Finding Aid for John Jacob Mountz Personal Papers, 1898-1967 | The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music

Title: John Jacob Mountz Personal Papers, 1898-1967

ID: 26/20/155

Primary Creator: Mountz, John Jacob (1898-1967)

Extent: 0.6 cubic feet

Arrangement: Materials are arranged chronologically, with Mountz's scrapbooks appearing first in the sequence.

Date Acquired: 03/20/2012

Subjects: Alpha Tau Omega, Alumni, Band, Football, Band Concerts, Band Department, Band Musicians, Diplomas, Masons, Mathematics Education, Methodist, Orchestra, Sousa, John Philip, World War I

Formats/Genres: Concert Programs, Papers, Photographs, Scrapbooks

Languages: English

Consists of seven dissembled scrapbooks, photographs, diplomas, route lists, diaries, calendars, correspondence, and contracts, documenting the life of John Jacob Mountz as a student, musician, and hornist for the University of Illinois Concert Band (1920-21), the Sousa Band (1923), the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra (1933-1942), and other ensembles. The materials also document his life as student at the University of Illinois, including his participation in Alpha Tau Omega; University of Chicago; George Washington University; and Washington University in St. Louis. Also contained are his materials related to his service and work as a Free Mason, an engineer for the war effort during WWI, and a math teacher. The memorabilia also includes autographed photographs of famous musicians and composers.

John Jacob Mountz (1898-1967) was a hornist for the University of Illinois Concert Band (1^st horn, 1920-1921), the Sousa Band (1923), and the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra (1933-1941) and math teacher. Mountz was born on September 5, 1898. He graduated from Decatur High School in 1919 and enrolled at the University of Illinois at the Mechanical Engineering College in fall of 1920, where he joined the concert band under A. A. Harding, who placed him on first horn. He played in the University of Illinois Concert Band, and pledged the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity where he earned the nickname Old Man Authority.

Mountz left the University of Illinois without finishing his degree, and moved to Chicago in January of 1923 where he continued studying horn under Mr. DeMare of the Chicago Civic Orchestra and began playing there. In March of the same year, A. A. Harding recommended Mountz to John Philip Sousa, and in September he was invited to join the Sousa Band by band manager Jay Sims. He accepted and toured with the Sousa Band from October of 1923 to March of 1924, and then played at theaters in Richmond, VA, Washington DC, and Chicago. In 1930 he began playing with the Chicago Civic Opera Company, and earned a collegiate diploma in counterpoint and composition from the American Conservatory of Music. From 1933 to 1941 Mountz played in the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. In the off-seasons, he played with a number of ensembles including the National Chamber Orchestra under Rudolph Ganz, Everett Johnson and his Cowboy Band, and finally earned his BS in Education from Washington University in St. Louis.

Mountz had a wife, Louise, and two sons, Edward and John. In 1942 he became a machinist, engineer, and draftsman for the war effort at Quality Hardware and Machine Corporation. After the war, he worked as a salesman, continued his graduate education, and then taught math in secondary school until he passed away in Glenview, IL on November 1, 1967 at the age of 69.

Alpha Tau Omega
Alumni
Band, Football
Band Concerts
Band Department
Band Musicians
Diplomas
Masons
Mathematics Education
Methodist
Orchestra
Sousa, John Philip
World War I

Repository: The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music

Acquisition Method: Donation