The Frank McGrann collection primarily contains historic 78 rpm recordings, mostly of concert bands. Ensembles led by Arthur Pryor and John Philip Sousa are represented well, as well as discs by Conway’s Band. Orchestras and music for soloists are also included, particularly performances by Arthur Pryor and Herbert Clarke. The collection also contains some photographs, documents, band hats (believed to have been worn by John Philip Sousa), and printer's plates. The collection spans the years 1899-1948, and extends over 8 linear feet.
There are no restricted files in this collection.
Materials from this collection must be used in the Michelle Smith Performing Arts Library's Irving and Margery Morgan Lowens Special Collections Room, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday. Contact the curator for an appointment: http://www.lib.umd.edu/scpa/contact
8.00 Linear Feet
English
The Frank McGrann collection contains sound recordings, photographs, documents, band hats, and printer's plates.
Frank McGrann (1880-1962) was a friend of John Philip Sousa, Arthur Pryor, Herbert L. Clarks, F. N. Innes, and Edwin Franko Goldman, and served as guest conductor of many of those ensembles. McGrann was active in Lancaster, Pennsylvania as a township supervisor, a bank director, a deputy sheriff, and Justice of the Peace.
This collection is organized into four series.
Gift of Mrs. Mary (Frank) E. McGrann (daughter-in-law of Frank McGrann). The Frank McGrann Recording Collection was donated by McGrann's son, John E. McGrann, to Franklin and Marshall College on March 31, 1968. According to a Franklin and Marshall press release, the collection contained 705 selections. The recordings were de-accessioned from the Franklin and Marshall College Library on October 2, 1985 and given to the ABA Research Center. An article by Charlotte Brown on the de-accessioning process was published in the Wilson Library Bulletin in April, 1987. The first twenty-eight photographs, as well as the hats and documents were given by Mrs. McGrann to the ABA Research Center, also in 1985. An additional sixty-four photographs, one letter, and four printer's blocks were a gift of Mrs. McGrann on May 23, 1987 (87-133-ABA).
Part of the Michelle Smith Performing Arts Library