American Bandmasters Association

Variant names

Hide Profile

In the summer of 1928, Edwin Franko Goldman, leader of the Goldman Band; Victor Grabel, conductor of the Chicago Concert Band; and Captain William Stannard, Leader of the United States Army Band, met in Columbus, Ohio to discuss ways of easing the problems facing the leaders of America's professional and military bands. That August, Captain Stannard recorded his vision for the American Bandmasters Association in a letter to Albert Austin Harding, Director of Bands at the University of Illinois, "we conceived the idea of creating an ABA for the purpose of furthering the interests of outstanding American Band Masters, and of interesting composers, arrangers, and music publishers in Wind Band music."

The fledgling organization was able to secure the endorsement of America's most famous bandleader, and soon Commander John Philip Sousa agreed to serve as the first Honorary Life President of the ABA. On July 5, 1929 the charter members of the ABA met in New York. These earliest members included Edwin Franko Goldman; Charles Benter, Director of the United States Navy Band; J. J. Gagnier, Director of His Majesty's Grenadier Guards Band, of Montreal; Victor J. Grabel, Conductor of the Chicago Concert Band; Albert Austin Harding, Director of Bands at the University of Illinois; Richard B. Hayward, Director of the Toronto Concert Band; Charles O'Neill, Director of the Royal 22nd Regiment Band of Quebec; Arthur Pryor, Director of Arthur Pryo's Band; and Frank Simon, Director of the ARMCO Band in Middletown, Ohio. The first annual convention of the ABA was held in March of 1930 in Middletown. The Association has met annually since 1930, except for during World War II.

The ABA has championed the causes of American bands and bandmasters throughout its history. Its members' accomplishments include the election of John Philip Sousa to the Hall of Fame of Great Americans, the publication of the Journal of Band Research, and the establishment of several awards and prizes, including the Ostwald Band Composition Contest and the Edwin Franko Goldman Memorial Citation.

From the guide to the American Bandmasters Association Archives, 1929-present, 1929-present, (University of Maryland Libraries)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Landers, George W., 1860-1955?. Papers, 1898-1955. Iowa State Historical Society
referencedIn Henderson, Hubert, 1918-. Henderson papers, 1932-1966 (1964-1966) University of Maryland (College Park, Md.). Libraries
referencedIn Bachman, Harold B. Harold Bachman collection, 1921-1971 (bulk 1942-1945). University of Maryland (College Park, Md.). Libraries
creatorOf Wilson, George, conductor. George C. Wilson papers, 1936-1982 University of Maryland (College Park, Md.). Libraries
referencedIn Goldman, Edwin Franko, 1878-1956. Edwin Franco Goldman papers, 1895-1977 (1919-1977). University of Maryland (College Park, Md.). Libraries
referencedIn Hindsley, Mark H. (Mark Hubert). Mark Hindsley papers, 1932-1993 (majority 1950-1975) University of Maryland (College Park, Md.). Libraries
creatorOf American Bandmasters Association. American Bandmasters Association records, 1929-present University of Maryland (College Park, Md.). Libraries
referencedIn Slocum, Earl. Earl Slocum papers, 1875-1990 (majority 1919-1990) University of Maryland (College Park, Md.). Libraries
referencedIn Slocum, Earl. Earl Slocum papers, 1875-1990 (majority 1919-1990) University of Maryland (College Park, Md.). Libraries
referencedIn Hazelman, Herbert, 1913-2007. Herbert Hazelman papers, 1931-2001 University of Maryland (College Park, Md.). Libraries
referencedIn Sams, Lynn L., 1896-1990. Papers, 1930-1990. University of Maryland (College Park, Md.). Libraries
referencedIn Slater, K. B. (Kenneth Burton), 1917-2005. Kenneth Slater papers, 1859-1997 (1940-1980). University of Maryland (College Park, Md.). Libraries
referencedIn Dvorak, Raymond F. (Raymond Francis), 1900-1982. Raymond Dvorak papers, 1919-1985 (1960-1980). University of Maryland (College Park, Md.). Libraries
referencedIn Killion, M. Dean. Papers, 1938-1985, (bulks 1951-1985). Texas Tech University Libraries, Academic Library
referencedIn Mancini, Frank, 1886-1964. Papers, 1926-1970. University of Maryland (College Park, Md.). Libraries
referencedIn Slater, K. B. (Kenneth Burton), 1917-2005. Kenneth Slater papers, 1859-1997 (1940-1980). University of Maryland (College Park, Md.). Libraries
referencedIn Heney, John, 1902-1978. John Heney papers, 1885-1978 (majority 1926-1976) University of Maryland (College Park, Md.). Libraries
referencedIn Hindsley, Mark H. (Mark Hubert). Papers, 1920-1983. University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
referencedIn Janzen, Eldon A. Eldon A. Janzen papers, 1941-2008 (majority 1970-1993) University of Maryland (College Park, Md.). Libraries
referencedIn Bachman, Harold B. Harold Bachman collection, 1921-1971 (bulk 1942-1945). University of Maryland (College Park, Md.). Libraries
referencedIn Dewey O. Wiley, Papers, U 49. 1., 1915-1981 and undated Southwest Collection/Special Collections Libary, Texas Tech University
referencedIn Janzen, Eldon A. Eldon A. Janzen papers, 1941-2008 (majority 1970-1993) University of Maryland (College Park, Md.). Libraries
referencedIn Dvorak, Raymond F. (Raymond Francis), 1900-1982. Raymond Dvorak papers, 1919-1985 (1960-1980). University of Maryland (College Park, Md.). Libraries
referencedIn Hindsley, Mark H. (Mark Hubert). Mark Hindsley papers, 1932-1993 (majority 1950-1975) University of Maryland (College Park, Md.). Libraries
referencedIn Heney, John, 1902-1978. John Heney papers, 1885-1978 (majority 1926-1976) University of Maryland (College Park, Md.). Libraries
referencedIn George Balanchine archive, 1924-1989 (inclusive), 1961-1983 (bulk). Harvard Theater Collection, Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University
referencedIn Mancini, Frank, 1886-1964. Papers, 1926-1970. University of Maryland (College Park, Md.). Libraries
creatorOf Yoder, Paul. Paul V. Yoder papers, 1959-1981 University of Maryland (College Park, Md.). Libraries
referencedIn Mahan, Jack, 1911-. Oral history interview with Jack Mahan, 1980 October 17. University of North Texas Library, UNT
referencedIn Goldman, Edwin Franko, 1878-1956. Edwin Franco Goldman papers, 1895-1977 (1919-1977). University of Maryland (College Park, Md.). Libraries
referencedIn Henderson, Hubert, 1918-. Henderson papers, 1932-1966 (1964-1966) University of Maryland (College Park, Md.). Libraries
referencedIn Wiley, Dewey O., 1898-1980. Papers, 1884-1981, 1923-1966. Texas Tech University Libraries, Academic Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Bachman, Harold B. person
associatedWith Bachman, Harold B. person
correspondedWith Balanchine, George. person
associatedWith Dvorak, Raymond F. (Raymond Francis), 1900-1982. person
associatedWith Goldman, Edwin Franko, 1878-1956. person
associatedWith Hazelman, Herbert, 1913-2007. person
associatedWith Henderson, Hubert, 1918- person
associatedWith Heney, John person
associatedWith Heney, John. person
associatedWith Hindsley, Mark H. (Mark Hubert) person
associatedWith Janzen, Eldon A. person
associatedWith Killion, M. Dean. person
associatedWith Landers, George W., 1860-1955? person
associatedWith Mahan, Jack, 1911- person
associatedWith Mancini, Frank, 1886-1964. person
associatedWith Sams, Lynn L., 1896-1990. person
associatedWith Slater, K. B. (Kenneth Burton), 1917-2005. person
associatedWith Slocum, Earl. person
associatedWith Wiley, Dewey O. person
associatedWith Wiley, Dewey O., 1898-1980. person
associatedWith Wilson, George, conductor. person
associatedWith Yoder, Paul. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
United States
Subject
Band directors
Band directors
Bands (Music)
Bands (Music)
Conductors (Music)
Conductors (Music)
Occupation
Activity

Corporate Body

Establishment 1929

Information

Permalink: http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w67d774g

Ark ID: w67d774g

SNAC ID: 54994197