The United States Marine Band Library and Archive has 16 collections open for research that help document the life and career of John Philip Sousa, the Sousa Band, and the Marine Band in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Brief descriptions of the finding aids are listed below, along with their associated files. The collections are available to researchers onsite by appointment. To make an appointment (202) 433-4298.
John Philip Sousa papers, bulk 1892-1932: American composer and bandleader John Philp Sousa was director of the U.S. Marine Band from 1880 to 1892, then led the Sousa Band from 1892 until his death in 1932.
Photo: 1932
The book and score library, personal papers and correspondence, financial documents, photographs, awards, and press clippings help document and illustrate the life of this eminent musician.
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Rudolf Becker papers, 1876-1972: Saxophonist Rudolph Becker emigrated from Germany to Philadelphia in 1887 and became a member of the Sousa Band. Between seasons he was also a member of the touring American Saxophone Quartett. Through the music, articles, programs, photographs, and other papers in this collection, some parts of Becker’s musical career are represented.
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John S. Burroughs papers, 1862-1988: Euphonium player John S. “Buddy” Burroughs was a member of the U.S. Marine Band from 1935 through 1966. Upon retirement he remained active by serving as a clinician and goodwill ambassador to military bands in Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, and the Solomon Islands. This collection consists of correspondence, personal papers, papers pertaining to his activities with various professional organizations, periodicals, newsletters, photographs, film reels, programs, Marine Band promotional materials and press clippings, printed music, and recordings.
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Edmond M. DeMar papers, 1930-2006: MGySgt Edmond M. “Bud” DeMar joined the Marine Corps in 1935, served in various USMC bands as a drum major, and also in the South Pacific during World War II. From 1949 to 1962 he was drum major of the Marine Band. This collection includes personal papers, photographs, press clippings, and audio recordings.
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Carlos P. Furminger papers, 1924-1981: Master Sergeant Carlos P. Furminger was a member of the U. S. Marine Band in Washington, D.C., from 1924 through 1952 as a cornetist, tuba player, and a string bass player. Aside from performing, Furminger was involved in many aspects of the Band including as a singer, a tour baggage master, and as an assistant librarian. This collection consists of handbooks, concert programs, and press clippings about the Marine Corps and the Marine Band and its activities.
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Luis Guzman papers, 1924-1941: Luis Guzman was a flutist who joined the Quantico Marine Band in 1921, then joined the U.S. Marine Band in 1923 and served until 1951. In addition to performing, Guzman was a composer and arranger. This collection consists of notated music, photographs, a concert program, an article, and a booklet about Guzman’s compositional career.
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Clyde L. Hall papers, bulk 1900-1957: Clarinetist Clyde Hall studied with Daniel Bonade and Lucien Cailliet, then joined the Sousa Band in 1926. He enlisted in the Marine Band in 1928, serving on both clarinet and viola, and retired in 1957. The photographs, articles, correspondence, programs, and oral history interview in this collection help illustrate Hall’s musical and business life through the first half of the twentieth century.
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Dale L. Harpham papers, 1892-1993: Lieutenant Colonel Dale L. Harpham was a member of the U.S. Marine Band from 1935 through 1974 where he performed on trombone and cello and was Director from 1972 to 1974. This collection consists of correspondence, research about the Marine Band’s history and Harpham’s family, programs from guest conducting appearances, papers related to his professional organization and activities, photographs, press clippings, posters, publications, printed music, and recordings.
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John Heney papers, 1918-1969: Percussionist, composer, and music educator John Joseph Heney performed with circus bands from 1921 to 1926, then joined the Sousa Band for five years. He settled in DeLand, Florida, where he became a high school and university band director and influential in the American school band movement. The scrapbook, ephemera, and photos he collected during his performing years help illustrate the life of a performing circus musician and a section leader in Sousa’s Band. The programs and reports of the American Bandmasters Association, as well as the correspondence with leading bandsmen of the era, the adjudication forms, and newsletters indicate his level of influence as a band director, author, and clinician.
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Winfred Kemp papers, bulk 1930-1945: Cornetist and composer Winfred Kemp joined the Parris Island Marine Band in 1925, then joined the U.S. Marine Band in 1930 and served until 1945. This collection consists of photographs, programs, clippings, articles, recordings, and collected literature about the Marine Band.
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Arthur W. Lehman papers, bulk 1946-2009: Euphonium player Arthur W. Lehman served with the U.S. Marine Band from 1947 to 1971. The papers, scrapbooks, recordings, and publications he donated demonstrate the pride he felt in being a part of this organization, the close relationships he developed with fellow members, and his interest in band music. In the catalogs and correspondence we find his advocacy for the use of the then-new self-compensating euphonium. A prolific writer, his papers contain many stories and reminiscences, as well as the original draft of his book “The Art of the Euphonium.”
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Photo: Sousa Band World Tour, 1911
Marine Corps Women’s Reserve Band collection, 1943-1946: Private Bonnie M. Medin was a member of the Marine Corps Women’s Reserve Band, performing on percussion from 1943 until her discharge in 1946. This collection consists of her scrapbook, military orders, personal and professional correspondence, pamphlets, press clippings, sheet music, concert programs, postcards, and other historical information that chronicles her service in the Marine Corps Women’s Reserve Band.
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Howard Pew papers, 1889-1942: Howard Pew was a newspaper reporter, newspaper owner, bandmaster, and band manager in the late nineteenth century and early twentieth centuries. Bands that he managed included the Sousa Band, Gilmore’s Band, Creatore’s Band, and the Marine Band, among others. Pew’s papers consist of photographs, correspondence, business cards, a concert program, and foreign currency.
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Antonio Pons papers, 1828-1889: Musician and conductor Antonio Pons (1806-1889) immigrated from Spain to the United States after serving aboard several US Navy ships. He settled in Washington, D.C., and joined the Marine Band, serving as 10th Leader/Drum Major from May 22, 1943 to February 23, 1844, and returning October 26, 1846 to July 7, 1848 to serve as 12th Leader/Drum Major. The collection consists of manuscript discharge and commendation papers from ships he served on, including the USS Constitution, two letters, orders, a drawing, and other documents.
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Santelmann Family papers, 1884-1985: The only father and son to serve as directors of the United States Marine Band, William H. Santelmann (1863-1932) and his son William F. Santelmann (1902-1984) led the organization for a total of 44 years. The service records, correspondence, documentation, photographs, scrapbooks, notated music, and recordings document their careers as military musicians, conductors, and music advisors to the White House.
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Walter F. Smith papers, 1857-1937: Sergeant Major Walter F. Smith served as solo cornetist and second leader (assistant to the leader) in the U.S. Marine Band from 1885 to 1921, with a break in service from 1893 to 1898 to perform with the Sousa Band. The materials in the collection focus on his time as Second Leader of the Marine Band under John Philip Sousa and include correspondence, press clippings, personal and professional photographs, books, and notated music.
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