municipal and sanitary engineer. After two years of conducting the band, Harding was officially appointed the first Director of Bands in 1907, a position he held until his retirement in 1948. With this appointment Illinois became the first university to create a distinct band department under a director of bands. Harding eventually went on to earn a full professorship in music, making him the first band director on an American campus to hold this rank.

Professor Harding expanded the traditional roles of bands at military ceremonies and sporting events and added a great emphasis on concert band music and transcriptions of symphonic and chamber pieces. The professionalism and musicianship of the University of Illinois Bands under Harding were legend and became the standard to which other colleges and universities aspired.

Harding enjoyed a very close personal and professional relationship with the legendary bandmaster, John Philip Sousa. In the 1920s Sousa dubbed the University of Illinois Band "the world's greatest college concert band." On March 20, 1930, the band performed a concert with Sousa as its guest conductor. At the concert, Sousa dedicated his "University of Illinois March" to the faculty, students, and alumni. Upon his death in 1932, Sousa left his vast library and treasured mementoes to the University of Illinois as a gesture of his high esteem for Harding and his band. The Sousa collection is now housed in the Sousa Archives and Center for American Music located in the Harding Band Building, named in honor of Albert Austin Harding and dedicated in 1958. In addition to Sousa, the University of Illinois Band had many other guest conductors while under Harding's direction. Among these were Edwin Franko Goldman, Henry Fillmore, Frank Simon, Harold Bachman, Guy Holmes, and Victor Grabel.

Harding was a charter member of the American Bandmasters Association and served as its president in 1937-38. In 1956, he was elected to succeed John Philip Sousa and Edwin Franko Goldman as Honorary Life President. Harding was honorary life president of the College Band Directors National Association. Harding was among the founding members of the Alpha Xi chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. Mr. Harding died on December 3, 1958.

Subject/Index Terms

American Bandmasters Association
Band, Football
Band Buildings
Band Clinics
Band Concerts
Band Department
Band Theory
Music Competitions
National Music Camp (Interlochen, MI)


Box and Folder Listing


Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Music],
[Series 2: Personal Papers and Administrative Records],
[Series 3: Professional Association Papers],
[Series 4: Photographs, Ephemera and Uniforms],
[All]

Series 3: Professional Association PapersAdd to your cart.
Sub-Series 1: American Bandmasters AssociationAdd to your cart.
Box 166Add to your cart.
Folder 4: American Bandmasters Association, 1929-31Add to your cart.
Folder 5: American Bandmasters Association (1 of 2), 1930-32Add to your cart.
Folder 6: American Bandmasters Association (2 of 2), 1930-32Add to your cart.
Folder 7: American Bandmasters Association, 1931-32Add to your cart.
Folder 8: American Bandmasters Association, 1932-34Add to your cart.
Folder 9: American Bandmasters Association, 1934-35Add to your cart.
Folder 10: American Bandmasters Association, 1936-38Add to your cart.
Folder 11: American Bandmasters Association, 1939-40Add to your cart.
Folder 12: American Bandmasters Association, 1941-43Add to your cart.
Box 167Add to your cart.
Folder 1: American Bandmasters Association, 1946-48Add to your cart.
Folder 2: American Bandmasters Association - Constitution and Bylaws, UndatedAdd to your cart.
Folder 3: American Bandmasters Association - Treasurer's Records (Harding), 1930-34Add to your cart.
Folder 4: American Bandmasters Association - Gilmore Memorial Concert, April 12, 1931Add to your cart.
Folder 5: American Bandmasters Association - Replies to Invitation to University of Illinois Bands 45th Anniversary Concert, 1935Add to your cart.
Folder 6: American Bandmasters Association Newsletter "Extra Beat", 1944-49Add to your cart.
Folder 7: American Bandmasters Association - First Annual Convention Minutes, 1930Add to your cart.
Folder 8: American Bandmasters Association Convention - University of Illinois, 1938Add to your cart.
Folder 9: American Bandmasters Association Convention - Ft. Dodge, Iowa, 1939Add to your cart.
Folder 10: American Bandmasters Association - Programs and Publications, 1931-34Add to your cart.
Folder 11: American Bandmasters Association - Programs and Publications, 1935-41Add to your cart.View associated digital content.
Folder 12: American Bandmasters Association - Programs and Publications, 1947-49Add to your cart.
Sub-Series 2: National Music Camp (Interlochen)Add to your cart.
Box 167Add to your cart.
Folder 13: National Music Camp, Interlochen, Michigan, 1928-32Add to your cart.
Box 168Add to your cart.
Folder 1: National Music Camp, Interlochen, Michigan, 1933-36Add to your cart.
Folder 2: National Music Camp, Interlochen, Michigan, 1941-46Add to your cart.
Folder 3: National Music Camp - Band Rosters, 1930-33, 1947Add to your cart.
Folder 4: National Music Camp - Band Repertoire Lists, 1930, 1932-33, 1936 and UndatedAdd to your cart.
Folder 5: National Music Camp - Programs and Publications, 1928Add to your cart.
Folder 6: National Music Camp - Programs and Publications, 1929Add to your cart.
Folder 7: National Music Camp - Programs and Publications (1 of 2), 1930Add to your cart.
Folder 8: National Music Camp - Programs and Publications (2 of 2), 1930Add to your cart.
Folder 9: National Music Camp - Programs and Publications, 1931Add to your cart.
Folder 10: National Music Camp - Programs and Publications, 1932Add to your cart.
Box 169Add to your cart.
Folder 1: National Music Camp - Programs and Publications, 1933Add to your cart.
Folder 2: National Music Camp - Programs and Publications, 1934Add to your cart.
Folder 3: National Music Camp - Programs and Publications, 1935Add to your cart.
Folder 4: National Music Camp - Programs and Publications, 1936Add to your cart.
Folder 5: National Music Camp - Programs and Publications, 1938-41Add to your cart.
Folder 6: National Music Camp - Programs and Publications, 1942-45Add to your cart.
Folder 7: National Music Camp - Programs and Publications, 1946-49Add to your cart.
Folder 8: National Music Camp - Band Audition Forms, 1931Add to your cart.
Folder 9: National Music Camp - Band Audition Forms, 1932Add to your cart.
Folder 10: National Music Camp - Band Audition Forms, 1933Add to your cart.
Folder 11: National Music Camp - Band Audition Forms, 1935Add to your cart.
Box 179: RESTRICTEDAdd to your cart.
Folder 11: National Music Camp - Dept. Administration Course, 1930-31Add to your cart.
Folder 12: National Music Camp - Dept. Administration Course (1 of 2), 1932 and UndatedAdd to your cart.
Folder 13: National Music Camp - Dept. Administration Course (2 of 2), 1932Add to your cart.
Folder 14: National Music Camp - Dept. Administration Course - Student Notes and Exams, 1930-33Add to your cart.
Sub-Series 3: University of Illinois Band ClinicAdd to your cart.
Box 170Add to your cart.
Folder 1: Historical Sketch of University of Illinois Band Clinic, ca. 1940Add to your cart.
Author: Given, Ruth Macauley
Folder 2: University of Illinois Band Clinics, 1930-34Add to your cart.View associated digital content.
Folder 3: University of Illinois Band Clinics, 1935-39Add to your cart.
Folder 4: University of Illinois Band Clinics, 1940-43Add to your cart.
Folder 5: University of Illinois Band Clinics, 1944-48Add to your cart.
Folder 6: University of Illinois Band Clinic, 1930Add to your cart.
Folder 7: University of Illinois Band Clinic, 1931Add to your cart.
Folder 8: University of Illinois Band Clinic, 1932Add to your cart.
Folder 9: University of Illinois Band Clinic, 1933Add to your cart.
Folder 10: University of Illinois Band Clinic, 1934Add to your cart.
Folder 11: University of Illinois Band Clinic, 1935Add to your cart.
Folder 12: University of Illinois Band Clinic, 1936Add to your cart.
Folder 13: University of Illinois Band Clinic, 1937Add to your cart.
Folder 14: University of Illinois Band Clinic, 1938Add to your cart.
Box 171Add to your cart.
Folder 1: University of Illinois Band Clinic, 1939Add to your cart.
Folder 2: University of Illinois Band Clinic, 1940Add to your cart.
Folder 3: University of Illinois Band Clinic, 1941Add to your cart.
Folder 4: University of Illinois Band Clinic, 1942Add to your cart.
Folder 5: University of Illinois Band Clinic, 1943Add to your cart.
Folder 6: University of Illinois Band Clinic, 1944Add to your cart.
Folder 7: University of Illinois Band Clinic, 1945Add to your cart.
Folder 8: University of Illinois Band Clinic, 1946Add to your cart.
Folder 9: University of Illinois Band Clinic, 1947Add to your cart.
Folder 10: University of Illinois Band Clinic, 1948Add to your cart.
Folder 11: University of Illinois Band Clinic, 1949Add to your cart.
Folder 12: University of Illinois Band Clinic, 1953Add to your cart.
Sub-Series 4: Illinois High School Band ConferenceAdd to your cart.
Box 171Add to your cart.
Folder 13: Illinois High School Band Conference, 1925Add to your cart.
Folder 14: Illinois High School Band Conference, November 19, 1926Add to your cart.
Folder 15: Illinois High School Band Conference, November 17-19, 1927Add to your cart.
Folder 16: Illinois High School Band Conference, November 23, 1929Add to your cart.
Folder 17: Illinois High School Band Conference, November 21, 1930Add to your cart.
Folder 18: Illinois High School Band Conference, November 20, 1931Add to your cart.
Folder 19: Illinois High School Band Conference, November 23-25, 1933Add to your cart.
Folder 20: Illinois High School Band Conference, November 22-24, 1934Add to your cart.
Folder 21: Illinois High School Band Conference, 1936Add to your cart.
Folder 22: Illinois High School Band Conference, November 4-6, 1937Add to your cart.
Folder 23: Illinois High School Band Conference, November 3, 1938Add to your cart.
Folder 24: Illinois High School Band Conference, November 2-4, 1939Add to your cart.
Folder 25: Illinois High School Band Conference, October 31 - November 2, 1940Add to your cart.
Folder 26: Illinois High School Band Conference, November 5-7, 1941Add to your cart.
Folder 27: Illinois High School Band Conference, November 6, 1942Add to your cart.
Sub-Series 5: Contests and Guest EngagementsAdd to your cart.
Box 171Add to your cart.
Folder 28: Standards of Adjudication - American Bandmasters Association, National School Band Association, 1936Add to your cart.
Folder 29: State and National School Band Contests (Manuals), 1925, 1928-30Add to your cart.
Folder 30: State and National School Band and Orchestra Contests (Manuals), 1932-35Add to your cart.
Folder 31: State and National School Band and Orchestra Solo and Ensemble Contests, 1936-40, 1943Add to your cart.
Folder 32: Ault, Klein - Fort Worth, Texas - Clinic - Correspondence, 1935Add to your cart.
Folder 33: Borchers, Orville J. - Emporia, Kansas - Clinic - Correspondence, 1939Add to your cart.
Folder 34: Edgar, Alvin R. - Iowa State College - Guest Conducting - Correspondence, 1936-37Add to your cart.
Box 172Add to your cart.
Folder 1: American Legion Band Contest - St. Louis, September 1935Add to your cart.
Folder 2: Band Contest - Akron, Ohio, May 1925Add to your cart.
Folder 3: Band Contest - Champaign, Illinois, April 1925Add to your cart.
Folder 4: Band Contest - State Fair - Springfield, Illinois, 1924-25Add to your cart.
Folder 5: Band Contest - State Fair - Springfield, Illinois, 1929Add to your cart.
Folder 6: Band Contest - University of Iowa, May 8, 1926Add to your cart.
Folder 7: Band Festival - Cleveland, Ohio, April 4, 1932Add to your cart.
Folder 8: California-Western Music Educators Conference - Long Beach, California, April 3-5, 1939Add to your cart.
Folder 9: Central Illinois School Music Competition Festival - Urbana, Illinois, April 19-20, 1940Add to your cart.
Folder 10: Chicago Public High School Band Competition, April 1944Add to your cart.
Folder 11: Colorado State College Summer Band - Greeley, Colorado, 1938Add to your cart.
Folder 12: Davidson College Music School - Camp - Davidson, North Carolina, June 22 - July 30, 1937Add to your cart.
Folder 13: Eastern Wisconsin Music Association Tournament - Milwaukee, Wisconsin, May 12, 1934Add to your cart.
Folder 14: Elkhart (Indiana) Municipal Band, 1944Add to your cart.
Folder 15: Florida State School Band Contest - Miami, Florida, April 1947Add to your cart.
Folder 16: Gala Band Concert - Chicago, Illinois - Sousa and Harding, Guest Conductors, 1930Add to your cart.
Folder 17: "Poet and Peasant Overture" - Special Band Arrangement for Gala Band Concert, 1930Add to your cart.
Composer/Arranger: Suppe (Lake, M. L.)
Folder 18: Illinois School Band Association - Annual Contests - Urbana, Illinois, 1928-29, 1933-34, 1936Add to your cart.
Folder 19: Iowa Conference of Music Teachers and Supervisors - University of Iowa, February 22-23, 1935Add to your cart.
Folder 20: University of Iowa High School Music Festival - Iowa City, Iowa, 1932Add to your cart.
Folder 21: University of Iowa High School Music Festival - Iowa City, Iowa, 1941Add to your cart.
Folder 22: Kankakee (Illinois) Music Festival, 1932Add to your cart.
Folder 23: Kansas All State High School Band, 1933, 1934, 1939Add to your cart.
Folder 24: Kentucky High School Music Festival - Lexington, Kentucky, May 1941Add to your cart.
Folder 25: Michigan State Band Contest, 1931Add to your cart.
Folder 26: Mid-western Muisc Camp - Lawrence, Kansas, 1936-38Add to your cart.
Folder 27: Mid-western Muisc Camp - Lawrence, Kansas, 1939Add to your cart.
Folder 28: Mid-western Muisc Camp - Lawrence, Kansas, 1940Add to your cart.
Folder 29: Minnesota State Band Contest, May 1929Add to your cart.
Box 173Add to your cart.
Folder 1: National School Band Contest - Denver, Colorado, 1929Add to your cart.
Folder 2: National School Band Contest - Flint, Michigan, 1930Add to your cart.
Folder 3: National High School Championship Band Contest - Tulsa, Oklahoma, 1931Add to your cart.
Folder 4: National High School Band Contest - Des Moines, Iowa, 1934Add to your cart.
Folder 5: National High School Band Contest - Cleveland, Ohio, 1936Add to your cart.
Folder 6: Region Nine - National School Music Competition-Festival - Lawrence, Kansas, May 1937Add to your cart.
Folder 7: Region Six - National School Music Competition-Festival - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, May 1937Add to your cart.
Folder 8: National High School Band Concert and Band Festival - St. Louis, Missouri, 1938Add to your cart.
Folder 9: Region Three - National School Music Competition-Festival - Elkhart, Indiana, May 1938Add to your cart.
Folder 10: Region Ten - National Band Festival - Pocatello, Idaho, May 1939Add to your cart.
Folder 11: Region Ten - National Band Festival - Pocatello, Idaho - Harding's Judges Comments, May 1939Add to your cart.
Folder 12: Region Two - National School Music Competition-Festival - Minneapolis, Minnesota, May 1939Add to your cart.
Folder 13: Region Six - National School Music Competition-Festival - Waco, Texas, 1940Add to your cart.
Folder 14: Region Seven National School Music Competition-Festival - Jackson, Mississippi, 1941Add to your cart.
Folder 15: National School Music Competition Festival - Nashville, Tennessee, May 15-16, 1942Add to your cart.
Folder 16: National Solo Contest - French Horn Judge - Madison, Wisconsin, May 18, 1935Add to your cart.
Folder 17: New York State Finals - Elmira, New York, April 29 - May 1, 1937Add to your cart.
Folder 18: North Carolina State Contest, 1934-35Add to your cart.
Folder 19: North Central Music Supervisors Conference - Grand Rapids, Michigan, April 22-26, 1933Add to your cart.
Folder 20: Northern Ohio Intercollegiate Band Festival, April 13, 1935Add to your cart.
Folder 21: Northwestern University Summer Session Band, 1929-38Add to your cart.
Folder 22: Ohio Band and Orchestra Clinic - Cleveland, Ohio, January 29-30, 1932Add to your cart.
Folder 23: Ohio School Band Association Contest, 1928Add to your cart.
Folder 24: Ohio State Band Contest, May 1929Add to your cart.
Folder 25: Petrie Band Camp - Winona Lake, Indiana, 1938-42Add to your cart.
Folder 26: State Sectional Band Competition - Chicago, Illinois, 1926Add to your cart.
Box 174Add to your cart.
Folder 1: Texas Tech Summer Band School - Lubbock, Texas, 1936, 1939-41, 1948-49Add to your cart.
Folder 2: Tri-State Band Festival - Enid, Oklahoma, 1934, 1936-38, 1940-48Add to your cart.
Folder 3: Waukegan (Illinois) High School Band Banquets, 1937-38Add to your cart.
Folder 4: Wisconsin Boys Band Association Tournament - Kilbourn, Wisconsin, June 1922Add to your cart.
Folder 5: Wisconsin School Band Tournament - Milwaukee, Wisconsin, May 27-28, 1927Add to your cart.
Folder 6: Wisconsin State School Band Tournament - Waupun, Wisconsin, May 18-19, 1928Add to your cart.
Folder 7: Wisconsin State Band Tournament - Stevens Point, Wisconsin, May 17-18, 1929Add to your cart.
Folder 8: Wisconsin School Band Tournament - Milwaukee, Wisconsin, May 8-10, 1930Add to your cart.
Folder 9: Wisconsin School Band Tournament - Menasha, Wisconsin, May 15-16, 1931Add to your cart.
Folder 10: Wisconsin State Band Tournament, 1932-33Add to your cart.
Folder 11: Wisconsin School Band Tournament - Madison, Wisconsin, May 19-20, 1933Add to your cart.
Folder 12: Wisconsin School Band Tournament - Green Bay, Wisconsin, May 18-19, 1934Add to your cart.
Folder 13: Wisconsin State Music Festival - Wausau, Wisconsin, May 10-11, 1935Add to your cart.
Folder 14: Wisconsin Band Contest - Harding's Notes, UndatedAdd to your cart.
Folder 15: World's Fair Bandmaster Contest - Chicago, Illinois, August 31 - September 2, 1929Add to your cart.
Sub-Series 6: Pi Kappa LambdaAdd to your cart.
Box 174Add to your cart.
Folder 16: Pi Kappa Lambda Correspondence, Harding - Treasurer General, 1926-30Add to your cart.
Folder 17: Pi Kappa Lambda Chapter Rolls, 1929Add to your cart.

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Music],
[Series 2: Personal Papers and Administrative Records],
[Series 3: Professional Association Papers],
[Series 4: Photographs, Ephemera and Uniforms],
[All]

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