Managing the U.S. Marine Band’s Library and Special Collections: A Conversation with Chief Librarian and Master Gunnery Sergeant Jane Cross

Join Chief Librarian and Master Gunnery Sergeant Jane Cross at 5:00pm today, September 8th, at the Sousa Archives and Center for American Music for a candid conversation about her role as the lead music librarian and special collections caretaker for today’s most recognized military band.   John Philip Sousa’s legacy as America’s “March King” began as a young apprentice musician in 1867 performing with the U.S. Marine Band under the watchful guidance of the ensemble’s many military musicians which included his father, John Antonio Sousa, who played the trombone with the band.  Leaving the band in 1874, John Philip Sousa traveled to Philadelphia to continue his career as a journeyman musician and in 1880 he was recalled to Washington to serve as the director of the U.S. Marine Band.  He held this position until 1892 when he resigned his post to lead his own civilian band, and the “President’s Own” was left to the care of other formable music directors and band librarians to continue the prestigious legacy that began with Sousa.   In addition to this presentation the U.S. Marine Band’s Brass Quintet will be providing a master class between 4:00 and 5:15 in room 141 of the Harding Band Building.   Both the presentation and master class are free and open to the general public.  For more information call 217-333-4577.