Finding Aid for David H. Craker Marching Illini Band Halftime Field Show Charts, 1981-1989 | The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music

By Dan Andree

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Collection Overview

Title: David H. Craker Marching Illini Band Halftime Field Show Charts, 1981-1989

ID: 12/9/157

Extent: 1.5 cubic feet

Arrangement: Organized in three series: Series 1: Marching Band Procedures Course & Related Materials, ca. 1981 - 1985; Series 2: Marching Illini Drill Charts and Instructions, 1984 - 1989; Series 3: Photos, Publications, and Correspondence, 1983 - 1989. Arranged chronologically.

Date Acquired: 06/01/2017

Subjects: Band, Football, Marching bands, Marching Illini

Languages: English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

Consists of handwritten drill charts used by the Marching Illini for halftime field shows between 1981 and 1989, and the Marching Illini Footnotes Student Magazine and member handbooks between1985 and 1989.

Biographical Note

David H. Craker, who earned his Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1987, served as a member and leader of the Marching Illini mellophone section between 1984 and 1987. In 1984, the band's mellophone section had the difficult task of marching between lines of trombones while performing the band's "Three-In-One" drill formation, which resulted in occasional collisions between student musicians. As a result, Craker rewrote the "Three-In-One" drill to remove the problematic formation and improved the visual impact of the band's spelling of "Illini" by repositioning the sousaphones in the middle of the letter "I" and the percussion in the left leg of the letter "N" formations. This revised field show was performed first in 1985 and continues to be used by the band today. Craker also revised the band's pregame field show in 1985 and 1986, and in 1987 added the band's iconic US Map formation to their field show. During his tenure with the band, Craker wrote several additional halftime shows that were designed by Gary E. Smith, the University's Associate Director of Bands and Director of the Marching Illini and Athletic Bands. After graduating from the University of Illinois in 1987, Craker remained on campus to complete one year of graduate study in Mechanical Engineering and stayed in contact with the Marching Illini through 1989. Thanks to a recommendation by Smith, Craker was commissioned by the Rutgers University band to write two halftime shows for their Marching Scarlet Knights in 1989.

Subject/Index Terms

Band, Football
Marching bands
Marching Illini

Administrative Information

Repository: The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music

Acquisition Source: David H. Cracker

Acquisition Method: Gift

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Marching Band Procedures Course & Related Materials, ca. 1981 - 1985],
[Series 2: Marching Illini Drill Charts and Instructions, 1984 - 1989],
[Series 3: Photos, Publications, and Correspondence, 1983 - 1989],
[All]

Series 3: Photos, Publications, and Correspondence, 1983 - 1989

Consists of photos, internal satirical publications, external news publications, Marching Illini handbooks, trip itineraries, membership rosters, correspondence, and Illini football programs. These records document the composition and internal communication of the Marching Illini as well as their role in the community; they also document David Craker's role in and importance to the Marching Illini.

Box 1

Folder 3: Marching Illini Footnotes Volumes 11-13, 1984 - 1986: Satirical internal publications: Footnotes: vol. 11 - nos. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 (1984), vol. 12 - nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9 (1985), vol. 13 - nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 (1986).
Folder 4: Marching Illini Footnotes Volumes 14-16, 1986 - 1989: Satirical internal publications: Footnotes: vol. 14 - nos. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 (1987), vol. 15 - nos. 1 and 7 (1988), vol. 16 no. 1 (1989)
Folder 5: The Mello Times and Mark Times, 1986 - 1987: Satircal internal publications: The Mello Times: vol. 2 - no. 1 (1986), vol. 3 - no. 1 (1987); Mark Times vol. 3 - no. 1 (1987)
Folder 6: External Publications, ca. 1985: The Robinson Argus - "Sam's Sports Slants" (September 12, 1985); "Salute to a Grand City" (undated).
Folder 7: Marching Illini Handbooks and Membership Rosters, 1985 - 1987: Three Marching Illini handbooks (1985-1987); Mello Phone list (Fall 1986); Marching Illini member list (1987)
Folder 8: Marching Illini Road Game Itineraries, 1985 - 1986: Purdue trip itinerary (October 12-13, 1985); Michigan trip schedule (October 30 - November 2, 1986)
Folder 9: Correspondence, October 1986 - November 1986: Correspondence between Gary E. Smith (Marching Illini Director) and Professor Udatta Palekar regarding David Craker (October 10, 1986); correspondence between H.L. Wakeland (Associate Dean of Engineering) and David Craker (November 6, 1986)
Folder 10: Illini Football Programs, 1987 - 1988: Illinois vs. Ohio State football program: 4-H Day (October 3, 1987); Illinois vs. Washington State football program (September 3, 1988).

Box 2

Folder 2: Marching Illini Photo Collage, ca. 1984: "University of Illinois 'Marching Illini': Gary S. Smith, Director" Photo Collage of a field show, the full band, sections, non-instrumentalists, and the chief

Box 3

Folder 2: 4-H Day Flag design full-size drawing, June 24, 1987

Oversize Panoramic Photo Box 2

Folder 1: Panorama Photo of Marching Illini Field Show, 1983: "1983 Fighting Illini Illinois 16 vs. Michigan 6" at "Memorial Stadium: Record Attendance 76,127" Panorama Photo