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

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.

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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.

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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 7: Photographs, Ephemera and Uniforms

Box 8

Folder 22: Pictures of Harry Begian, ca. 1960, 1980
Folder 23: Postcards: Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts; British Museum, ca. 1966, 1978

Box 10

Folder 29: Haskell O. Sexton Photographs, 1917-1978

Box 11

Folder 4: Symphonic Band Photograph, 1933, 1959-60, 1971-1972, 1981-1982, 1988-1989
Folder 23: Photographs: Begian, U of I Bands (1 of 2), ca.1967-1985
Folder 24: Photographs: Begian, U of I Bands (2 of 2), ca.1967-1985
Folder 25: Photographs: Large Symphonic Band in Springfield, IL, March 30, 1978
Folder 26: Photographs: Marching Illini, 1971, 1976-77, 1980

Box 12

Folder 14: Wayne State University Photographs, ca.1960, 1965-66
Folder 17: From the Hearts of Men: Bicentennial Videotape - UofI Band Harry Begian, 1976

Box 14

Item 1: Plaques, military medals and insignia, address books
Item 2: ABA membership Certificate, 1965
Item 3: Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Membership Certificate, 1941
Item 4: Charter Member of Bandmasters Hall of Fame Plaque, 1984: Glue on medallion is loose
Item 5: Royal Australian Navy Band Plaque, 1983
Item 6: Guest Conductor Hersey Band Midwest Clinic Plaque, 1971
Item 7: Purdue University Bands Plaque, 1987
Item 8: Membership Certificate Leblanc Music Educators National Advisory Board
Item 9: St. Cecilia Award Notre Dame Bands Plaque, 1984
Item 10: American School Band Directors Association Plaque, 1984
Item 11: South Dakota All-State Band Guest Conductor Plaque, 1981
Item 12: Purdue Bands Symphony Band Director Plaque, 1985-1987
Item 13: Golden Key Plaque from people of Springfield, IL
Item 14: 1980 Marching Illini to Doctor Begian Plaque, 1980
Item 15: A Bell Frontier and Honorary Member of Mark Foutch's Brass Band Plaque, 1972
Item 16: Georgia All-State Sr. High School Symphonic Band Conductor Plaque, 1991
Item 17: City of Waukegan Plaque
Item 18: Salem-Keizer All District High School Honor Band Director Plaque, 1996
Item 19: United States Air Force Plaque
Item 20: Appreciation for Visit to Waukegan, IL Plaque
Item 21: Appreciation of America's Band in Blue, December 5th, 6th, 10th, 1992
Item 22: In-service Conference VMEA Garfield Symphonic Band Plaque, 1994
Item 23: President's Award from National Catholic Band Association Plaque, 1996

Box 15

Folder 1: Poster/Photographs, Begian, Cass Technical High School, May Festival, December 1955-1964
Folder 2: Photographs, Begian, Cass Technical High Concert and Marching Bands, 1949-1963
Folder 13: College Band Directors National Association, 1964, 1968-69, 1971-73, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1990-92

Box 17

Folder 25: Cass Tech reunion scrapbook

Box 21

Folder 1: Scrapbook

Box 24

Item 1: Navy Blue Uniform Pants: Accession No. 2007.120925.001A.
Item 2: Navy Blue University Bands Blazer: Accession No. 2007.120925.001B.

Box 25

Item 1: Orange University Bands Blazer: Accession No. 2007.120925.002.

Box 26

Folder 6: Milwaukee Police Band Honorary Membership Certificate, 1994
Folder 7: Concert Programs, ca. 1935-2000
Folder 8: Newspaper Clippings and Magazine Articles, ca. 1951-1966
Folder 9: U.S. Naval Acadamy Band Photograph, April, 1993

Box 28: Rolled photographs (for conservation)

Item 1: Oversized photo: Marching band performing at Fighting Illini vs. Michigan game at Memorial Stadium. Record attendance, 76127., 1983
Item 2: Poster. Rose Bowl '84: Illinois Fighting Illini, 1984
Item 3: Photograph. Georgia Intercollegiate Band at Georgia Music Educators Association. Columbia, GA., 1985: The first intercollegiate band in Georgia, with Harry Begian conducting.
Item 4: Poster: Wayne University bands with Begian photograph, undated
Item 5: Wayne University Band, ca. 1947: Begian was a special instructor and assistant in University Bands after World War II.

Box 29

Folder 1: Certificate, Begian, Induction into National Band Association Hall of Fame of Distinguished Band Conductors, February 1994
Folder 2: Photographs, Begian, Michigan State College Military Band and MSU Youth Symphonic Band, 1935-1936 and 1961-
Folder 4: Photographs from Australian Royal Military Band
Folder 7: La Traviata Poster - Begian Conducting, April 22
Folder 8: Photographs - Marching Illini, Poster - University of Illinois Symphonic Band, 1970, 1976, 1978

MapCabinet 3

MapDrawer 1

Folder 6: Harvard Football Game, 1925