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Acton E. Ostling papers

 Collection 0411-SCPA

Acton E. Ostling was a teacher, director, and composer in Endicott, New York where he directed the Union-Endicott High School Band. This collection includes correspondence, press, scores, and scrapbooks chronicling his career. Many of the materials relate to Ostling's involvement in Fife and Drum Corps.

Dates

  • Creation: Majority of material found within 1930-1970

Condition Description

Mostly good condition. No sign of mold. Some brittle paper

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research use. Materials from this collection must be used in the Michelle Smith Performing Arts Library's Irving and Margery Morgan Lowens Special Collections Room during SCPA’s operating hours. Please contact the curator for an appointment or if you have questions related to digital access of the materials.

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright was not transferred to the University of Maryland with the gift of any copyrighted materials. All rights remain with the creators and rights holders. The University of Maryland Libraries is granted permission for the use in scholarly research by the Libraries’ patrons under fair use in Section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Act.

To inquire about duplication of materials for research or for publication, please contact SCPA’s curator.

Extent

1.5 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Content Description

This collection includes correspondence, press, scores, and scrapbooks chronicling the career of Acton E. Ostling, who was a teacher, director, and composer working in Endicott, New York where he directed the Union-Endicott High School Band. Many of the materials relate to Ostling's involvement in Fife and Drum Corps.

Biographical / Historical

Acton Ostling began his career as a member of the Patrick Conway Band as a horn player. In 1927, he began the instrumental music program in Endicott, New York. He remained there for 36 years, serving as a director of the Union-Endicott High School Band and Supervisor of Music. He became fascinated with fife and drum corps ensembles, and organized a fife and drum ensemble at Union-Endicott in 1938. He also became an expert in rudimental drumming, and published solos, ensembles, and method books, including The Three Rs of Drumming.

Arrangement

This collection consists of four series:

  1. Papers and press
  2. Hand notated scores
  3. Printed scores
  4. Scrapbooks

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Materials in this collection were initially donated by Acton Ostling's sons, Richard Ostling and Acton Ostling, Jr. in June 2021.

Related Materials

• Acton Ostling, Jr. papers (finding aid)

Separated Materials

Score volumes without markings or notes attached were moved to the ABA score collection.

Condition Description

Mostly good condition. No sign of mold. Some brittle paper

Title
Acton E. Ostling papers
Status
Completed
Author
Christina Taylor Gibson
Date
June 2021
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Library Details

Part of the Michelle Smith Performing Arts Library

Contact:
University of Maryland Libraries
8270 Alumni Drive
College Park MD 20742 United States