CONCORD BAND ARCHIVES, 1959-2012
Vault A75, Con.Ban., Unit 1 (Off-Site Storage*)
EXTENT: 8 containers plus one oversize folder.
ORGANIZATION AND ARRANGEMENT: Eight series: I. Board of Directors records, 1959-2009 (A. Early records, 1959-1963; B. Board membership, [1975]-1996; C. General records, 1976-2005; D. Special topics: policies, decisions, issues, and initiatives, 1966-2009); II. Financial records, 1965/66-2004/05 (A. Concord Band Association declaration of trust and related documents, 1968-2004; B. Documents relating to Concord Band Association’s IRS tax exempt status, 1968, 1983; C. Mailings from the Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General regarding annual Division of Public Charities reports, 1983-1998; D. Mixed financial documents by fiscal year, 1965/66-2004/05; E. Massachusetts Cultural Council Grants by fiscal year, 1984/85-2000/01); III. Publicity and ephemera, 1959-2011 (A. Notes from the Concord Band, 1989-2012; B. Newspaper and magazine articles, reviews, press releases, etc. by calendar year, 1959-2011; C. Posters, handbills, and postcards by calendar year, 1986-2011; D. Ephemera: tickets, order forms, brochure, invitation, 1975-2003; E. Town of Concord proclamations, 1960, 2009); IV. Concert programs by calendar year, 1966-2011; V. Photographs, [ca. 1959]-2007; VI. Audio and audio-visual products, 1975-2011 (A. Long-playing records, 1975-1984; B. CDs, 1997-2011, including 1987 concert copied to CD in 2005; C. DVDs, 2008-2011); VII. Artifact (undated); VIII. History, 2009. Most material within series is arranged chronologically, either by fiscal or by calendar year.
HISTORY (adapted from “A Concise History of the Concord Band,” published in The Concord Band: The First Fifty Years, 2009): From humble beginnings in 1959, the Concord Band of Concord, Massachusetts, has grown into a widely respected community concert band. The band was the brainchild of Janice Bacon, who enjoyed watching various marching bands performing in Concord’s Patriots’ Day parade and decided that the town needed a band of its own. She gathered a few dozen friends to march in the 1959 Patriots’ Day parade.
Edward Spinney was the band’s first conductor in 1959. Richard Vanderlippe took over later that year and continued as conductor until 1961. The band rehearsed in the Thoreau School in West Concord for several years, gave concerts (at the Thoreau School, on the Concord Free Public Library lawn, and one Christmas concert in front of the firehouse), and participated in Patriots’ Day parades. In 1962, William Toland was named music director, becoming the band’s first professional leader.
The Concord Band Association was formed in 1968 through a declaration of trust. In 1970, the band marched in the Patriots’ Day parade for the last time, transforming altogether into a concert band. In 1972, it joined the Concord Players and the Concord Orchestra to form the Friends of the Performing Arts in Concord. The Town of Concord agreed to an initial ten-year lease to FOPAC of the Veterans Building on Walden Street. The main hall was redesigned to hold a music stage opposite the drama stage, and fundraising efforts provided $100,000 for the substantial renovation of the Walden Street end of the building. The Performing Arts Center at 51 Walden has been the home of the Concord Band since 1975.
Mr. Toland introduced the important practice of bringing in professional soloists and guest conductors to perform with the band. Its first guest conductor (in October 1983) was the internationally recognized Frederick Fennell. Mr. Toland also founded the popular outdoor series that began at the Minute Man National Historical Park in Concord and shifted in 1986 to Fruitlands in Harvard, Massachusetts. Over the years, the band has commissioned an impressive quantity of new music for concert band, beginning with Satiric Dances for a Comedy by Aristophanes by Norman Dello Joio (funding arranged by the Town of Concord in honor of the United States Bicentennial; first performance July 1975). To date, some seventy pieces of music have been commissioned by or written for the Concord Band.
William Toland retired in 1995 after thirty-three years as music director, and William G. McManus succeeded him that May. During his fourteen-year tenure, Dr. McManus added substantially to the solid foundation laid by his predecessor, bringing in world-class soloists and guest conductors. In August 2008, James O’Dell was named to succeed Mr. McManus. He began working with the ensemble in January 2009 and took over as music director following the fiftieth anniversary concert on March 14, 2009.
In 1996, the first Concord Band Young Artist Competition was held. In 2002, the Concord Band Lifetime Service Award was introduced to honor significant, long-term commitment to the band.
SCOPE AND CONTENT: Archives, 1959-2012, include: board records, 1959-2009 (agendas; minutes; correspondence; membership rosters; budgets; financial and other reports; long range planning documents; and files on a range of topical matters, among them policy and mission statements and band membership guidelines); financial records, 1965/66-2004/05 (declaration of trust and related documents; documentation of the Concord Band Association’s tax exempt status; IRS and Massachusetts Division of Public Charities filings; mailings from the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office regarding annual Division of Public Charities reports; annual budgets and treasurer’s reports; and files documenting Massachusetts Cultural Council grant submissions and awards); publicity and ephemeral materials, 1959-2012 (band newsletter Notes from the Concord Band; newspaper and magazine articles, reviews, and press releases; posters, handbills, and postcards; ephemera, including tickets and order forms; and Town of Concord proclamations); concert programs, 1966-2011; photographs, [ca. 1959]-2007; audio and audio-visual products, 1975-2011 (long-playing records; CDs; and DVDs); a single artifact (an undated printing stamp with band logo); and the printed history The Concord Band: The First Fifty Years, 2009.
PROVENANCE: Much of the collection came from the personal files of band flutist and board member June R. Grace.
SOURCE OF ACQUISITION: The Concord Band board voted to donate the band’s archives to the Concord Free Public Library Special Collections on July 13, 2005. The collection arrived at the library on August 5, 2011.
*RESTRICTION ON ACCESS: The Concord Band Archives are stored in an off-site vault. To use the collection, researchers must provide at least twenty-four hours advance notice and specific citations to box(es) and folder(s) desired. Contact the William Munroe Special Collections (978 318-3342) for additional information or to arrange to use the collection.
NOTES AND COMMENTS: Accessioned Aug. 5, 2011; AMC 200.
PROCESSED BY: LPW; finding aid completed January 9, 2012; revised February 8, 2012, LPW.
Click on one of the series titles immediately following for the container list for a particular series:
I. Board of Directors records, 1959-2009
II. Financial records, 1965/66-2004/05
III. Publicity and ephemera, 1959-2012
IV. Concert programs by calendar year, 1966-2011
V. Photographs, [ca. 1959]-2007
VI. Audio and audio-visual products, 1975-2011
VII. Artifact (undated)
VIII. History, 2009
CONTAINER LIST
I. Board of Directors records, 1959-2009:
I. A. Early records, 1959-1963 (dismounted from scrapbook):
Box 1, Folder 1:
Subseries complete in one folder. Includes early letterhead (blank), correspondence, programs, photocopy from 1959 Concord Town Report, clippings, mimeographed budget.
I. B. Board membership, [1975]-1996:
Box 1, Folder 2:
Subseries complete in one folder. Includes board and board/officer/trustee/employee rosters; letter.
I. C. General records (agendas, minutes, financial reports, annual reports, long range planning documents, etc.), 1976-2005:
Box 1, Folder 3:
1976-1990
Box 1, Folder 4:
1991-1994
Box 1, Folder 5:
1995-1998
Box 1, Folder 6:
1999-2000
Box 1, Folder 7:
2001
Box 1, Folder 8:
2002
Box 1, Folder 9:
2003
Box 1, Folder 10:
2004
Box 1, Folder 11:
2005
I. D. Special topics: policies, decisions, issues, and initiatives (mission and policy statements, correspondence, guidelines, rosters, survey, contracts, obituaries, and trivia quiz), 1966-2009:
Box 1, Folder 12:
Mission and policy statements, 1998, [2005]
Box 1, Folder 13:
Hiring of music director, 1995
Box 1, Folder 14:
Retiring director appreciation (“Dear Bill”), 1995
Box 1, Folder 15:
Appointment of assistant conductor, 2000
Box 1, Folder 16:
Membership guidelines, 1996-2002
Box 1, Folder 17:
Band rosters, 1966-1999
Box 1, Folder 18:
Communications to/from membership (including listings of member volunteer opportunities), 1992-2002
Box 1, Folder 19:
Lifetime Service Award, 2002-2003
Box 1, Folder 20:
Young Artist Competition, 1996
Box 1, Folder 21:
Facilities: FOPAC/51 Walden, 1989-2004
Box 1, Folder 22:
Picnic in the Park, 1990-2001
Box 1, Folder 23:
Various concert venues (including Minute Man National Historical Park and Fruitlands), 1984-2004
Box 1, Folder 24:
Fundraising, 1986-2004
Box 1, Folder 25:
Commissioned pieces, [1987]-2008
Box 1, Folder 26:
Licensing and royalties, 2001, 2003
Box 1, Folder 27:
Website redesign, 2001-2002
Box 1, Folder 28:
Filing cabinets/music library, 2001-2002
Box 1, Folder 29:
Printing of programs, [1990]
Box 1, Folder 30:
CD production, 2003-[2004?]
Box 1, Folder 31:
Concert trip schedules, 1981, 2004
Box 1, Folder 32:
Rental costs, [2004?] and undated
Box 1, Folder 33:
Band anniversaries (25th, 40th, 50th), 1984-2009
Box 1, Folder 34:
Town of Concord Year 2000 celebration, 1998
Box 1, Folder 35:
Concord Band trivia quiz “Do You Know,” with answers, [1999]
Box 1, Folder 36:
In memoriam (former band members and associates), [1996]-2005
II. Financial records, 1965/66-2004/05:
II. A. Concord Band Association declaration of trust and related documents, 1968-2004:
Box 1, Folder 37:
Subseries complete in one folder.
II. B. Documents relating to Concord Band Association’s IRS tax exempt status, 1968, 1983:
Box 1, Folder 38:
Subseries complete in one folder.
II. C. Mailings from the Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General regarding annual Division of Public Charities reports, 1983-1998:
Box 1, Folder 39:
II. D. Mixed financial documents by fiscal year (annual treasurer’s reports and budgets, IRS filings and related documents, and annual Massachusetts Division of Public Charities Form PC), 1965/66-2004/05:
Box 1, Folder 40:
1965/66
Box 1, Folder 41:
1966/67
Box 1, Folder 42:
1967/68
Box 1, Folder 43:
1968/69
Box 1, Folder 44:
1969/70
Box 1, Folder 45:
1973/74
Box 1, Folder 46:
1974/75
Box 1, Folder 47:
1977/78
Box 1, Folder 48:
1978/79
Box 1, Folder 49:
1979/80
Box 1, Folder 50:
1980/81
Box 1, Folder 51:
1981/82
Box 1, Folder 52:
1982/83
Box 1, Folder 53:
1983/84
Box 1, Folder 54:
1984/85
Box 1, Folder 55:
1985/86
Box 1, Folder 56:
1986/87
Box 1, Folder 57:
1987/88
Box 1, Folder 58:
1988/89
Box 1, Folder 59:
1989/90
Box 1, Folder 60:
1990/91
Box 1, Folder 61:
1991/92
Box 1, Folder 62:
1992/93
Box 1, Folder 63:
1993/94
Box 1, Folder 64:
1994/95
Box 2, Folder 1:
1995/96
Box 2, Folder 2:
1996/97
Box 2, Folder 3:
1997/98
Box 2, Folder 4:
1998/99
Box 2, Folder 5:
1999/2000
Box 2, Folder 6:
2000/01
Box 2, Folder 7:
2004/05
II. E. Massachusetts Cultural Council Grants by fiscal year, 1984/85-2000/01:
Box 2, Folder 8:
1984/85
Box 2, Folder 9:
1985/86
Box 2, Folder 10:
1986/87
Box 2, Folder 11:
1987/88
Box 2, Folder 12:
1988/89
Box 2, Folder 13:
1989/90
Box 2, Folder 13a:
1989/90 (cont.)
Box 2, Folder 14:
1990/91
Box 2, Folder 15:
1991/92
Box 2, Folder 16:
1992/93
Box 2, Folder 16a:
1992/93 (cont.)
Box 2, Folder 17:
1993/94
Box 2, Folder 18:
1994/95
Box 2, Folder 19:
1995/96
Box 2, Folder 19a:
1995/96
Box 2, Folder 20:
1996/97
Box 2, Folder 20a:
1996/97 (cont.)
Box 2, Folder 21:
1997/98
Box 2, Folder 22:
2000/01
III. Publicity and ephemera, 1959-2012:
III. A. Notes from the Concord Band, 1989-2012:
Box 2, Folder 23:
Subseries complete in one folder.
III. B. Newspaper and magazine articles, reviews, press releases, etc. by calendar year, 1959-2011:
Note: Most of the newspaper pieces have been photocopied for preservation and access; the original clippings have not been retained.
Box 2, Folder 24:
1959
Box 2, Folder 25:
1960
Box 2, Folder 26:
1961
Box 2, Folder 27:
1962
Box 2, Folder 28:
1963
Box 2, Folder 29:
1964
Box 2, Folder 30:
1965
Box 2, Folder 31:
1969
Box 2, Folder 32:
1970
Box 2, Folder 33:
1971
Box 2, Folder 34:
1972
Box 2, Folder 35:
1973
Box 2, Folder 36:
1974
Box 2, Folder 37:
1975
Box 2, Folder 38:
1976
Box 2, Folder 39:
1977
Box 2, Folder 40:
1978
Box 2, Folder 41:
1980
Box 2, Folder 42:
1983
Box 2, Folder 43:
1984
Box 2, Folder 44:
1985
Box 2, Folder 45:
1986
Box 2, Folder 46:
1987
Box 2, Folder 47:
1988
Box 2, Folder 48:
1991
Box 2, Folder 49:
1992
Box 2, Folder 50:
1994
Box 3, Folder 1:
1995
Box 3, Folder 2:
1996
Box 3, Folder 3:
1997
Box 3, Folder 4:
1998
Box 3, Folder 5:
1999
Box 3, Folder 6:
2000
Box 3, Folder 7:
2001
Box 3, Folder 8:
2002
Box 3, Folder 9:
2003
Box 3, Folder 10:
2004
Box 3, Folder 11:
2005
Box 3, Folder 12:
2006
Box 3, Folder 13:
2008
Box 3, Folder 14:
2009
Box 3, Folder 15:
2010
Box 3, Folder 16:
2011
III. C. Posters, handbills, and postcards by calendar year, 1986-2011:
Box 3, Folder 17:
1986
Box 3, Folder 18:
1987
Box 3, Folder 19:
1992
Box 3, Folder 20:
1993
Box 3, Folder 21:
1994
Box 3, Folder 22:
1995
Box 3, Folder 23:
1996
Box 3, Folder 24:
1997
Box 3, Folder 25:
1998
Box 3, Folder 26:
1999
Box 3, Folder 27:
2000
Box 3, Folder 28:
2001
Box 3, Folder 29:
2002
Box 3, Folder 30:
2003
Box 3, Folder 31:
2004
Box 3, Folder 32:
2005
Box 3, Folder 33:
2006
Box 3, Folder 34:
2007
Box 3, Folder 35:
2008
Box 3, Folder 36:
2009
OVERSIZE FOLDER (outside box):
2009 oversize poster
Box 3, Folder 37:
2010
Box 3, Folder 38:
2011
Box 3, Folder 39:
Undated
III. D. Ephemera: tickets, order forms, brochure, invitation, 1975-2003:
Box 3, Folder 40:
Subseries complete in one folder.
III. E. Town of Concord proclamations, 1960, 2009:
Box 3, Folder 41:
Subseries (consisting of two proclamations) complete in one folder.
IV. Concert programs by calendar year, 1966-2011:
Box 3, Folder 42:
1966-1974
Box 3, Folder 43:
1975-1979
Box 3, Folder 44:
1980
Box 3, Folder 45:
1981
Box 3, Folder 46:
1982
Box 3, Folder 47:
1983
Box 3, Folder 48:
1984
Box 3, Folder 49:
1985
Box 3, Folder 50:
1986
Box 3, Folder 51:
1987
Box 3, Folder 52:
1988
Box 3, Folder 53:
1989
Box 3, Folder 54:
1990
Box 3, Folder 55:
1991
Box 3, Folder 56:
1992
Box 3, Folder 57:
1993
Box 3, Folder 58:
1994
Box 3, Folder 59:
1995
Box 3, Folder 60:
1996
Box 3, Folder 61:
1997
Box 3, Folder 62:
1998
Box 3, Folder 62a:
1998 (cont.)
Box 3, Folder 63:
1999
Box 3, Folder 63a:
1999 (cont.)
Box 4, Folder 1:
2000
Box 4, Folder 2:
2001
Box 4, Folder 2a:
2001 (cont.)
Box 4, Folder 3:
2002
Box 4, Folder 4:
2003
Box 4, Folder 4a:
2003 (cont.)
Box 4, Folder 5:
2004
Box 4, Folder 6:
2005
Box 4, Folder 7:
2006
Box 4, Folder 8:
2007
Box 4, Folder 9:
2008
Box 4, Folder 10:
2009
Box 4, Folder 11:
2010
Box 4, Folder 12:
2011
V. Photographs, [ca. 1959]-2007:
Box 5, Folder 1:
Black and white snapshot, Concord Band in parade, [ca. 1959-1962]
Box 5, Folder 2:
Scan from color photo, Concord Band in parade, April 19, 1960 (original not in archives)
Box 5, Folder 3:
Formal black and white photo (two copies), Concord Band, 1961 (Alessandro Macone, photographer)
Box 5, Folder 4:
Formal black and white photo, Concord Band, [196-?] (Alessandro Macone, photographer)
Box 5, Folder 5:
Two black and white snapshots, Concord Band in Arts Festival, June 1961
Box 5, Folder 6:
Formal black and white photo (three copies), Concord Band, 1967 (Charles Barker, photographer)
Box 5, Folder 7:
Formal photo (two copies: one black and white, one color), Concord Band at 51 Walden, [ca. 1975-1980]
Box 5, Folder 8:
Formal black and white photo, Concord Band, March 1980
Box 5, Folder 9:
Formal color photo, Concord Band at Lake Kiamesha, New York (Eastern Division of Music Educators National Conference), 1980
Box 5, Folder 10:
Formal color photo, Concord Band at Faneuil Hall, Boston (Boston Festival of Bands), 2007
VI. Audio and audio-visual products, 1975-2011:
VI. A. Long-playing records, 1975-1984:
Box 6 (unfoldered):
Music for the Bicentennial (1975)
Flag of Stars (1978)
Christmas with the Concord Band (1984)
The Fourth of July with the Concord Band (1984)
VI. B. CDs, 1997-2011, including 1987 concert copied to CD in 2005:
Box 7 (unfoldered):
Winter Concert, March 7, 1987, copied to CD December 2005
Holiday Pops Concert, December 13, 1997
Winter Concert, March 3, 2001
Fall Concert, October 27, 2001
Fall Concert, November 1, 2003
Holiday Concert, December 13, 2003
Spring Pops Concert, April 3, 2004
Fall Concert, October 30, 2004
Spring Pops Concert, April 8-9, 2005
Fall Concert, October 29, 2005
Holiday Pops Concert, December 9 and 10, 2005
Winter Concert, March 4, 2006
Fall Concert, October 28, 2006
Holiday Pops Concert, December 8 and 9, 2006
Winter Concert, March 3, 2007
Spring Pops Concert, April 13 and 14, 2007
Fall Concert, October 27, 2007
Holiday Pops Concert, December 7 and 8, 2007
Winter Concert, March 1, 2008
Fall Concert, October 25, 2008
Holiday Pops Concert, December 12 and 13, 2008
50th Anniversary Concert, March 14, 2009
Spring Pops Concert, April 3 and 4, 2009
Fall Concert, October 24, 2009
Holiday Pops Concert, December 11 and 12, 2009
Winter Concert: The French Connection, March 6, 2010
Fall Concert: Scenes, October 23, 2010
Holiday Pops Concert, December 10 and 11, 2010
Winter Concert: New and Blue, March 5, 2011
Spring Pops Concert, April 8 and 9, 2011
VI. C. DVDs, 2008-2011:
Box 7 (unfoldered):
The Concord Band at Fruitlands: The American Songbook, July 17, 2008
Fall Concert, October 25, 2008
50th Anniversary Concert, March 14, 2009
Fall Concert, October 24, 2009
Winter Concert: The French Connection, March 6, 2010
Fall Concert: Scenes, October 23, 2010
Holiday Pops, December 10 and 11, 2010
Winter Concert: New and Blue, March 5, 2011
Box 8 (in artifact box):
Concord Band logo (drum): engraved brass printing stamp on wooden block (undated)
Box 8 (in folder):
The Concord Band: The First Fifty Years (Concord: The Concord Band, 2009).
c2012 Concord Free Public Library, Concord, Mass.
Not to be reproduced in any form without permission of the Curator of the William Munroe Special Collections, Concord Free Public Library.
Mounted 11 Jan. 2012;rev. 8 Feb. 2012. rcwh.