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HELEN MAY BUTLER COLLECTION, 1898-1937
#261
(1.0
cubic feet: 2 F/O; 1(.5) DB; 1 O/S folder)
by: Erma Jean Loveland and Robert S. Harding,
1987
Biography
Helen May Butler, woman bandmaster, directed an
all-women
traveling military band from 1898 to 1913. "Music for the American people,
by American composers, played by American girls" was one of the band's
mottoes. Born in New Hamphire in 1873, she pursued a variety of musical studies
and became an accomplished performer in both violin and cornet. She announced
candidacy for a U.S. Senate seat in 1936.
Scope and Content
The materials cover the career of a woman bandmaster with an all
women's traveling military band from 1898-1913, with the bulk of the material
ca. 1902. Contents include clippings, photographs, programs, sheet music, hand noted
music, posters, post cards, advertising fliers, letters, telegram,
biographical article announcing candidacy for U.S. Senate seat in 1936, and
"The Flood of 1937" section of the Cincinnati Post, February
13, 1937. Bands included Helen May Butler's Ladies Military Band, Talma Ladies
Orchestra, U.S. Talma Ladies Military Band.
Provenance
The collection was presented to the Smithsonian in June, 1962 by
Helen May Butler Young of Covington, Kentucky. It was
transferred to the Archives Center by the Division of Musical Instruments May
26, 1987.
Container list
| Box |
Folder |
|
| 1 |
1 |
Scrapbook with photographs, newspaper
clippings, programs, sheet music, post cards, advertising fliers.
(18" x 11.5") |
| 2 |
1 |
Five photoprints & photomechanical portraits,
unmounted |
|
2 |
Photoprints, portraits, mounted twelve including
portraits of HMB |
|
3 |
Music, hand notation - two manuscripts by
"Smith" |
|
4 |
Correspondence, including letter from John
Philip Sousa and telegram from C.G. Conn. Six items, plus 1962 presentation
statement on Butler band stationery. |
|
5 |
News clippings, including U.S. Senate
candidacy announcement (5 items) |
|
6 |
Miscellaneous printed items, including The
Billboard, May 1, 1915, clipped advertisement, clipping about
Cleveland concerts, n.d., & patriotic leaflet with satirical
anti-German poems (ca. 1914). |
| 3 |
1 |
Sheet music for "Cosmopolitan
America," by Helen May Butler, ca. 1904 (10.5" x 13.75"). |
|
2-3 |
Programs, ca. 1902-1904. |
|
4 |
News clippings and program, ca. 1910-1916. |
|
5 |
Scrapbook, ca. 1904-1911 (Green-bound,
14.5" x 11"). |
O/S Fldr
1 |
Copy of poster with march,
"Cosmopolitan America", by Helen May Butler, 42 x 28 1/8". |
|
|
Broadside for HMB's Ladies Military Band, 29
x 20" |
|
|
Broadside for U.S. Talma Ladies Military
Band, 28 x 21" |
|
|
Copy of Cincinnati Post souvenir
magazine "The Flood of 1937". |
Erma Jean Loveland and Robert S. Harding, May 26, 1987
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