John Heney Collection
Abstract
A percussionist, music educator, and historian, John Joseph Heney, Sr. (1903-1978) played with numerous bands throughout his career; most notably the Sousa Band during its final six years. In addition to playing professionally, Heney taught at numerous schools in the Florida area, including Ketterlinus High School, Stetson University, and DeLand High School, where he stayed for thirty-two years. A member of the Sousa Band Fraternal Society, Heney was elected as archivist in November of 1969. During his time as archivist, Heney attempted to collect memorabilia from Sousa's life in order to preserve the history of the Sousa Band and its members. This collection contains correspondence, publications, clippings, articles, scores, programs, contracts, diaries, scrapbooks, yearbooks, photographs, sound recordings, and memorabilia related to his career as a music educator, his involvement with the John Philip Sousa Band, and his interest in preserving Sousa's memory after the band leader's death.
Important Information for Users of the Collection
The collection is open for research use.
John Heney Collection, Special Collections, University of Maryland Libraries.
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
This collection is PROCESSED.
Historical Note
John Joseph Heney, Sr. was born in 1903. Heney's professional band career began in 1924, when he joined the Royal Scotch Highlanders Band. He stayed with the Highlanders until 1925, when he joined McDonald's Highlanders Band (The Kilties), which he stayed with until 1926, the same year he joined the John Philip Sousa Band. Heney performed with the Sousa Band during its last six years, as one of three drummers and xylophone soloist. During this time, the Sousa Band was not the only one to enjoy Heney's company, however. Heney also performed with the Sells-Floto Circus Band (aka Montgomerys Concert Band), the Bertram W. Mills Olympia Circus Band, the Sparks Circus Band, the Hagenback-Wallace Circus Band, the Ringling Brothers, Barnum and Bailey Circus Band, the Medinah Circus and Carnival Band, the Tom Mix Circus and Wild West Show.
The same year Heney joined the Sousa Band, he moved to St. Augustine, Florida, where he became the Band Director at Ketterlinus High School. 1926 was a busy year for Heney. Also during that same year, Heney became the Bandmaster at Stetson University, a position that lasted until 1935, when he became Bandmaster at DeLand High School in DeLand, Florida. His employment as Bandmaster at DeLand lasted 32 years.
While Bandmaster at DeLand, Heney was also active in the National Association of Rudimental Drummers (NARD), the American Bandmasters Association (ABA), and the Florida Bandmasters Association (FBA), of which he was made an honorary life president in 1941. All of this activity earned Heney the title of "one of the true pioneers of the school band movement in America." (Heney, 46)
As his band directing career flourished, Heney still had time for other pursuits, such as running Heney's Superior Service Station, a local gas station, and the Heney School of Percussion, a private drum studio from which Heney gave lessons.
In 1934, Heney also wrote and published a book, entitled The Correct Way to Drum: A Treatise on the Material Used in Modern Drumming. Besides The Correct Way to Drum, Heney also published 23 musical compositions and a number of journal articles in his lifetime.
Heney spent time in the United States Navy during World War II from 1942 until 1945.
A member of the Sousa Band Fraternal Society, Heney was elected as archivist in November of 1969. During his time as archivist, Heney attempted to collect and preserve as much of the memorabilia from Sousa's life and the history of the Sousa Band and its members as was left in the personal collections of other Sousa Band members and their families. He attempted to ensure that Sousa's memory and music were remembered by consulting on projects to record Sousa's music in the present day and by pushing for Sousa's induction into the Hall of Fame for Great Americans.
Heney died on September 1, 1978.
Scope and Contents of the Collection
The John J. Heney, Sr. Collection covers the period from 1885 to 1978; the bulk of the materials date from 1926 to 1976. The collection contains correspondence, publications, clippings, articles, scores, programs, contracts, diaries, scrapbooks, yearbooks, photographs, sound recordings, and memorabilia related to his career as a music educator, his involvement with the John Philip Sousa Band, and his interest in preserving Sousa's memory after the band leader's death.
Custodial History and Acquisition Information
In December of 1978, the materials comprising the John J. Heney, Sr. Collection were donated by his wife to the American Bandmasters Association Research Center at the University of Maryland, College Park campus. In accordance with an agreement with Mr. Heney, his Sousa Band uniform was used in an open house at the ABA Research Center the last week of January, 1979 in commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the American Bandmaster's Association, and then sent to the Marine Museum at the U.S. Navy Yard in Washington, D.C.
Processing Information
Jennifer A. Thompson, May 1999. Revisited by Amanda May, August 2011.
EAD markup created using EAD database in Microsoft Access. Markup completed by Colleen McKnight, August 2007 and edited by Nicole Horstman, November 2012.
Arrangement of Collection
This collection is arranged into fourteen series.
- Series 1: Collection Management
- Series 2: Correspondence
- Series 3: Newspaper Clippings
- Series 4: Newspapers
- Series 5: Journals
- Series 6: Printed Music
- Series 7: Miscellaneous Publications
- Series 8: Programs
- Series 9: Photographs
- Series 10: Contracts
- Series 11: Diaries
- Series 12: Scrapbooks
- Series 13: Yearbooks
- Series 14: Memorabilia
- Series 15: Sound Recordings
Detailed Description of the Collection
Series 1: Collection Management, 1969 and undated (1 folder)
This series contains letters describing the collection and the acquisition of the collection by the University of Maryland.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Collection Management, 1969 and undated | series 1 | box 1 | folder 1 | |
Series 2: Correspondence, 1927-1978 and undated (1.25 linear feet)
This series contains correspondence related to John Heney, John Philip Sousa, the American Bandmasters Association, the Florida Bandmasters Association, the Sousa Band Fraternal Society, the American School Band Directors Association, and circus bands. This series is divided into seven subseries based on those subjects.
Subseries 2.1: Personal, 1927-1977 (2 folders)
This subseries contains correspondence related to personal matters.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Correspondence, 1927-1942 | series 2.1 | box 1 | folder 2 | |
| Personal Letters, 1977 | series 2.1 | box 1 | folder 3 | |
Subseries 2.2: Sousa, 1973-1978 (4 folders)
This subseries contains correspondence related to John Philip Sousa.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Imp. Sousa Items (1 of 2), 1973-1974 | series 2.2 | box 1 | folder 4 | |
| Imp. Sousa Items (2 of 2), 1973-1974 | series 2.2 | box 1 | folder 5 | |
| Sousa Letters 1975, 1974-1978 | series 2.2 | box 1 | folder 6 | |
| Sousa Letters 1976, 1976-1977 | series 2.2 | box 1 | folder 7 | |
Subseries 2.3: ABA, 1958-1977 (11 folders)
This subseries contains correspondence related to the American Bandmasters Association.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABA Correspondence (1 of 4), undated | series 2.3 | box 2 | folder 1 | |
| ABA Correspondence (2 of 4), undated | series 2.3 | box 2 | folder 2 | |
| ABA Correspondence (3 of 4), undated | series 2.3 | box 2 | folder 3 | |
| ABA Correspondence (4 of 4), undated | series 2.3 | box 2 | folder 4 | |
| ABA Correspondence (1 of 4), 1958-1974 | series 2.3 | box 3 | folder 1 | |
| ABA Correspondence (2 of 4), 1958-1974 | series 2.3 | box 3 | folder 2 | |
| ABA Correspondence (3 of 4), 1958-1974 | series 2.3 | box 3 | folder 3 | |
| ABA Correspondence (4 of 4), 1958-1974 | series 2.3 | box 3 | folder 4 | |
| ABA Correspondence 1975, 1976, 1977 (1), 1969-1977 | series 2.3 | box 3 | folder 5 | |
| ABA Correspondence 1975, 1976, 1977 (2), 1969-1977 | series 2.3 | box 3 | folder 6 | |
| ABA Correspondence 1975, 1976, 1977 (3), 1969-1977 | series 2.3 | box 4 | folder 1 | |
Subseries 2.4: FBA, 1966-1976 (1 folder)
This subseries contains correspondence related to the Florida Bandmasters Assocation.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Personnel Letters, 1966-1976 | series 2.4 | box 4 | folder 2 | |
Subseries 2.5: SBFS, 1923-1976 (5 folders)
This subseries contains correspondence related to the Sousa Band Fraternal Society.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sousa Band Fraternal Society, 1923-1976 | series 2.5 | box 4 | folder 3 | |
| Sousa Band Fraternal Society, 1926-1965 | series 2.5 | box 4 | folder 4 | |
| Sousa Band Fraternal Society, 1927-1975 | series 2.5 | box 4 | folder 5 | |
| Sousa Band Fraternal Society, 1952-1966 | series 2.5 | box 4 | folder 6 | |
| Important Sousa letters to be filed with my personal letters or kept separate just as you wish, 1970-1972 | series 2.5 | box 5 | folder 1 | |
Subseries 2.6: ASBDA, undated (1 folder)
This subseries contains correspondence related to the American School Band Directors Assocation.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carr, undated | series 2.6 | box 5 | folder 2 | |
Subseries 2.7: Circus, 1919-1947 (1 folder)
This subseries contains correspondence related to the circus.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Circus, 1919-1947 | series 2.7 | box 5 | folder 3 | |
Series 3: Newspaper Clippings, 1923-1976 and undated (3 folders)
This series contains newspaper articles featuring Heney and Sousa.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forgotten Sousa Cemetery, 1923, 1976 and undated | series 3 | box 5 | folder 4 | |
| Loose Clippings, Jan. 3/6, 1930 and undated | series 3 | box 5 | folder 5 | |
| Sousa Wrote his Famous Post March Washington Post, 12/6/37 | series 3 | box 5 | folder 6 | |
Series 4: Newspapers, 1929-1931 (17 folders)
This series contains newspapers featuring articles about Heney and Sousa.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A Good Sign, St. Augustine Evening Record 9/21/29 p.4, 09/21/29 | series 4 | box 5 | folder 7 | |
| Business is Good Ad, St. Augustine Evening Record 9/23/29 p.2, 09/23/29 | series 4 | box 5 | folder 8 | |
| Business is Good Ad, St. Augustine Evening Record 10/2/29 p.2, 10/02/29 | series 4 | box 5 | folder 9 | |
| John P. Sousa Twice Scores Hit, Binghamton Sun 8/31/31 p.12, 08/31/31 | series 4 | box 5 | folder 10 | |
| Sousa and Band Here Today, Wilkes-Barre Times Leader 8/31/31 p.21, 08/31/31 | series 4 | box 5 | folder 11 | |
| Sousa Varies Band Program, Wilkes-Barre Record 9/1/31 p.13, 17, 09/01/31 | series 4 | box 5 | folder 12 | |
| Piers, Atlantic City Evening Union 9/2/31 p.8, 09/02/31 | series 4 | box 6 | folder 1 | |
| Piers, Atlantic City Evening Union 9/3/31 p.11, 09/03/31 | series 4 | box 6 | folder 2 | |
| Piers, Atlantic City Press 9/2/31 p.7, 09/02/31 | series 4 | box 6 | folder 3 | |
| Shore Amusements, Atlantic City Evening Union 9/8/31 p.6, 09/08/31 | series 4 | box 6 | folder 4 | |
| Ringling Bros Ad, Atlanta Journal 9/9/31 p.25, 09/09/31 | series 4 | box 6 | folder 5 | |
| Another Circus to Exhibit Here, Twin City Sentinel 9/9/31 p.14, 09/09/31 | series 4 | box 6 | folder 6 | |
| Heney Returns St. Augustine Evening Record 9/11/31 back, 09/11/31 | series 4 | box 6 | folder 7 | |
| St. Augustine Man Back Florida Times-Union 9/12/31 p.2, 09/12/31 | series 4 | box 6 | folder 8 | |
| Justice for Genius, The Etude Nov. 1937 pp.703-704, 11/37 | series 4 | box 6 | folder 9 | |
| Sousa Band [Fraternal] Society News, 1945-1975 | series 4 | box 6 | folder 10 | |
| Sousa Band [Fraternal] Society News, 1945-1975 | series 4 | box 6 | folder 11 | |
Series 5: Journals, 1937-1977 (11 folders)
This series contains clippings from and whole issues of journals and magazines. Included is a complete run of The Florida Bandmaster from 1939 to 1977.
Subseries 5.1: The Florida Bandmaster, 1939-1977 (8 folders)
This subseries contains materials related to Heney's work with The Florida Bandmaster.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Florida Bandmaster, 1939-1946 | series 5.1 | box 7 | folder 1 | |
| The Florida Bandmaster, 1947-1949 | series 5.1 | box 7 | folder 2 | |
| The Florida Bandmaster, 1950-1953 | series 5.1 | box 7 | folder 3 | |
| The Florida Bandmaster, 1954-1956 | series 5.1 | box 7 | folder 4 | |
| The Florida Bandmaster, 1957-1959 | series 5.1 | box 7 | folder 5 | |
| The Florida Bandmaster, 1960-1962 | series 5.1 | box 7 | folder 6 | |
| The Florida Bandmaster, 1963-1965 | series 5.1 | box 8 | folder 1 | |
| The Florida Bandmaster, 1966-1977 | series 5.1 | box 8 | folder 2 | |
Series 6: Printed Music, 1911-1976 and undated (10 folders)
This series contains music from Heneys collection.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heney, John J. "The Gliding Girl" John Philip Sousa, 1974 | series 6 | box 8 | folder 3 | |
| Heney, John J. Stars [and Stripes Forever] Interlude, 1976 | series 6 | box 8 | folder 4 | |
| McLellan, C.M.S. and Ivan Caryll, The Pink Lady. (New York, NY: Chappell and Co. Ltd, 1911 | series 6 | box 8 | folder 5 | |
| Meuser, G. Jahemen Rhapsody, undated | series 6 | box 8 | folder 6 | |
| Niles, John Jacob. I Wonder As I Wander. New York, NY: Schirmer, 1934, 1944 | series 6 | box 8 | folder 7 | |
| Yoder, Paul and Roselyn, A Family Christmas Album (New York, NY: Charles Hansen Music and Books, undated | series 6 | box 8 | folder 8 | |
| Bibo, Irving. March of the Blues. Arr. John Philip Sousa. Introduced by Sousa and his band. New York, NY: Bibo, Bloedon and Lang, 1927. 44 parts., 1927 | series 6 | box 8 | folder 9 | |
| Donnelly, Dorothy. My Maryland. Music by Sigmund Romberg. New York, NY: Harms, 1927 | series 6 | box 8 | folder 10 | |
| Sousa, John Philip, Hands Across the Sea. The John Church Company, 1899. Piano. Oversize., 1899 | series 6 | box 12 | folder 1 | |
| Troubetzkoy, Princess. My Laddie. Music by W.A. Thayer. New York, NY: Schirmer, 1906 | series 6 | box 12 | folder 3 | |
| Smith, Robert B. and Raymond Hubbell, Life is a See Saw from A Knight for a Day (New York, NY: Chas, K. Harris, 1906 | series 6 | box 12 | folder 4 | |
Series 7: Miscellaneous Publications, 1934-1956 and undated (4 folders)
This series contains books written by Heney and Sousa, as well as a drum instruction book.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heney, John J. The Correct Way to Drum (St. Augustine, FL: Heney School of Percussion, 1934 | series 7 | box 8 | folder 11 | |
| Howard, Colonel George S., U.S. Air Force Tour of the Far East, 1956 [personal log], 1956 | series 7 | box 8 | folder 12 | |
| Ludwig, W.F. My Life at the Drums, undated | series 7 | box 8 | folder 13 | |
| Sousa, John Philip. A Book of Instruction for the Field-Trumpet and Drum. Chicago: Drum Co., 1954 | series 7 | box 8 | folder 14 | |
Series 8: Programs, 1924-1947 and undated (7 folders)
This series contains programs from Sousa performances, American Bandmasters Association concerts, Florida college and high school band performances, and a Harry Houdini performance.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pryor Program Set, 1924-1925 | series 8 | box 8 | folder 15 | |
| Concert Flyers/Programs, 1927-1931 and undated | series 8 | box 8 | folder 16 | |
| Programs, March 1974. ABA-JBA, 03/74 | series 8 | box 8 | folder 17 | |
| Florida State School Band Contest, April 4-6, 1940 | series 8 | box 9 | folder 1 | |
| Orlando Senior High Symphonic Band, Feb. 4, 1947 | series 8 | box 9 | folder 2 | |
| National Intercollegiate Bands, Aug. 31, 1967 | series 8 | box 9 | folder 3 | |
| Houdini Souvenir Program, 1926-1927 | series 8 | box 9 | folder 4 | |
Series 9: Photographs, 1885-1970 (8 folders)
This series contains photographs relating to the Sousa Band, other professional bands, college and high school bands, the American Bandmasters Association and other professional organizations, and John Heney and his family and friends.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sousa Band, 1922-1931 and undated | series 9 | box 9 | folder 5 | |
| Professional Bands (Non-Sousa), 1885-1949 and undated | series 9 | box 9 | folder 6 | |
| High School Bands, 1942-1958 and undated | series 9 | box 9 | folder 7 | |
| College Bands, 1937-1969 | series 9 | box 9 | folder 8 | |
| John Heney Conducting, 1940-1969 | series 9 | box 9 | folder 9 | |
| ABA, 1943-1970 | series 9 | box 9 | folder 10 | |
| Professional Activities [Non-ABA], 1940-1953 | series 9 | box 9 | folder 11 | |
| Family, 1923 and undated | series 9 | box 9 | folder 12 | |
Series 10: Contracts, 1926-1939 (2 folders)
This series contains two contracts.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Contract for Traveling Members of A.F. of M., June 10, 1926 | series 10 | box 9 | folder 13 | |
| Agreement between Florida Bandmasters Ass. and the City of Miami, October 1939 | series 10 | box 9 | folder 14 | |
Series 11: Diaries, 1926 (1 folder)
This series contains a tour diary from 1926.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tour Diary and Budget Account, 1926 | series 11 | box 9 | folder 15 | |
Series 12: Scrapbooks, 1919-1926 (4 folders)
This series contains four scrapbooks of news clippings and photographs.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edward J. Heney Scrapbook, 1919-1922 | series 12 | box 9 | folder 16 | |
| Clippings Scrapbook, 1926 | series 12 | box 9 | folder 17 | |
| Scrapbook, Deland Band, 1922-1923 | series 12 | box 10 | folder 1 | |
| Scrapbook [Royal Scotch Highlanders Band, 1925 | series 12 | box 10 | folder 2 | |
Series 13: Yearbooks, 1931-1940 (2 folders)
This series contains yearbooks from the National Music Camp.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Overture: 1931 Yearbook of the National Music Camp, 1931 | series 13 | box 10 | folder 3 | |
| National Music Camp Souvenir Picture Book, 1940 | series 13 | box 10 | folder 4 | |
Series 14: Memorabilia, 1910-1978 (10 folders)
This series contains Heney and Sousa memorabilia, including postcards, clippings, certificates, business cards, and a Sousa cigar.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| For John Heney, 1941-1964 | series 14 | box 10 | folder 5 | |
| Certificates, 1950-1951, 1959 | series 14 | box 10 | folder 6 | |
| Postcards Blank, undated | series 14 | box 10 | folder 7 | |
| Sousa Miscellaneous Things, 1910-1978 | series 14 | box 10 | folder 8 | |
| Sousa Clippings, 1924-1971 | series 14 | box 10 | folder 9 | |
| Sousa Routes, 1926, 1928-1929 | series 14 | box 10 | folder 10 | |
| Sousa, 1950-1973 | series 14 | box 10 | folder 11 | |
| Sousa Cigar, undated | series 14 | box 10 | folder 12 | |
| Sousa Stage in the Concert Hall of Kennedy Center, undated | series 14 | box 10 | folder 13 | |
| Supplement to the New York Musical Courier December 29, 1897. Prominent Artists of Chicago, and Chicago Orchestra, Theodore Thomas, Conductor., December 29, 1897 | series 14 | box 12 | folder 2 | |
Series 15: Sound Recordings, 1970 (2 items)
This series contains a CD and a magnetic tape of a recording from February 17, 1970.
The box inventory for this series is not currently available online. Please refer to the series description above for a broad description of the materials or contact the department for more information.
Related Material
Berger, Kenneth, ed. "John J(oseph) Heney," Band Encyclopedia (Kent, Ohio: Band Associates, Inc., 1960), p.107.
Fortes, Jack F., "'I remember Sousa,' an interview with J.J. Heney, only surviving drummer with the 'March King's' great band," National Retired Teachers Association Journal. March-April 1976, pp.25-26.
Heney, Sr., John J., "On the Road with the Sousa Band," The School Musician. August-September 1976, pp.46-48.
"Heney Returns After Playing in Sousa Band," St. Augustine Evening Record. September 11, 1931, p.6.
The Overture, Opus 4: 1931 Year Book National Music Camp, formerly National High School Orchestra and Band Camp (Interlochen, Michigan: National Music Camp, 1931).
For other related archival and manuscript collections, please see the following subject guides.
Selected Search Terms
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the University of Maryland Libraries' Catalog. Researchers desiring related materials about these topics, names, or places may search the Catalog using these headings.
Subjects
- American Bandmasters Association.
- Band directors -- United States.
- Band musicians -- United States.
- Bands (Music) -- United States -- History -- 20th century.
- Florida Bandmasters Association.
- Heney, John. -- Correspondence.
- Heney, John -- Archives.
- Music teachers -- United States.
- National Association of Rudimental Drummers.
- Sousa Band.
- Sousa Band Fraternal Society.
Names (Added Entries)
- Sousa, John Philip, 1854-1932.