Richard E Kent Music and Personal Papers, 1899-1996

By Kathryn Feazel, Kelly A. Carlson, and Scott Schwartz

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Collection Overview

Title: Richard E Kent Music and Personal Papers, 1899-1996

ID: 26/20/107

Primary Creator: Kent, Richard E. (1899-1996)

Extent: 3.0 cubic feet

Arrangement: chronological by type of material

Subjects: Alumni, Bands, Music, New York City, Sousa, John Philip, Urbana, Illinois

Formats/Genres: Papers

Languages: English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

Consists of original and published music compositions and arrangements, correspondence, concert programs, memoirs, newspaper clippings, Sousa Band Fraternal Society newsletters, photographs, Volunteer Illini Projects awards, yearbooks, and appointment books. The collection documents Kent's career with the Sousa Band through photographs and correspondence, as well as the transcription of his interview for the Sousa Oral History Project. The many arrangements, compositions, and transcriptions within the collection document his contribution to the music publishing industry. Included with Kent's published compositions is "On To The Goal, Illinois." Among Kent's original, unpublished compositions is a submission for the Mets official song, entitled "I Am A Mets Fan." In addition to his original compositions, Kent also arranged a number of works by a variety of composers including George Gershwin, Jerome Kern, Richard Rodgers, and Oscar Hammerstein. Finally, newspaper clippings and awards attest to Kent's active, post-retirement participation with Urbana-Champaign area Volunteer Illini Projects. The collection documents the life and career of a Sousa Band member, particularly a native Central Illinoisan, before, during, and after his tour with the great March King.

A composer/title index for all the music is located at the end of the finding aid.

Biographical Note

Richard E. Kent (1899-1996) was born on September 25, 1899, in Jacksonville Illinois. He grew up in a musical family; his father was director of the Bloomington (IL) High School Marching Band for many years. In 1914, the Kent family moved to Urbana, and he attended his last three years of high school at Urbana High School. In 1917, he enrolled at the University of Illinois. While attending the University, he was a member of the Marching Band, under the direction of Albert Austin Harding. He graduated with a Bachelor of Music, specializing in Piano, on June 15, 1921. In November of 1921, he withdrew from his post-graduate studies at the University to accept a professional position as second chair Alto Saxophone in the John Philip Sousa Band. Following two seasons with the Sousa Band, Kent continued his musical career, performing with combos in the Indianapolis (IN) area, including the Royal Peacock Orchestra. He moved to New York around 1921, and made a career as a music arranger with Radio-Keith-Orphem, and later the Southern Music Co. Upon his retirement from Southern Music in 1974, he and his wife, Nora Belle Phares, returned to Urbana. He was active with Volunteer Illini Projects, including the musical group the Heartlanders, until his death on March 19, 1996.

Subject/Index Terms

Alumni
Bands
Music
New York City
Sousa, John Philip
Urbana, Illinois

Administrative Information

Repository: The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music

Accruals: 12/94

Acquisition Method: Received in December 1994.

Other Note: 0 Pages

Other URL: https://files.archon.library.illinois.edu/uasfa/2620107.pdf

Box and Folder Listing

Series 1: Personal Papers and Ephemera

Box 1

Folder 1: Awards, 1974-81
Folder 2: Bachelor Thesis & related correspondence: The Development of American Popular Music, 1921
Folder 3: Commencement & Dramatic Club Programs, Alumni Association Card (s): University of Illinois, 1916-33, 1971-84
Folder 4: Concert Program & Program notes, Carnegie Hall, et. al., 1917, 1940-62
Folder 5: Concert Programs & Professional Documents: New York, ca. 1940-60
Folder 6: Concert Programs: University of Illinois Military Band, 1914-23, 1933-40
Folder 7: Correspondence: Principal correspondents include Henry & Rose Kent, Nora Belle Kent, et. al., includes funeral arrangements for Richard E. Kent, 1929-90
Folder 8: Funeral & Cemetery Materials: William Arthur Phares (father of Nora Belle Kent), 1949-60
Folder 9: Health Insurance Card & Documents: Nora Belle Kent, 1990
Folder 10: Last Will & Testament and related documents: Richard & Nora Belle Kent, 1976, 1982
Folder 11: Marriage License & Related documents: Richard & Nora Belle Kent, 1929
Folder 12: Memoirs: Richard E. Kent, 1992-95
Folder 13: Music: Arrangements by Richard E. Kent, alpha. by title, A-H
Folder 14: Music: Arrangements by Richard E. Kent, alpha. by title, I-Z
Folder 15: Music: Compositions by Richard E. Kent, includes "I am a Met's Fan," Kent's submission for the Met's official song
Folder 16: Music: Published
Folder 17: Music: Transcriptions by Richard E. Kent, alpha. by composer, A-F
Folder 18: Music: Transcriptions by Richard. E. Kent, alpha. by composer, G-P
Folder 19: Music: Transcriptions by Richard E. Kent, alpha. by composer, Q-Z
Folder 20: Newspaper Clippings, 1927-74
Folder 21: Passport Documents, 1965-69
Folder 22: Photographs: Richard E. Kent and family, ca. 1912-22, 1940
Folder 23: Sousa Band Correspondence, contracts, photographs & newspaper clippings, 1911-23, 1954-95
Folder 24: Sousa Band Fraternal Society Correspondence & Membership Cards, 1944-84
Folder 25: Sousa Band Fraternal Society Newsletters, 1945-1976
Folder 26: Sousa Band Fraternal Society Newsletters, 1977-1989
Folder 27: Sousa Oral History Project: Interview & Newspaper Clippings, 1980-94
Folder 28: Yearbook, Newspaper, & Reunion: Urbana High School, 1916-17, 198

Box 4: Daily Planners: 1974-1993

Box 5

Folder 1: University of Illinois Concert Band Medal, Undated
Folder 2: Carribean "Air-Sea" Cruise Diary and Expense Report, 1972
Folder 3: List of Important Popular Music of the Twentieth Century, Undated
Folder 4: Correspondence, Kent Family Information, Kent/Danner Interview, 1990
Folder 5: Story of Richard E. Kent, Sr., Undated
Folder 6: Newspaper Clipping and Ephemera, c. 1975-1995
Folder 7: "Variety" Magazine and New York Times, altered by Richard Kent, Jr., 1991
Folder 8: Marriage License (Kent/Phares), 1929, and Certificate of Military Service, 1966
Folder 9: Life Insurance Policies and Related Documents, c. 1946-1984

Series 2: Published Music and Oversized Items

Box 2

Folder 1: Journal Articles, "Globe-Trotting Incidents," by John Philip Sousa, and "Around the World with Sousa"
Folder 2: Untitled Sonata, by Richard E. Kent
Folder 3: Published Sheet Music, alpha. by composer, A: Anonymous-Arlen
Folder 4: Published Sheet Music, alpha. by composer, B: Barroso-Bullard
Folder 5: Published Sheet Music, alpha. by composer, C: Carmichael-Coward
Folder 6: Published Sheet Music, alpha. by composer, D-F: D'Hardelot-Friml
Folder 7: Published Sheet Music, alpha. by composer, G-J: Gershwin-Joplin

Box 3

Folder 1: Published Sheet Music, alpha. by composer, K-L: Kalman-Loewe
Folder 2: Published Sheet Music, alpha. by composer, M-P: Madriguera-Prado
Folder 3: Published Sheet Music, alpha. by composer, R:
Folder 4: Published Sheet Music, alpha. by composer, S: INT Saens-Styne
Folder 5: Published Sheet Music, alpha. by composer, T-Y: Tilzer-Youse

Box 5

Folder 10: Published Sheet Music, alpha. by composer, B
Folder 11: Published Sheet Music, alpha. by composer, C-H
Folder 12: Published Sheet Music, alpha. by composer, K-P
Folder 13: Published Sheet Music, alpha. by composer, R-W