Research Guides: Band Collections in Special Collections in Performing Arts: ABA Recording Collections

For the Record...

In celebration of the 2003 ABA Convention in Baltimore/College Park, MD, the ABA Research Center produced a CD featuring highlights of the ABA recordings collections entitled For the Record...

Please contact the curator if you would like to listen to For the Record...

Recording Collections

In addition to its large document holdings, the American Bandmasters Association Research Center contains thousands of recordings, ranging from Edison cylinders to compact discs.

The American Bandmasters Association Collection of Recordings
With over 2,600 cassette tapes, records, and compact discs, this collection acts as a catch all for band recordings. Especially well represented are military service bands and university bands, as well as most of the march recordings distributed by Robert Hoe under the title "Heritage of the March."
Only portions of the recordings collection are indexed, and patrons should consult with the Special Collections in Performing Arts Curator to determine the availability of recordings.
The ABA recordings collection also contains more than 400 reel-to-reel tapes of ABA conventions, university bands, historic performances, and broadcasts.
Herbert Hazelman Tape Collection
More than 150 taped performances make up a portion of the Herbert Hazelman papers. These are mostly performances of Hazelman's own high school band at Greensboro (Grimsley) North Carolina Senior High School.
George Howard Air Force Band Transcription Disks
Some 750 sixteen-inch 78 rpm acetate radio transcription disks made by the United States Air Force Band make up a portion of the George Howard Collection. Many of these recordings are in extremely fragile condition, but most of them have been transfered to tape and are available for listening. A partial inventory is available in the repository.
Frank McGrann Record Collection
Some 410 historic 78 rpm recordings make up a portion of the Frank McGrann collection. These include performances by the bands of Arthur Pryor, Patrick Conway, John Philip Sousa, Edwin Franko Goldman, and many others. Because of the fragile nature of these recordings, access is limited. An inventory of recordings is available upon request.
Robert Hoe Collection
The Robert Hoe Collection contains 189 LP recordings (plus duplicates) of American and European band marches, including the Heritage of the March series and a set of Sousa’s works recorded by the United States Marine Band. The collection also contains 18 of Robert Hoe’s newsletters.