.
By LeAnn Splitter, Adriana Cuervo, and Kelly A. Carlson
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: Alumni, American Bandmasters Association, Band, Football, Band Buildings, Band Clinics, Band Concerts, Band Department, Bands (Music), Band Theory, Composers, Conductors (Music), Faculty, Faculty Papers, Fillmore, Henry (1881-1956), Goldman, Edwin Franko, Harding, Albert Austin, Music Competitions, National Music Camp (Interlochen, MI), Pi Kappa Lambda, Pryor, Arthur, Sousa, John Philip
Formats/Genres: Arrangements (Music), Clothing and Textiles, Concert Programs, Correspondence, Papers, Sheet music, Uniforms
Languages: English
Scope and Contents of the Materials
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 (1880-1958) was born and grew up in Paris, Illinois. As a high school student, he played cornet and directed the local municipal band. After graduation, he joined the University of Illinois. 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
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 Uniforms
- Sub-Series 1: Photographs
- Box 19
- Folder 1: Paris, Illinois High School Cadets, late 1890s
- Folder 2: University of Illinois Band, 1895-96, ca. 1900
- L. J. Allen leading Concert on Lawn ca. 1900); 1895-96 Band
- Folder 3: University of Illinois Military Band, 1898-99
- Folder 4: University of Illinois Combined and Concert Bands, 1907-23 and Undated
- Folder 5: University of Illinois Combined and Concert Bands, 1931-48 and Undated
- Folder 6: Miscellaneous Photographs, ca. 1933 and Undated
- Chief Illiniwek; Harding (Taken by 'Life' Photographer)
- Folder 7: University of Illinois Dance? Band, ca. 1926-34
- Folder 8: University of Illinois Band Members, Undated
- Listening Test for Radio Ad; With Unusual Instruments
- Folder 9: University of Illinois Orchestra, Undated
- Box 20
- Folder 1: University of Illinois Military Band on Baseball Field, Undated
- Folder 2: University of Illinois Band - "Block I" and "ILLINI" Formations, Undated
- Folder 3: University of Illinois Military Band on Drill Field, Undated
- Folder 4: University of Illinois and Visiting Marching Bands - Formations at Memorial Stadium, Undated
- Folder 5: A. A. Harding (Guest Conductor) with Bands, 1931, 1937, Undated
- Folder 6: Illinois School Band Association at Memorial Stadium, Undated
- Folder 7: American Bandmasters Association Concert and Banquet Photographs, 1931, 1937, 1950, 1958
- Folder 8: Sousa Memorial Photographs, 1932, 1935
- Folder 9: Autographed Photographs, 1946, Undated
- Folder 10: Photographs of Other Bands, Undated
- Box 175: FRAGILE
- Folder 1: A. A. Harding Photographs - sideview, 1921
- Folder 2: A. A. Harding Photographs - sideview, inscribed, 1921
- Folder 3: A. A. Harding print from program with signature, 1930
- Folder 4: A. A. Harding photographs front view, ca. 1941 and ca. 1955
- Folder 5: A. A. Harding Conducting Photographs and Negatives, ca. 1933-34, 1941, 1948
- Folder 6: A. A. Harding at Desk Photographs and Negatives, ca. 1928, 1945, 1953
- Folder 7: A. A. Harding Photographs, ca. 1909-10
- Folder 8: A. A. Harding Prints of Bradbury Portrait, ca. 1948-49
- Folder 9: University of Illinois Concert Band Annual Photographs, ca. 1900-1925
- Folder 10: University of Illinois Concert Band Annual Photographs, ca. 1926-1950
- Folder 11: A. A. Harding - Miscellaneous "Shots" Photographs, 1930, 1936, 1938, 1947 and Undated
- Folder 12: A. A. Harding (guest conductor) with Bands, ca. 1930-40
- Folder 13: University of Illinois Second Band Photographs, ca. 1907 and ca. 1911
- Folder 14: Group photographs including A. A. Harding, 1905-40s
- Folder 15: American Bandmasters Association Picture from Milwaukee Journal, 1937
- Folder 16: University of Illinois Combined Bands (Anniversary Concerts), 1917, 1925-33, 1935-37, 1939-40, 1943
- Folder 17: Combined Bands and University of Chicago Bands - Illinois-Chicago Game, 1927
- Folder 18: University of Illinois Band with Sousa and President Kinley, 1930
- Folder 19: First Regimental Band Photographs, after 1937
- Folder 20: Twilight Concert Photographs, ca. 1924 and Undated
- Folder 21: Proofs of Band Cuts, ca. 1910-20 and Undated
- Folder 22: University of Illinois Band Pictures on Letter Size Paper, ca. 1929
- Folder 23: University of Illinois Military Band Postcards, 1915-16, 1922 and Undated
- Folder 24: University of Illinois Military Band Postcard - on stage, ca. 1907 and Undated
- Folder 25: University of Illinois Military Band Postcard - on stage, 1913
- Folder 26: University of Illinois Military Band Postcard - on stage, ca. 1915
- Folder 27: University of Illinois Military Band Postcard - on stage, 1916, 1917, 1937
- Folder 28: University of Illinois Band Baritone Section Photograph and Negative, Undated
- Folder 29: University of Illinois Band Bass Section Photographs and Negatives, ca. 1920s
- Folder 30: University of Illinois Band Clarinet Section Photograph and Negative, ca. 1920
- Folder 31: University of Illinois Band Alto-Bass Clarinet Section Photographs, Undated
- Folder 32: University of Illinois Band Cornet-Trumpet-Flügelhorn Section Photograph and Negative, ca. 1920
- Folder 33: University of Illinois Band Double-reed Section Photographs, Undated
- Folder 34: University of Illinois Band Flute Section Photographs, Undated
- Folder 35: University of Illinois Band French Horn Section Photograph and Negative, ca. 1920
- Folder 36: University of Illinois Band Percussion Section Photographs and Glass Negative, Undated
- FRAGILE
- Folder 37: University of Illinois Band Sarrusophone Section Photographs, ca. 1924 and Undated
- Folder 38: University of Illinois Band Saxophone Section Photograph and Negative, ca. 1920
- Folder 39: University of Illinois Band Trombone Section Photographs, ca. 1924 and Undated
- Folder 40: University of Illinois Band Property and Propertyman (Basil Brown) Photograph and Negative, ca. 1920
- Folder 41: University of Illinois Band Drum Major Photographs, Undated
- Folder 42: University of Illinois Band - Block I formation at Pennsylvania Game Photograph, ca. 1926
- Folder 43: University of Illinois Band - "Block I" to "ILLINI" Formation Charts with Instructions, Undated
- Folder 44: University of Illinois Band - ILLINI formation at Pennsylvania Game Photograph, ca. 1926
- Folder 45: University of Illinois Band - Block I Postcard, Undated
- Folder 46: University of Illinois Band - "Illini Dads" formation, Chicago Game Photograph, 1927
- Box 176
- Folder 1: University of Illinois Band - "Michigan" formation Photograph, Undated
- Folder 2: University of Illinois Band - "Penn" formation Photograph, ca. 1926
- Folder 3: University of Illinois Band - "Ohio" formation Photograph, 1927
- Folder 4: University of Illinois Band - "Welcome" formation, Chicago game Photograph, 1927
- Folder 5: University of Illinois Band - "Sousa" formation Photograph, Undated
- Folder 6: University of Illinois Band - National Clinic Bands Photograph, January 6-9, 1937
- Folder 7: Other University Bands - Northwestern, Purdue, Michigan, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Ohio - Photographs, ca. 1926, 1928-30, Undated
- Folder 8: Photographs of Other Bands - Professional, Community, High School, 1922-23, 1927, 1931, 1947 and Undated
- Folder 9: Photographs of Massed Bands, 1935 and Undated
- Folder 10: University of Illinois Orchestra Photographs, 1925, 1928-29, Undated
- Folder 11: Negatives of Music - Strauss, R. - Death and Transfiguration (1 page) and Stanford Songs, Undated
- Folder 12: University of Illinois Band Officers Photographs, Undated
- Folder 13: Miscellaneous Photographs of Individuals, Undated
- Folder 14: Band Tour Photographs and Negatives, 1897-1924
- Folder 15: University of Illinois Band - Historic Instrument Photographs and Negatives, ca. 1920, Undated
- Folder 16: University of Illinois Temporary Band Building, Undated
- Folder 17: University of Illinois Band - Chief Illiniwek Photographs, 1926, Undated
- Folder 18: University of Illinois Concert Band - Women Members, Undated
- Folder 19: Autographed Photographs of former University of Illinois Band Members, 1919 and Undated
- Folder 20: Service Print Negatives
- Folder 21: University of Iliinois Band Yearly Photographs, 1897-1917
- Folder 22: University of Illinois Band Yearly Photographs, 1920s-1940s
- Box 188
- Folder 1: American Bandmasters Association Meeting, Cincinatti, OH, March 7, 1935
- Folder 2: UI Bands, 1930s
- Folder 3: Other Bands, 1890s-1930s
- Box 192
- Folder 12: Harding and Band Staff with Sousa Trunks, ca. 1932
- Folder 13: Harding at University of Illinois, ca. 1958
- Folder 14: Harding and Associates, ca. 1930-1953
- Box 193
- Folder 2: Albert Austin Harding Portrait, 1948, and University of Illinois Marching Band, ca. 1948
- 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, 1913
- Folder 4: Urbana High School Band with A. A. Harding and J.P. Sousa, 1929
- Folder 5: First Meeting of American Bandmasters Association, July 15, 1929
- MapCabinet 3
- MapDrawer 1
- Folder 2: White House Reception of the American Bandmasters Association, April 1932
- Sub-Series 2: Ephemera
- Box 186
- Box 3: Band Technique and Practice Books, ca. 1915
- Box 4: Band Method Books, ca.1920
- Box 5: Instrument Method Books, ca. 1920
- Box 6: National, Patriotic, and Typical Airs of All Lands, 1890
- Composer/Arranger: Sousa
- Box 188
- Folder 4: UI Band Posters, ca. 1930
- Folder 5: 2 Batons
- Box 192
- Folder 15: Harding Business Cards and University of Illinois Military Band Emblem, Undated
- Folder 16: University of Illinois Concert Band Medals, Gold, Silver, and Bronze, Undated
- MapCabinet 3
- MapDrawer 1
- Folder 1: Illinois, Illinois; Certificate of Appreciation from Jan Bach Performance of "Dionysia", 1966
- Sub-Series 3: Uniforms
- Box 189
- Item 1: White University Bands Blazer
- Accession No. 2007.120922.001B.
- Item 2: White University Bands Pants
- Accession No. 2007.120922.001A.
- Box 190
- Item 1: Black University Bands Hat
- Accession No. 2007.120922.003.
- Box 191
- Item 1: Black UI Bands Blazer
- Accession No. 2007.120922.002.
- Box 193
- Folder 1: Gold Braid and Buttons from Harding Uniform, ca. 1905-1948
- See Also: Albert Austin Harding Portrait, 1948. Record Series 12/9/22, Series 4, Box 193, Folder 2.
- Oversize Textile Box 2
- Item 1: Black University of Illinois Bands blazer, undated
- 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]
Holdings 
Submit request (Aeon)
Email us about these papers
Print this information