Al Wright Papers
Abstract
The Al G. Wright (1916-) collection contains correspondence, programs, articles, notes, scores, and photographs documenting Wright's career as Director of Bands at Purdue University between 1954 and 1981, and his involvement in a variety of wind band organizations.
Important Information for Users of the Collection
The collection is open for research use.
Al Wright Papers, 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
The conductor, educator, and composer Al Wright was born in London, England, and attended public school in Pontiac, Michigan. He earned bachelors and masters degrees from the University of Miami in Florida. While in Florida he served as director of the Miami Senior High School Band and Symphony Orchestra, co-directed the Orange Bowl half-time show, and served as President of the Florida Orchestra Association, the Florida Bandmasters Association, and the Florida Music Educators Association. In 1954 he joined the faculty of Purdue University. He was elected President of the American Bandmasters Association in 1980, the same year that he received an Honorary Doctorate from Troy State University. Wright has published more than 150 monographs and magazine articles, and his work on marching band shows is widely admired. Wright has published music under the name George Stone.
- 1916 Born in London, England, 23 June
- 1933 Graduated High School, Pontiac Michigan
- 1937 B.A. in Public School Music, University of Miami
- 1939-1954 Director of Music, Miami Senior High School
- 1947 M. Ed., University of Miami
- 1946-1947 President, Florida Bandmasters Association
- 1949 Elected to American Bandmasters Association
- 1951-1953 President, Florida Music Educators Association
- 1953 Married Gladys Violet Stone
- 1954-1981 Director of Bands, Purdue University
- 1961 Founding President, National Band Association
- 1980 L.L.D (honorary), Troy State University, Alabama
- 1981 President, American Bandmasters Association
Scope and Contents of the Collection
The Al Wright Papers cover the period from 1905 to 1991; the bulk of the materials date from 1955 to 1990. The collection consists of both personal and professional papers, correspondence, contracts, programs, monographs, scores, and photographs relating to Wright's career, and in particular, to his role as conductor of the Purdue University Bands.
Custodial History and Acquisition Information
Gift of Al Wright, received in one shipment in September 2004.
Processing Information
Processed by Amanda Holgate, February 2009.
EAD markup created using EAD database in Microsoft Access. Markup completed by Mary Crauderueff, February 2009.
Arrangement of Collection
This collection is organized into five series.
Detailed Description of the Collection
Series 1: Documents, 1905-1980 (1.00 linear feet)
This series contains papers related to Purdue band officers, seminar and lecture outlines, Purdue bands performances, Purdue bands operations, and Purdue show scripts. All papers were compiled by Wright. Materials are arranged chronologically.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| List of all student officers in the Purdue University Bands, 1905-1979 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 1 | |
| Seminar and lecture outlines prepared by Wright, 1963-1969 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 2 | |
| List of Purdue University Band performances, 1965-1980 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 3 | |
| Letters and other documents related to Purdue University Bands Operations, 1967 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 4 | |
| Purdue University football pre-game and half-time show scripts and charts, 1972-1973 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 5 | |
| Papers, contracts, correspondence, and programs regarding guest conductors and soloists who appeared with the Purdue University Bands, 1972-1974 | series 1 | box 2 | folder 1 | |
| Papers, contracts, correspondence, and programs regarding guest conductors and soloists who appeared with the Purdue University Bands, 1976-76 | series 1 | box 2 | folder 2 | |
| Papers, contracts, correspondence, and programs regarding guest conductors and soloists who appeared with the Purdue University Bands, 1978 | series 1 | box 2 | folder 3 | |
| One three-line score and a set of parts to Monument Circle, a quickstep march by Carroll H. Copeland dedicated "to the Purdue 'All American Marching Band.'" (Carl Fischer, 1961), 1961 | series 1 | box 2 | folder 4 | |
Series 2: Travel, 1955-19, and undated (4.50 linear feet)
This series contains papers regarding Wright's guest conducting, clinic performances, convention attendance, and international travels. Materials are arranged chronologically.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Papers regarding Wright's guest conducting, clinic performances, convention attendance, and international travels, 1955 | series 2 | box 3 | folder 1 | |
| Papers regarding Wright's guest conducting, clinic performances, convention attendance, and international travels, 1956 | series 2 | box 3 | folder 2 | |
| Papers regarding Wright's guest conducting, clinic performances, convention attendance, and international travels, 1957 | series 2 | box 4 | folder 1 | |
| Papers regarding Wright's guest conducting, clinic performances, convention attendance, and international travels, 1958 | series 2 | box 4 | folder 2 | |
| Papers regarding Wright's guest conducting, clinic performances, convention attendance, and international travels, 1959 | series 2 | box 5 | folder 1 | |
| Papers regarding Wright's guest conducting, clinic performances, convention attendance, and international travels, 1960 | series 2 | box 5 | folder 2 | |
| Papers regarding Wright's guest conducting, clinic performances, convention attendance, and international travels, 1960 | series 2 | box 5 | folder 3 | |
| Papers regarding Wright's guest conducting, clinic performances, convention attendance, and international travels, 1961 | series 2 | box 6 | folder 1 | |
| Papers regarding Wright's guest conducting, clinic performances, convention attendance, and international travels, 1962 | series 2 | box 6 | folder 2 | |
| Papers regarding Wright's guest conducting, clinic performances, convention attendance, and international travels, 1963 | series 2 | box 6 | folder 3 | |
| Papers regarding Wright's guest conducting, clinic performances, convention attendance, and international travels, 1964 | series 2 | box 6 | folder 4 | |
| Papers regarding Wright's guest conducting, clinic performances, convention attendance, and international travels, 1965 | series 2 | box 7 | folder 1 | |
| Papers regarding Wright's guest conducting, clinic performances, convention attendance, and international travels, 1968 | series 2 | box 7 | folder 2 | |
| Papers regarding Wright's guest conducting, clinic performances, convention attendance, and international travels, 1969 | series 2 | box 7 | folder 3 | |
| Papers regarding Wright's guest conducting, clinic performances, convention attendance, and international travels, 1970 | series 2 | box 8 | folder 1 | |
| Papers regarding Wright's guest conducting, clinic performances, convention attendance, and international travels, 1971 | series 2 | box 8 | folder 2 | |
| Papers regarding Wright's guest conducting, clinic performances, convention attendance, and international travels, 1972 | series 2 | box 9 | folder 1 | |
| Papers regarding Wright's guest conducting, clinic performances, convention attendance, and international travels, 1973 | series 2 | box 9 | folder 2 | |
| Papers regarding Wright's guest conducting, clinic performances, convention attendance, and international travels, 1975 | series 2 | box 9 | folder 3 | |
| Papers regarding Wright's guest conducting, clinic performances, convention attendance, and international travels, 1976 | series 2 | box 9 | folder 4 | |
| Papers regarding Wright's guest conducting, clinic performances, convention attendance, and international travels, 1977-1983 | series 2 | box 10 | folder 1 | |
| Papers regarding Wright's guest conducting, clinic performances, convention attendance, and international travels, 1985-1986 | series 2 | box 10 | folder 2 | |
| Papers regarding Wright's guest conducting, clinic performances, convention attendance, and international travels, 1985-1987 | series 2 | box 10 | folder 3 | |
| Papers regarding Wright's guest conducting, clinic performances, convention attendance, and international travels, 1987-1988 | series 2 | box 10 | folder 4 | |
| Papers regarding Wright's guest conducting, clinic performances, convention attendance, and international travels, 1989-1990 | series 2 | box 11 | folder 1 | |
Series 3: Books, 1964, 1970, and 2004 (3 items)
This series contains books written or collected by Al Wright. Materials are arranged chronologically.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neidig, Kenneth L. The Band Director's Guide. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall, 1964. (Also found in the UMCP Performing Arts Library Stacks; MT733 .N33), 1964 | series 3 | box 12 | folder 1 | |
| Wright, Al and Gladys Stone Wright. The Music Makers: A Love Story with Music. The John Philip Sousa Foundation Press, 2004., 2004 | series 3 | box 12 | folder 2 | |
| Wright, Al G. and Stanley Newcomb. Bands of the World. Evanston, I.L.: The Instrumentalist Co., 1970. (Also found in UMCP Performing Arts Library Reference and Lowens Special Collections Room; ML1300 .W68), 1970 | series 3 | box 12 | folder 3 | |
Series 4: Scores, 1959-1983 (7 items)
This series contains scores commissioned by, dedicated to, and collected by Al Wright.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| J.W. Middendorf II, Sousa Celebration, condensed score and full score, 1983 | series 4 | box 13 | folder 1 | |
| Vittorio Giannini, Variations and Fugue, full score, 1967 | series 4 | box 13 | folder 2 | |
| J.W. Middendorf II, Flag of Honor, full score, undated | series 4 | box 13 | folder 3 | |
| Paul W. Whear, Stonehenge Symphony, full score, 1971 | series 4 | box 13 | folder 4 | |
| Alfred Reed, A Sacred Suite, full score and set of parts, 1962 | series 4 | box 13 | folder 5 | |
| Frank D. Cofield, Golden Glory, condensed score, 1960 | series 4 | box 13 | folder 6 | |
| Karl L. King, Black and Gold March, set of facsimile parts, 1959 | series 4 | box 13 | folder 7 | |
Series 5: Photographs, 1956-1990, and undated (1 folder)
This series contains photographs and facsimile photographs collected by Al Wright.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Photographs and facsimile photographs, undated | series 5 | box 13 | folder 8 | |
Related Material
Neidig, Kenneth L. The Band Director's Guide. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall, 1964. (Also found in the UMCP Performing Arts Library Stacks; MT733 .N33)
Wright, Al G. and Stanley Newcomb. Bands of the World. Evanston, I.L.: The Instrumentalist Co., 1970. (Also found in UMCP Performing Arts Library Reference and Lowens Special Collections Room; ML1300 .W68)
For other related archival and manuscript collections, please see the following subject guides.