Finding Aid for Harry Begian Papers, 1926-97 | The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music

By Sarah A. Long and Kelly A. Carlson

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Collection Overview

Title: Harry Begian Papers, 1926-97

ID: 12/9/25

Primary Creator: Begian, Harry (1921-2010)

Extent: 25.5 cubic feet

Arrangement: The collection is arranged into seven series: Series 1, Clinics and Conference Presentations; Series 2, Sound Recordings; Series 3, Correspondence; Series 4, Administrative Records and Research; Series 5, Teaching Notes; Series 6, Music; and Series 7, Photographs and Uniforms. Materials are arranged in alphabetical and chronological order.

Date Acquired: 12/10/1995. More info below under Accruals.

Formats/Genres: Papers

Languages: English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

Consists of correspondence, photographs, scrapbooks, concert recordings, program notes, convention materials, research materials, and published articles that document Harry Begian's career as a conductor, teacher, guest speaker, and scholar from 1946-2005. In addition to administrative materials from his University career, this collection contains his personal teaching materials such as class notes, lesson plans, and conducting exercises. This collection also contains two boxes of his personal arrangements for high school and University bands.

Biographical Note

Harry Begian (1921-2010), University band conductor, composer, arranger, and pedagogue, has appeared as a guest conductor and speaker for numerous high school, University, and professional concert bands throughout the United States and internationally. Dr. Begian started his career as a band director during WWII at McKenzie High school in Detroit before he was drafted. After he finished serving in the war, he went on to become the director of the Cass Technical High School Symphonic Band from 1947-1964, making it one of the finest high school bands in the country.

Dr. Begian was director of bands at Wayne State University, his alma mater, from 1964-1967, and director of bands at Michigan State University from 1967-1970 before his 14 year tenure as director of bands at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign from 1970-1984. After his retirement from the University of Illinois, he went on to become the director of the Purdue University Symphonic Band from 1985-1987.

In addition to being a professional conductor and composer, Dr. Begian is also widely recognized for his pedagogical techniques, and he has published 17 articles on rehearsal analysis and conducting strategies. He has also been the subject of two dissertations, as well as numerous interviews published in the Instrumentalist. Dr. Begian has been the recipient of various awards, including the National Band Association's Citation of Excellence, The Edwin Franko Goldman Award, and the Notre Dame St. Cecelia Award among others.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Clinics and Conference Presentations],
[Series 2: Sound Recordings],
[Series 3: Correspondence],
[Series 4: Administrative Records and Research],
[Series 5: Teaching Notes and Scholarly Papers],
[Series 6: Music],
[Series 7: Photographs, Ephemera and Uniforms],
[Series 8: Correspondence: Church Functions and Congressional Records, 1961-1973, 1961-62, 1964-68, 1973, 1983],
[Series 9: Books],
[All]

Series 4: Administrative Records and Research

Box 8

Folder 30: Armenian Choral Society - Detroit, Correspondence, Concert Programs, Newsclippings, 1965-1973
Folder 31: Armenian Churches, Historic Articles, Church Related Articles, Calendars, 1959-62, 66, 69-71, 81, 83-84
Folder 32: Armenian Music, Related Concert programs, and newsclippings, 1949, 1950, 1961, 1962, 1968
Folder 33: Armenian People and Culture, 1961-62, 1965, 1967, 1969-71, 1973
Folder 34: Conducting, 1961-62

Box 10: University of Illinois Bands

Folder 1: 100th Anniversary Concert, April 19-30, 1990
Folder 2: University of Illinois - ISYM, June 15-26, 1987
Folder 3: University of Illinois Marching Illini, 1968, 1970-74, 1976-77, 1983, 1995
Folder 4: University of Illinois - ISYM, June 14-27th, 1986
Folder 5: University of Illinois - ISYM, 1964, 1968, 1970, 1974, 1976-77, 1980-81, 1984-85
Folder 6: Newsclippings (1 of 2), 1970-78, 1980-85
Folder 7: Newsclippings (2 of 2), 1970-78, 1980-85
Folder 8: University of Illinois: Official Forms and Correspondence, 1970-85
Folder 9: "Record of General Activities" Forms, 1970-78
Folder 11: Search Committee - Assitant Director A & B, 1981-1982
Folder 12: Search Committee - Assitant Director C, 1981-1982
Folder 13: Search Committee - Assitant Director D - G, 1981-1982
Folder 14: Search Committee - Assitant Director H, 1981-1982
Folder 15: Search Committee - Assistant Director J - La, 1981-1982
Folder 16: Search Committee - Assistant Director Le - O, 1981-1982
Folder 17: Search Committee - Assitant Director P - S, 1981-1982
Folder 18: Search Committee - Assistant Director T - W, 1981-1982
Folder 19: Search Committee - Assistant Director (Late), 1981-1982
Folder 20: Search Committee - Assistant Director of Bands
Folder 21: Search Committe - Assistant Director, 1981-1982
Folder 22: Sousa Library and Busch Museum
Folder 25: U of I Concert Programs, 1970-1977
Folder 26: Hindsley, Mark H., 1976, 1980-1981, 1995
Folder 27: Parade of Roses and Rose Bowl, 1983-1984
Folder 28: Parade of Roses and Rose Bowl Newsclippings (1 of 2), 1983-84

Box 11

Folder 2: University of Illinois: Singing Illini Band, 1978
Folder 3: University of Illinois Student Correspondence, 1974-75, 1980-84
Folder 5: University of Illinois Bands, 1985-91, 1995
Folder 6: University of Illinois Bands, 1984
Folder 7: University of Illinois Bands, 1983
Folder 8: University of Illinois Bands, 1982
Folder 9: University of Illinois Bands, 1981
Folder 10: University of Illinois Bands, 1980
Folder 11: University of Illinois Bands, 1979
Folder 12: University of Illinois Bands, 1978
Folder 13: University of Illinois Bands, 1977
Folder 14: University of Illinois Bands, 1976
Folder 15: University of Illinois Bands, 1975
Folder 16: University of Illinois Bands, 1974
Folder 17: University of Illinois Bands, 1973
Folder 18: University of Illinois Bands, 1972
Folder 19: University of Illinois Bands, 1971
Folder 20: University of Illinois Bands, 1969-70
Folder 21: University of Illinois Bands, 1915, 1958, 1961, 1967-69
Folder 22: University of Michigan, 1956, 1970, 1973
Folder 24: Allen P. Britton, Assoc. Dean, U of M School of Music, 1964-1983
Folder 27: University of Michigan Bands, 1950-53, 1955-57, 1960, 1966-67, 1969-71, 1974-78, 1980
Folder 29: University of Michigan - Commencement, 1964
Folder 30: University of Michigan Bands: Concert Programs, 1947-60, 1963-64, 1966-68
Folder 31: University of Michigan: Dissertation, "Godimas Vartabed," and award of Ed. D. degree, 1960, 1962-64, 1966
Folder 32: University of Michigan: Doctoral Work, 1955-59
Folder 33: University of Michigan: Essays and Assignments, 1957
Folder 34: University of Michigan: Essays and Assignments, 1956
Folder 35: University of Michigan School of Music, 1950-51, 1954, 1956, 1962, 1965, 1971, 1974

Box 15

Folder 3: Improvability of Pitch Perception
Folder 6: List of Donated Items from UI Bands to Chatfield Brass Band Free Music Lending Library, July 31, 1980

Box 17

Folder 24: Engagement calendars 1984-1999, 1984-1999
Folder 26: John P. Paynter, 1996
Folder 27: Piansano Press - Victor Bordo
Folder 28: Published articles
Folder 29: Russell Hammond, 1993-94
Folder 30: Stephen Williams Sydney Conservatorium - Australia