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, 1895-1958

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 Papers

Sub-Series 1: American Bandmasters Association

Box 166

Folder 4: American Bandmasters Association, 1929-31
Folder 5: American Bandmasters Association (1 of 2), 1930-32
Folder 6: American Bandmasters Association (2 of 2), 1930-32
Folder 7: American Bandmasters Association, 1931-32
Folder 8: American Bandmasters Association, 1932-34
Folder 9: American Bandmasters Association, 1934-35
Folder 10: American Bandmasters Association, 1936-38
Folder 11: American Bandmasters Association, 1939-40
Folder 12: American Bandmasters Association, 1941-43

Box 167

Folder 1: American Bandmasters Association, 1946-48
Folder 2: American Bandmasters Association - Constitution and Bylaws, Undated
Folder 3: American Bandmasters Association - Treasurer's Records (Harding), 1930-34
Folder 4: American Bandmasters Association - Gilmore Memorial Concert, April 12, 1931
Folder 5: American Bandmasters Association - Replies to Invitation to University of Illinois Bands 45th Anniversary Concert, 1935
Folder 6: American Bandmasters Association Newsletter "Extra Beat", 1944-49
Folder 7: American Bandmasters Association - First Annual Convention Minutes, 1930
Folder 8: American Bandmasters Association Convention - University of Illinois, 1938
Folder 9: American Bandmasters Association Convention - Ft. Dodge, Iowa, 1939
Folder 10: American Bandmasters Association - Programs and Publications, 1931-34
Folder 11: American Bandmasters Association - Programs and Publications, 1935-41
Folder 12: American Bandmasters Association - Programs and Publications, 1947-49

Sub-Series 2: National Music Camp (Interlochen)

Box 167

Folder 13: National Music Camp, Interlochen, Michigan, 1928-32

Box 168

Folder 1: National Music Camp, Interlochen, Michigan, 1933-36
Folder 2: National Music Camp, Interlochen, Michigan, 1941-46
Folder 3: National Music Camp - Band Rosters, 1930-33, 1947
Folder 4: National Music Camp - Band Repertoire Lists, 1930, 1932-33, 1936 and Undated
Folder 5: National Music Camp - Programs and Publications, 1928
Folder 6: National Music Camp - Programs and Publications, 1929
Folder 7: National Music Camp - Programs and Publications (1 of 2), 1930
Folder 8: National Music Camp - Programs and Publications (2 of 2), 1930
Folder 9: National Music Camp - Programs and Publications, 1931
Folder 10: National Music Camp - Programs and Publications, 1932

Box 169

Folder 1: National Music Camp - Programs and Publications, 1933
Folder 2: National Music Camp - Programs and Publications, 1934
Folder 3: National Music Camp - Programs and Publications, 1935
Folder 4: National Music Camp - Programs and Publications, 1936
Folder 5: National Music Camp - Programs and Publications, 1938-41
Folder 6: National Music Camp - Programs and Publications, 1942-45
Folder 7: National Music Camp - Programs and Publications, 1946-49
Folder 8: National Music Camp - Band Audition Forms, 1931
Folder 9: National Music Camp - Band Audition Forms, 1932
Folder 10: National Music Camp - Band Audition Forms, 1933
Folder 11: National Music Camp - Band Audition Forms, 1935

Box 179: RESTRICTED

Folder 11: National Music Camp - Dept. Administration Course, 1930-31
Folder 12: National Music Camp - Dept. Administration Course (1 of 2), 1932 and Undated
Folder 13: National Music Camp - Dept. Administration Course (2 of 2), 1932
Folder 14: National Music Camp - Dept. Administration Course - Student Notes and Exams, 1930-33

Sub-Series 3: University of Illinois Band Clinic

Box 170

Folder 1: Historical Sketch of University of Illinois Band Clinic, ca. 1940: Author: Given, Ruth Macauley
Folder 2: University of Illinois Band Clinics, 1930-34
Folder 3: University of Illinois Band Clinics, 1935-39
Folder 4: University of Illinois Band Clinics, 1940-43
Folder 5: University of Illinois Band Clinics, 1944-48
Folder 6: University of Illinois Band Clinic, 1930
Folder 7: University of Illinois Band Clinic, 1931
Folder 8: University of Illinois Band Clinic, 1932
Folder 9: University of Illinois Band Clinic, 1933
Folder 10: University of Illinois Band Clinic, 1934
Folder 11: University of Illinois Band Clinic, 1935
Folder 12: University of Illinois Band Clinic, 1936
Folder 13: University of Illinois Band Clinic, 1937
Folder 14: University of Illinois Band Clinic, 1938

Box 171

Folder 1: University of Illinois Band Clinic, 1939
Folder 2: University of Illinois Band Clinic, 1940
Folder 3: University of Illinois Band Clinic, 1941
Folder 4: University of Illinois Band Clinic, 1942
Folder 5: University of Illinois Band Clinic, 1943
Folder 6: University of Illinois Band Clinic, 1944
Folder 7: University of Illinois Band Clinic, 1945
Folder 8: University of Illinois Band Clinic, 1946
Folder 9: University of Illinois Band Clinic, 1947
Folder 10: University of Illinois Band Clinic, 1948
Folder 11: University of Illinois Band Clinic, 1949
Folder 12: University of Illinois Band Clinic, 1953

Sub-Series 4: Illinois High School Band Conference

Box 171

Folder 13: Illinois High School Band Conference, 1925
Folder 14: Illinois High School Band Conference, November 19, 1926
Folder 15: Illinois High School Band Conference, November 17-19, 1927
Folder 16: Illinois High School Band Conference, November 23, 1929
Folder 17: Illinois High School Band Conference, November 21, 1930
Folder 18: Illinois High School Band Conference, November 20, 1931
Folder 19: Illinois High School Band Conference, November 23-25, 1933
Folder 20: Illinois High School Band Conference, November 22-24, 1934
Folder 21: Illinois High School Band Conference, 1936
Folder 22: Illinois High School Band Conference, November 4-6, 1937
Folder 23: Illinois High School Band Conference, November 3, 1938
Folder 24: Illinois High School Band Conference, November 2-4, 1939
Folder 25: Illinois High School Band Conference, October 31 - November 2, 1940
Folder 26: Illinois High School Band Conference, November 5-7, 1941
Folder 27: Illinois High School Band Conference, November 6, 1942

Sub-Series 5: Contests and Guest Engagements

Box 171

Folder 28: Standards of Adjudication - American Bandmasters Association, National School Band Association, 1936
Folder 29: State and National School Band Contests (Manuals), 1925, 1928-30
Folder 30: State and National School Band and Orchestra Contests (Manuals), 1932-35
Folder 31: State and National School Band and Orchestra Solo and Ensemble Contests, 1936-40, 1943
Folder 32: Ault, Klein - Fort Worth, Texas - Clinic - Correspondence, 1935
Folder 33: Borchers, Orville J. - Emporia, Kansas - Clinic - Correspondence, 1939
Folder 34: Edgar, Alvin R. - Iowa State College - Guest Conducting - Correspondence, 1936-37

Box 172

Folder 1: American Legion Band Contest - St. Louis, September 1935
Folder 2: Band Contest - Akron, Ohio, May 1925
Folder 3: Band Contest - Champaign, Illinois, April 1925
Folder 4: Band Contest - State Fair - Springfield, Illinois, 1924-25
Folder 5: Band Contest - State Fair - Springfield, Illinois, 1929
Folder 6: Band Contest - University of Iowa, May 8, 1926
Folder 7: Band Festival - Cleveland, Ohio, April 4, 1932
Folder 8: California-Western Music Educators Conference - Long Beach, California, April 3-5, 1939
Folder 9: Central Illinois School Music Competition Festival - Urbana, Illinois, April 19-20, 1940
Folder 10: Chicago Public High School Band Competition, April 1944
Folder 11: Colorado State College Summer Band - Greeley, Colorado, 1938
Folder 12: Davidson College Music School - Camp - Davidson, North Carolina, June 22 - July 30, 1937
Folder 13: Eastern Wisconsin Music Association Tournament - Milwaukee, Wisconsin, May 12, 1934
Folder 14: Elkhart (Indiana) Municipal Band, 1944
Folder 15: Florida State School Band Contest - Miami, Florida, April 1947
Folder 16: Gala Band Concert - Chicago, Illinois - Sousa and Harding, Guest Conductors, 1930
Folder 17: "Poet and Peasant Overture" - Special Band Arrangement for Gala Band Concert, 1930: Composer/Arranger: Suppe (Lake, M. L.)
Folder 18: Illinois School Band Association - Annual Contests - Urbana, Illinois, 1928-29, 1933-34, 1936
Folder 19: Iowa Conference of Music Teachers and Supervisors - University of Iowa, February 22-23, 1935
Folder 20: University of Iowa High School Music Festival - Iowa City, Iowa, 1932
Folder 21: University of Iowa High School Music Festival - Iowa City, Iowa, 1941
Folder 22: Kankakee (Illinois) Music Festival, 1932
Folder 23: Kansas All State High School Band, 1933, 1934, 1939
Folder 24: Kentucky High School Music Festival - Lexington, Kentucky, May 1941
Folder 25: Michigan State Band Contest, 1931
Folder 26: Mid-western Muisc Camp - Lawrence, Kansas, 1936-38
Folder 27: Mid-western Muisc Camp - Lawrence, Kansas, 1939
Folder 28: Mid-western Muisc Camp - Lawrence, Kansas, 1940
Folder 29: Minnesota State Band Contest, May 1929

Box 173

Folder 1: National School Band Contest - Denver, Colorado, 1929
Folder 2: National School Band Contest - Flint, Michigan, 1930
Folder 3: National High School Championship Band Contest - Tulsa, Oklahoma, 1931
Folder 4: National High School Band Contest - Des Moines, Iowa, 1934
Folder 5: National High School Band Contest - Cleveland, Ohio, 1936
Folder 6: Region Nine - National School Music Competition-Festival - Lawrence, Kansas, May 1937
Folder 7: Region Six - National School Music Competition-Festival - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, May 1937
Folder 8: National High School Band Concert and Band Festival - St. Louis, Missouri, 1938
Folder 9: Region Three - National School Music Competition-Festival - Elkhart, Indiana, May 1938
Folder 10: Region Ten - National Band Festival - Pocatello, Idaho, May 1939
Folder 11: Region Ten - National Band Festival - Pocatello, Idaho - Harding's Judges Comments, May 1939
Folder 12: Region Two - National School Music Competition-Festival - Minneapolis, Minnesota, May 1939
Folder 13: Region Six - National School Music Competition-Festival - Waco, Texas, 1940
Folder 14: Region Seven National School Music Competition-Festival - Jackson, Mississippi, 1941
Folder 15: National School Music Competition Festival - Nashville, Tennessee, May 15-16, 1942
Folder 16: National Solo Contest - French Horn Judge - Madison, Wisconsin, May 18, 1935
Folder 17: New York State Finals - Elmira, New York, April 29 - May 1, 1937
Folder 18: North Carolina State Contest, 1934-35
Folder 19: North Central Music Supervisors Conference - Grand Rapids, Michigan, April 22-26, 1933
Folder 20: Northern Ohio Intercollegiate Band Festival, April 13, 1935
Folder 21: Northwestern University Summer Session Band, 1929-38
Folder 22: Ohio Band and Orchestra Clinic - Cleveland, Ohio, January 29-30, 1932
Folder 23: Ohio School Band Association Contest, 1928
Folder 24: Ohio State Band Contest, May 1929
Folder 25: Petrie Band Camp - Winona Lake, Indiana, 1938-42
Folder 26: State Sectional Band Competition - Chicago, Illinois, 1926

Box 174

Folder 1: Texas Tech Summer Band School - Lubbock, Texas, 1936, 1939-41, 1948-49
Folder 2: Tri-State Band Festival - Enid, Oklahoma, 1934, 1936-38, 1940-48
Folder 3: Waukegan (Illinois) High School Band Banquets, 1937-38
Folder 4: Wisconsin Boys Band Association Tournament - Kilbourn, Wisconsin, June 1922
Folder 5: Wisconsin School Band Tournament - Milwaukee, Wisconsin, May 27-28, 1927
Folder 6: Wisconsin State School Band Tournament - Waupun, Wisconsin, May 18-19, 1928
Folder 7: Wisconsin State Band Tournament - Stevens Point, Wisconsin, May 17-18, 1929
Folder 8: Wisconsin School Band Tournament - Milwaukee, Wisconsin, May 8-10, 1930
Folder 9: Wisconsin School Band Tournament - Menasha, Wisconsin, May 15-16, 1931
Folder 10: Wisconsin State Band Tournament, 1932-33
Folder 11: Wisconsin School Band Tournament - Madison, Wisconsin, May 19-20, 1933
Folder 12: Wisconsin School Band Tournament - Green Bay, Wisconsin, May 18-19, 1934
Folder 13: Wisconsin State Music Festival - Wausau, Wisconsin, May 10-11, 1935
Folder 14: Wisconsin Band Contest - Harding's Notes, Undated
Folder 15: World's Fair Bandmaster Contest - Chicago, Illinois, August 31 - September 2, 1929

Sub-Series 6: Pi Kappa Lambda

Box 174

Folder 16: Pi Kappa Lambda Correspondence, Harding - Treasurer General, 1926-30
Folder 17: Pi Kappa Lambda Chapter Rolls, 1929

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]