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Accessibility:
Title:
  • American Brass Band Records
Author/Creator:
  • American Brass Band
Call Number:
  • MSS 256
Record Level:
  • Collection
Physical Description:
  • 5 ft.
  • 3 RB, 3 AB, 4 FB
Inclusive Dates:
  • 1829-1978
Bulk Dates:
  • 1829-1978
Cataloged By:
  • Erica C. Haakensen, 2005
Summary:
  • Civilian concert & marching band in Providence, RI

  • Sheet music, organizational documents, historical and personal records pertaining to a civilian marching band and its veterans association, 1829-1978.

Cataloging Note:
  • During the summer of 2005, the volumes and loose materials in this collection were sorted by category and rehoused in acid-free boxes and folders. Those volumes containing scrapbook materials should be considered for preservation photocopying because of the large amount of acidic clippings pasted onto their pages. Also, there are clippings and programs tucked between pages that need to be accounted for.
  • The sheet music was divided into four main groups: small (approximately 5"x7" or less), medium (in the 7"x10.5" range), large (approximately 9.5"x13" or more), and bound volumes. The small, medium, and large groups were then sorted alphabetically by title, removed from their highly acidic envelopes, cleaned, and rehoused in acid-free folders. A few samples of the original envelopes have been filed in folders at the end of each size range. There were many cases where two or more musical scores were either printed on the same sheet of paper or within the same booklet. Single sheets of music that had one title on the front and another on the back were filed alphabetically - for instance, "Juanita March" and "Merry War March" were filed under "J". Sheets with multiple titles on a single side or throughout a booklet were filed under the first title that appears. Untitled scores were filed at the end of each size range. The scores in the bound volumes were inventoried according to their original order. The six volumes handwritten by Benjamin P. Robinson were different instrument parts for the same list of titles, so only the Basso volume was inventoried. It must be noted that there are some differences in the title order of these six volumes.
Historical Note:
  • The American Brass Band (ABB) is the oldest continuously running civilian concert band in the United States. An early form of the band was organized in 1825 by bugle player Joseph C. Greene; it was known then as the Providence Martial Team. In November 1837, the band became formally organized into the American Band and Orchestra of Providence, RI (aka the American Brass Band). There were 14 men in the band at this time; one of them was Benjamin P. Robinson, a fife and cymbal player who hosted the charter meeting in his father's counting room basement. The ABB was an all-brass band whose repertoire included classical music, marches, and popular standards. It steadily grew in renown as a concert and marching band throughout New England. Greene temporarily left the ABB in 1839 to take on leadership of the Boston Brass Band; the band was conducted by Benjamin G. West until Greene's return in 1841. In 1853, the band became incorporated into a military band in the Second Brigade of the RI Militia. On April 17, 1861, the ABB volunteered to serve in the Civil War with the First Regiment Rhode Island Detached Militia. Its three month service involved carrying wounded soldiers off the battlefields in stretchers. The band saw action at the Battle of Bull Run, VA on July 21, 1861 before its service ended. After the Civil War, the band was designated the official band of New England and marched in multiple presidential inaugurations. The ABB's popularity skyrocketed after David Wallis Reeves, a renowned cornetist and "famous writer of military marches," assumed leadership in 1866. Reeves added a woodwinds section to the formerly all-brass band and lead it on several national tours. He also discovered Bowen R. Church and trained him to be a nationally-known cornet virtuoso. Reeves's personal celebrity grew as he composed over 100 marches that included the famous "Second Regiment C.N.G." march. Eventually, the ABB came to be known (especially in the Boston area) as Reeves' American Band and Orchestra or Reeves' Band. This name helped distinguish it from the growing number of "American" bands that were based throughout New England. Two major milestones in the band's history took place in 1887. One was the fiftieth anniversary concert in which the surviving original band members (including Joseph Greene) came out of retirement to play with the current roster of musicians. The other was the formation of the American Brass Band Veterans Association on November 26, 1887. The first set of officers of this association included Samuel D. Sprink as President and William E. Whiting as Secretary. In October of 1892, D.W. Reeves accepted the directorship of Gilmore's 22nd Regiment Band of New York. He returned to the ABB after one year and remained as conductor until his death in 1900. At this point Bowen R. Church, the assistant conductor, took over as the band's general director like he had done in 1892. But it was not long before Church resumed his former position as assistant conductor. He was succeeded as leader first by Herbert L. Clarke, then Edward M. Fay. Fay's decision to rename the band Fay's American Band (circa 1906) was a source of much controversy amongst past and present members. By now, the band's popularity and artistic integrity were starting to decline from what it had been during the Reeves period, although it continued to tour successfully on a national level. It was around this time that Robinson, the last of the band's charter members, passed away at age 96. Warren Fales, town councilman of East Providence and financial backer of the ABB, soon replaced Fay as general director. Although he was not a musician, Fales helped the ABB regain some of its former prestige and formed a tradition where each concert began with one of D.W. Reeves's marches. The band leaders that came after Fales were Joseph Lemaire, Frank Wollenberg and Alfred Archambault. In 1978, ABB underwent a complete reorganization under a new music director: Dr. Francis M. Marciniak, Director of Bands at Rhode Island College. Dr. Gene Pollart took over as director in 1996.
Bibliographic References:
  • History of the American Band. Viewed June 24, 2005. http://www.ric.edu/am_band/history.htm
Scope and Content:
  • The American Brass Band Records are divided into four series: Series 1: Sheet Music (no dates). Series 2: Organizational Documents (1847-1978). Series 3: Historical and Personal Records (1829-1916). Series 4: American Brass Band Veteran Association (1887-1910). Series 1, the Sheet Music makes up the bulk of the collection. It consists of over 700 titles, either printed or handwritten, in unbound sheets and booklets or bound volumes. A separate Microsoft Excel file was created for the music inventory. The unbound music list, sorted by box and folder numbers as of this writing, contains the available information on the composer, genre, arranger, size, and presentation status (handwritten, print, or both) of each title. Other information includes: whether there originally was an envelope or folder for the music; if there was a number on the envelope or stamped/written on each copy of music; if the music or envelopes were stamped; what those stamps said; and miscellaneous notes such as if one sheet possesses multiple titles. The three lists for the bound sheet music are not as detailed due to lack of information. They are currently sorted in chronological order and had page numbers assigned to them (e.g. page six refers to the back of the third sheet of paper). Series 2, the Organizational Documents refer to the official records of the ABB as an organization. These include the original charter and by-laws, the incorporation act, a roll call list spanning 120 years, and financial records. Series 3, the Historical and Personal Records detail the ABB's history through their concerts and band members. Of particular value are the journal kept by original band member Benjamin P. Robinson and two scrapbooks kept by Thomas Thorp and an unknown author. Series 4, the American Brass Band Veteran Association contains the organizational records (finances and meeting minutes) of the association as well as William E. Whiting's written account of the ABB's tour of service in the Civil War. Some items are microfilmed including: Memoranda of the Estimates and Calculations made by ZA... Georgia Mill, 1853. Diary and Miscellaneous Papers, n.d. History of the Steam Engine, Lecture on the Steam Engine, 1832. Transmission of Power, 1871 (lecture to New England Cotton M'facturers Assoc.). Diary, 182l-1824. Memoranda, Europe 1825. Historical, Theoretical, and Practical Account of Textile Fabrics, n.d. Memoranda of the Estimates and Calculations made by Zachariah Allen in Relation to his Purchase and Improvement of the Georgia Mill in the Village of Nightingale, May l, 1853. Some of the family members appearing in this collection are: Philip Allen (1738-1794)-Uncle (master, Sloop Providence). Lydia Crawford (?)-Philip Allen's (Uncle) Wife. Philip Allen (1785-1865)-Brother , Married Phoebe Aborn, ll children, Governor (185l-1853), U.S. Senate (1853-1859). Crawford Allen (1798-1872)-Brother. William Ely-Son in Law. Andrew Robeson, Jr.-Son-in-Law. Aza Arnold-Wife's Cousin. Amos Throop-Uncle by marriage. Joseph Crawford-Grandfather. Thomas Wilson Dorr-Nephew. Zachariah Allen (1740-180l)-Father. Eliza H. [Arnold] Allen-Wife. Ann [Crawford] Allen (1759-1808)-Mother. Candace Allen-Sister. Series description: Series I: Correspondence, 1805-1882 (.5 lin. ft.), This series contains letters to and from Zachariah Allen to business associates, friends and family. There is a calendar of the correspondence. Arranged chronologically. Series II: Subjects, 1815-1946, n.d. (l.0 lin ft.), This series includes notes, news clippings, memorandum and essays ZA wrote on various subjects such as Indians, steam engines, the Dorr Rebellion and textiles. Some manuscript material is in this series. Most folders are not dated. Arranged alphabetically. Series III: Address and Lectures, 1832-1880 (.5 lin. ft.), Speeches and lectures given at business and social organizations are included in this series. Arranged alphabetically. Series IV: Production and Manufacturing, 181l-1878, n.d. (.5 lin. ft.), Notes, calculations and memos concerning Z. Allen's manufacturing ventures including the Georgia Mills and Bernon Mills. The material is calendared. Arranged chronologically. Series V: Manuscripts, 1873-1880, n.d. (3 lin. ft.), Manuscripts of articles and books that Zachariah Allen published or could have published. Often the manuscripts correspond to items in the subject series. Arranged alphabetically, however, four loosely bound manuscript books are at the end of the series. Series VI: Journals and Diaries, 1817-1882 (l.5 lin. ft.), Contains journals and diaries ZA kept while in Europe and also for business and personal thoughts. Arranged chronologically. Series VII: Family Papers, 1767-1845 (.5 lin. ft.), Family papers include correspondence, journals, account books, wills, deeds and memos to Zachariah Allen's wife, Eliza Harriet Allen, ZA's Uncles, Philip Allen and Amos Throop, ZA's father Zachariah Allen (1739-180l), and ZA's sister Candace Allen. Arranged alphabetically. Series VIII: Publications and Miscellaneous, 183l-1880 (.75 lin. ft.), Publication ZA or William Ely collected about George Corliss or manufacturing and bank accounts. Also an account book, scrapbook and "Cove Reports" pertaining to the Providence cove. Arranged alphabetically with oversize books at the end of the series.
Subjects:
Accession Number:
  • 1907.29
  • 1979.77.1-7
  • 1979.85
  • 1985.23
  • 1985.71
Provenance:
  • This collection was donated in four separate gifts. This first was in 1907 (#1907. 29) by Thomas Thorp, which included a scrapbook of records from 1838 - 1906. Two donations arrived in 1979. The first (#1979. 77. 1-7) was from Russell Robinson which included six manuscript score books, Benjamin Robinson's journal, an undated letter from D.W. Reeves, clippings and broadsides. The second (#1979. 85) was from Martha Virginia Brown of a letter from D.W. Reeves to W.D. Eddy on 17 April 1899. The final donation was in 1985 (#1985. 71) by Francis M. Marciniak of a record book of the American Brass Band with dates ranging from 1853-1977.
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