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 4: Photographs, Ephemera and UniformsAdd to your cart.
Sub-Series 1: PhotographsAdd to your cart.
Box 19Add to your cart.
Folder 1: Paris, Illinois High School Cadets, late 1890sAdd to your cart.
Folder 2: University of Illinois Band, 1895-96, ca. 1900Add to your cart.
L. J. Allen leading Concert on Lawn ca. 1900); 1895-96 Band
Folder 3: University of Illinois Military Band, 1898-99Add to your cart.
Folder 4: University of Illinois Combined and Concert Bands, 1907-23 and UndatedAdd to your cart.
Folder 5: University of Illinois Combined and Concert Bands, 1931-48 and UndatedAdd to your cart.
Folder 6: Miscellaneous Photographs, ca. 1933 and UndatedAdd to your cart.
Chief Illiniwek; Harding (Taken by 'Life' Photographer)
Folder 7: University of Illinois Dance? Band, ca. 1926-34Add to your cart.
Folder 8: University of Illinois Band Members, UndatedAdd to your cart.
Listening Test for Radio Ad; With Unusual Instruments
Folder 9: University of Illinois Orchestra, UndatedAdd to your cart.
Box 20Add to your cart.
Folder 1: University of Illinois Military Band on Baseball Field, UndatedAdd to your cart.View associated digital content.
Folder 2: University of Illinois Band - "Block I" and "ILLINI" Formations, UndatedAdd to your cart.
Folder 3: University of Illinois Military Band on Drill Field, UndatedAdd to your cart.
Folder 4: University of Illinois and Visiting Marching Bands - Formations at Memorial Stadium, UndatedAdd to your cart.
Folder 5: A. A. Harding (Guest Conductor) with Bands, 1931, 1937, UndatedAdd to your cart.
Folder 6: Illinois School Band Association at Memorial Stadium, UndatedAdd to your cart.
Folder 7: American Bandmasters Association Concert and Banquet Photographs, 1931, 1937, 1950, 1958Add to your cart.View associated digital content.
Folder 8: Sousa Memorial Photographs, 1932, 1935Add to your cart.
Folder 9: Autographed Photographs, 1946, UndatedAdd to your cart.
Folder 10: Photographs of Other Bands, UndatedAdd to your cart.
Box 175: FRAGILEAdd to your cart.
Folder 1: A. A. Harding Photographs - sideview, 1921Add to your cart.View associated digital content.
Folder 2: A. A. Harding Photographs - sideview, inscribed, 1921Add to your cart.
Folder 3: A. A. Harding print from program with signature, 1930Add to your cart.
Folder 4: A. A. Harding photographs front view, ca. 1941 and ca. 1955Add to your cart.
Folder 5: A. A. Harding Conducting Photographs and Negatives, ca. 1933-34, 1941, 1948Add to your cart.
Folder 6: A. A. Harding at Desk Photographs and Negatives, ca. 1928, 1945, 1953Add to your cart.
Folder 7: A. A. Harding Photographs, ca. 1909-10Add to your cart.
Folder 8: A. A. Harding Prints of Bradbury Portrait, ca. 1948-49Add to your cart.
Folder 9: University of Illinois Concert Band Annual Photographs, ca. 1900-1925Add to your cart.View associated digital content.
Folder 10: University of Illinois Concert Band Annual Photographs, ca. 1926-1950Add to your cart.
Folder 11: A. A. Harding - Miscellaneous "Shots" Photographs, 1930, 1936, 1938, 1947 and UndatedAdd to your cart.
Folder 12: A. A. Harding (guest conductor) with Bands, ca. 1930-40Add to your cart.
Folder 13: University of Illinois Second Band Photographs, ca. 1907 and ca. 1911Add to your cart.
Folder 14: Group photographs including A. A. Harding, 1905-40sAdd to your cart.
Folder 15: American Bandmasters Association Picture from Milwaukee Journal, 1937Add to your cart.
Folder 16: University of Illinois Combined Bands (Anniversary Concerts), 1917, 1925-33, 1935-37, 1939-40, 1943Add to your cart.
Folder 17: Combined Bands and University of Chicago Bands - Illinois-Chicago Game, 1927Add to your cart.
Folder 18: University of Illinois Band with Sousa and President Kinley, 1930Add to your cart.
Folder 19: First Regimental Band Photographs, after 1937Add to your cart.
Folder 20: Twilight Concert Photographs, ca. 1924 and UndatedAdd to your cart.
Folder 21: Proofs of Band Cuts, ca. 1910-20 and UndatedAdd to your cart.
Folder 22: University of Illinois Band Pictures on Letter Size Paper, ca. 1929Add to your cart.
Folder 23: University of Illinois Military Band Postcards, 1915-16, 1922 and UndatedAdd to your cart.
Folder 24: University of Illinois Military Band Postcard - on stage, ca. 1907 and UndatedAdd to your cart.
Folder 25: University of Illinois Military Band Postcard - on stage, 1913Add to your cart.
Folder 26: University of Illinois Military Band Postcard - on stage, ca. 1915Add to your cart.
Folder 27: University of Illinois Military Band Postcard - on stage, 1916, 1917, 1937Add to your cart.
Folder 28: University of Illinois Band Baritone Section Photograph and Negative, UndatedAdd to your cart.
Folder 29: University of Illinois Band Bass Section Photographs and Negatives, ca. 1920sAdd to your cart.
Folder 30: University of Illinois Band Clarinet Section Photograph and Negative, ca. 1920Add to your cart.
Folder 31: University of Illinois Band Alto-Bass Clarinet Section Photographs, UndatedAdd to your cart.
Folder 32: University of Illinois Band Cornet-Trumpet-Flügelhorn Section Photograph and Negative, ca. 1920Add to your cart.
Folder 33: University of Illinois Band Double-reed Section Photographs, UndatedAdd to your cart.
Folder 34: University of Illinois Band Flute Section Photographs, UndatedAdd to your cart.
Folder 35: University of Illinois Band French Horn Section Photograph and Negative, ca. 1920Add to your cart.
Folder 36: University of Illinois Band Percussion Section Photographs and Glass Negative, UndatedAdd to your cart.
FRAGILE
Folder 37: University of Illinois Band Sarrusophone Section Photographs, ca. 1924 and UndatedAdd to your cart.View associated digital content.
Folder 38: University of Illinois Band Saxophone Section Photograph and Negative, ca. 1920Add to your cart.
Folder 39: University of Illinois Band Trombone Section Photographs, ca. 1924 and UndatedAdd to your cart.
Folder 40: University of Illinois Band Property and Propertyman (Basil Brown) Photograph and Negative, ca. 1920Add to your cart.
Folder 41: University of Illinois Band Drum Major Photographs, UndatedAdd to your cart.
Folder 42: University of Illinois Band - Block I formation at Pennsylvania Game Photograph, ca. 1926Add to your cart.
Folder 43: University of Illinois Band - "Block I" to "ILLINI" Formation Charts with Instructions, UndatedAdd to your cart.
Folder 44: University of Illinois Band - ILLINI formation at Pennsylvania Game Photograph, ca. 1926Add to your cart.
Folder 45: University of Illinois Band - Block I Postcard, UndatedAdd to your cart.
Folder 46: University of Illinois Band - "Illini Dads" formation, Chicago Game Photograph, 1927Add to your cart.
Box 176Add to your cart.
Folder 1: University of Illinois Band - "Michigan" formation Photograph, UndatedAdd to your cart.
Folder 2: University of Illinois Band - "Penn" formation Photograph, ca. 1926Add to your cart.
Folder 3: University of Illinois Band - "Ohio" formation Photograph, 1927Add to your cart.
Folder 4: University of Illinois Band - "Welcome" formation, Chicago game Photograph, 1927Add to your cart.
Folder 5: University of Illinois Band - "Sousa" formation Photograph, UndatedAdd to your cart.
Folder 6: University of Illinois Band - National Clinic Bands Photograph, January 6-9, 1937Add to your cart.View associated digital content.
Folder 7: Other University Bands - Northwestern, Purdue, Michigan, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Ohio - Photographs, ca. 1926, 1928-30, UndatedAdd to your cart.
Folder 8: Photographs of Other Bands - Professional, Community, High School, 1922-23, 1927, 1931, 1947 and UndatedAdd to your cart.
Folder 9: Photographs of Massed Bands, 1935 and UndatedAdd to your cart.
Folder 10: University of Illinois Orchestra Photographs, 1925, 1928-29, UndatedAdd to your cart.
Folder 11: Negatives of Music - Strauss, R. - Death and Transfiguration (1 page) and Stanford Songs, UndatedAdd to your cart.
Folder 12: University of Illinois Band Officers Photographs, UndatedAdd to your cart.
Folder 13: Miscellaneous Photographs of Individuals, UndatedAdd to your cart.
Folder 14: Band Tour Photographs and Negatives, 1897-1924Add to your cart.View associated digital content.
Folder 15: University of Illinois Band - Historic Instrument Photographs and Negatives, ca. 1920, UndatedAdd to your cart.
Folder 16: University of Illinois Temporary Band Building, UndatedAdd to your cart.
Folder 17: University of Illinois Band - Chief Illiniwek Photographs, 1926, UndatedAdd to your cart.
Folder 18: University of Illinois Concert Band - Women Members, UndatedAdd to your cart.
Folder 19: Autographed Photographs of former University of Illinois Band Members, 1919 and UndatedAdd to your cart.
Folder 20: Service Print NegativesAdd to your cart.
Folder 21: University of Iliinois Band Yearly Photographs, 1897-1917Add to your cart.View associated digital content.
Folder 22: University of Illinois Band Yearly Photographs, 1920s-1940sAdd to your cart.
Box 188Add to your cart.
Folder 1: American Bandmasters Association Meeting, Cincinatti, OH, March 7, 1935Add to your cart.
Folder 2: UI Bands, 1930sAdd to your cart.
Folder 3: Other Bands, 1890s-1930sAdd to your cart.
Box 192Add to your cart.
Folder 12: Harding and Band Staff with Sousa Trunks, ca. 1932Add to your cart.View associated digital content.
Folder 13: Harding at University of Illinois, ca. 1958Add to your cart.
Folder 14: Harding and Associates, ca. 1930-1953Add to your cart.
Box 193Add to your cart.
Folder 2: Albert Austin Harding Portrait, 1948, and University of Illinois Marching Band, ca. 1948Add to your cart.
See Also: Gold Braid and Buttons from Harding Uniform, ca. 1905-1948.  Record Series 12/9/22, Series 4, Box 193, Folder 1.
Folder 3: University of Illinois Second Regimental Band, 1913Add to your cart.
Folder 4: Urbana High School Band with A. A. Harding and J.P. Sousa, 1929Add to your cart.
Folder 5: First Meeting of American Bandmasters Association, July 15, 1929Add to your cart.
MapCabinet 3Add to your cart.
MapDrawer 1Add to your cart.
Folder 2: White House Reception of the American Bandmasters Association, April 1932Add to your cart.
Sub-Series 2: EphemeraAdd to your cart.
Box 186Add to your cart.
Box 3: Band Technique and Practice Books, ca. 1915Add to your cart.
Box 4: Band Method Books, ca.1920Add to your cart.
Box 5: Instrument Method Books, ca. 1920Add to your cart.
Box 6: National, Patriotic, and Typical Airs of All Lands, 1890Add to your cart.
Composer/Arranger: Sousa
Box 188Add to your cart.
Folder 4: UI Band Posters, ca. 1930Add to your cart.
Folder 5: 2 BatonsAdd to your cart.
Box 192Add to your cart.
Folder 15: Harding Business Cards and University of Illinois Military Band Emblem, UndatedAdd to your cart.
Folder 16: University of Illinois Concert Band Medals, Gold, Silver, and Bronze, UndatedAdd to your cart.
MapCabinet 3Add to your cart.
MapDrawer 1Add to your cart.
Folder 1: Illinois, Illinois; Certificate of Appreciation from Jan Bach Performance of "Dionysia", 1966Add to your cart.
Sub-Series 3: UniformsAdd to your cart.
Box 189Add to your cart.
Item 1: White University Bands BlazerAdd to your cart.
Accession No. 2007.120922.001B.
Item 2: White University Bands PantsAdd to your cart.
Accession No. 2007.120922.001A.
Box 190Add to your cart.
Item 1: Black University Bands HatAdd to your cart.
Accession No. 2007.120922.003.
Box 191Add to your cart.
Item 1: Black UI Bands BlazerAdd to your cart.
Accession No. 2007.120922.002.
Box 193Add to your cart.
Folder 1: Gold Braid and Buttons from Harding Uniform, ca. 1905-1948Add to your cart.
See Also: Albert Austin Harding Portrait, 1948.  Record Series 12/9/22, Series 4, Box 193, Folder 2.
Oversize Textile Box 2Add to your cart.
Item 1: Black University of Illinois Bands blazer, undatedAdd to your cart.
Black trim. UI logo on collar. 2008.120922.004

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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