Frederic W. Boots Papers
Abstract
Throughout his military career, Frederic Wallace Boots (1922-2006) served in Asia, Europe, and the United States. He directed the United States Military Academy's Cadet Glee Club in West Point, NY and eventually became Associate Band Master of the United States Army Band at Fort Myer, VA. He was a life member of the Virginia and National Federations of Music Clubs, a life member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Music Fraternity, and a member of the American Bandmasters Association. The collection consists of correspondence, administrative records, programs and tour itineraries, military documents, articles, newspaper clippings, scores: published and manuscript, photographs, scrapbooks, and other memorabilia related to Boots' career; the ensembles with which he was involved; and materials he collected on musical figures of personal interest, including: John P. Sousa, John J. Pershing, Raymond Dvorak, and Frederick P. Williams.
Important Information for Users of the Collection
The collection is open for research use.
Frederic W. Boots 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
Frederic W. Boots was born in Champaign, IL on September 27, 1922. After graduating from Portage Wisconsin High School in 1940, Boots attended the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He completed two years of music study before enlisting with the Army and serving until 1945. He returned to the University of Wisconsin where he earned his Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in 1949.
Boots went on to become the Assistant Professor of Music at San Jose State College in California, but he was called back to active duty and became Warrant Officer Band Leader, serving in Ft. Bliss, TX, Korea, Tokyo, Japan, West Point, NY, Heidleburg, Germany, and Ft. Monroe, VA. During his service Boots directed the United States Military Academy's Cadet Glee Club and held the title of Associate Band Master of the United States Army Band.
After retiring from the military, Boots was appointed head of the Special Services Division of Alexandria Libraries. He went on to earn his Masters degree in Library Science from Catholic University and worked as Quality Assurance Consultant in the Library of Congress' Division for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. Until his death in 2006, Boots was a member of the American Bandmasters Association, a life member of the Virginian and National Federations of Music Clubs, a life member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Music Fraternity, and had Masonic Affiliations with West Point Lodge 877, Sojourners, Heroes of '76 and Scottish Rite.
Scope and Contents of the Collection
The Frederic W. Boots Papers cover the period from 1948 to 2006; the bulk of the materials date from 1953 to 1975. The collection consists of both personal and professional papers including scrapbooks, correspondence, programs, scores, clippings, photographs, and recordings related to Boots' work as conductor of the United States Military Academy Glee Club and Associate Band Master of the United States Army Band. This collection also includes materials collected during his forty-year membership in the American Bandmasters Association.
Custodial History and Acquisition Information
Gift of Mrs. Patricia Boots, wife of Frederic W. Boots, received in February 2009.
Processing Information
Amanda Holgate
EAD markup created using EAD database in Microsoft Access. Markup completed by Mary Crauderueff, May 2009
Arrangement of Collection
This collection is arranged into six series.
Detailed Description of the Collection
Series 1: Military Career, 1953-2006, undated (9 folders)
This series contains correspondence, programs, articles, clippings, and photographs relating to Boots' military career and retirement. It has been divided into three sub-series.
Subseries 1.1: West Point Papers, 1953-1987, undated (2 folders)
This sub-series contains materials relating to Boots' career in the United States Military Academy, and in particular, his role as conductor of the Cadet Glee Club. Materials are arranged chronologically.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Point Papers, Cadet Glee Club, 1956-1962, undated | series 1.1 | box 1 | folder 1 | |
| West Point Papers, 1953-1987, undated | series 1.1 | box 1 | folder 2 | |
Subseries 1.2: United States Army Band Materials, 1965-1970, 1975, undated (3 folders)
This sub-series contains papers and programs relating to Boots' career with the United States Army Band, and in particular, his role as Associate Band Master. Materials are arranged chronologically.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | Item | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Army Band Materials and Programs, 1956-1970, undated | series 1.2 | box 1 | folder 3 | ||
| Brucker Hall dedication, 1975 | series 1.2 | box 1 | folder 3 | item 1.0 | |
| Night of the Miracle Programs, 1966-1970 | series 1.2 | box 1 | folder 4 | ||
| Prelude to Taps Programs, 1966-1970 | series 1.2 | box 1 | folder 5 | ||
Subseries 1.3: Scrapbooks and Obituary, 1954-1971, 2006, undated (4 folders)
This sub-series contains materials organized by Boots that document his military career and retirement, including programs, photographs, and correspondence. Among the correspondence is an original letter from President Nixon to Boots. The final folder contains his obituary clipping and photograph. Materials are arranged chronologically.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scrapbook of Boots' Military Career ((The Key to Tokyo that Boots received in 1954 is housed in BOX 5.), 1954-1965 | series 1.3 | box 1 | folder 6 | |
| Scrapbook of Boots' Military Career, 1966-1971 | series 1.3 | box 1 | folder 7 | |
| Scrapbook of Boots' Military retirement, 1971 | series 1.3 | box 1 | folder 8 | |
| Boots' Obituary and Photo, May 14, 2006 | series 1.3 | box 1 | folder 9 | |
Series 2: Collected Materials, 1942-1983, undated (6 folders)
This series contains pamphlets, programs, clippings, articles, photographs, and a monograph collected by Frederic Boots about Douglas MacArthur, John Philip Sousa and John J. Pershing, Raymond Dvorak, Frederick P. Williams, and George S. Howard. Also includes a photograph of a U.S. Army band, pre-Pershings Own, ca. 1918.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials about Douglas MacArthur, his Memorial and funeral, undated | series 2 | box 2 | folder 1 | |
| Materials about Sousa and Pershing, 1976 and 1979, undated | series 2 | box 2 | folder 2 | |
| Materials about Raymond Dvorak, 1942-1982, undated | series 2 | box 2 | folder 3 | |
| Materials about Frederick P. Williams, 1971-1983, undated | series 2 | box 2 | folder 4 | |
| Howard, George S. A Symphony in the Sky. The John Philip Sousa Foundation; San Antonio, Texas: Southern Music Co., 1991 | series 2 | box 2 | folder 5 | |
| Oversized photograph of a pre-Pershings Own Army band, ca. 1918. Stored in map case 1, drawer 2., 918 | series 2 | box 2 | folder 6 | |
Series 3: Raoul F. Camus Dissertation Materials, 1969 (2 folders)
This series contains correspondence between Boots and Camus as well as a draft of Camus dissertation, The Military Band in the United States Army prior to 1834.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Military Band in the United States Army prior to 1834 by Raoul F. Camus, Draft, 1969 | series 3 | box 2 | folder 7 | |
| The Military Band in the United States Army prior to 1834 by Raoul F. Camus, Draft, 1969 | series 3 | box 2 | folder 8 | |
Series 4: American Bandmasters' Association, 1970-1998, undated (19 folders)
This series contains materials relating to Boots' involvement in the American Bandmasters Association.
Subseries 4.1: ABA files, 1970-1998. undated (3 folders)
This series contains photographs, correspondence, programs, and clippings related to American Bandmasters Association Conventions (and the joint JBA Convention held in 1987), committees, and Research Center. Materials are in chronological order.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABA Materials, 1970-1998, and undated | series 4.1 | box 3 | folder 1 | |
| ABA Materials, Kiel, 1985 | series 4.1 | box 3 | folder 2 | |
| Oversized photograph: copy of the picture of the 1930 ABA inaugural meeting. Stored in map case 1, drawer 2. | series 4.1 | box 3 | folder 3 | |
Subseries 4.2: ABA Directories, 1975, 1978-1987 (15 folders)
This sub-series contains Boots ABA Directories, which appear to have been used to keep track of membership dues.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABA Directory, 1975 | series 4.2 | box 3 | folder 4 | |
| ABA Directory, 1975 | series 4.2 | box 3 | folder 5 | |
| ABA Directory, 1978 | series 4.2 | box 3 | folder 6 | |
| ABA Directory, 1979 | series 4.2 | box 3 | folder 7 | |
| ABA Directory, 1981 | series 4.2 | box 3 | folder 8 | |
| ABA Directory, 1982 | series 4.2 | box 3 | folder 9 | |
| ABA Directory, 1983 | series 4.2 | box 3 | folder 10 | |
| ABA Directory, 1983 | series 4.2 | box 3 | folder 11 | |
| ABA Directory, 1983 | series 4.2 | box 3 | folder 12 | |
| ABA Directory, 1984 | series 4.2 | box 3 | folder 13 | |
| ABA Directory, 1984 | series 4.2 | box 3 | folder 14 | |
| ABA Directory, 1986 | series 4.2 | box 3 | folder 15 | |
| ABA Directory, 1986 | series 4.2 | box 3 | folder 16 | |
| ABA Directory, 1986 | series 4.2 | box 3 | folder 17 | |
| ABA Directory, 2 copies, 1987 | series 4.2 | box 3 | folder 18 | |
Subseries 4.3: ABA Recordings, 1985, 1992 (4 cassette tapes, 1 folder)
This sub-series contains recordings from the 1985 and 1992 ABA conferences. 1985: the 51st Annual ABA Convention-Kiel-Kohler, Wisconsin; The United States Army Band (Pershing's Own), Colonel Eugene W. Allen, Leader and Commander (2 copies) 1992: Pershing's Own The United States Army Band, Colonel L. Bryan Shelburne, Jr., Leader and Commander; In Performance for The American Bandmasters Association 1992 Conference, Washington, D.C., March 4, 1992 (2 copies)
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | Item | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cassette Tapes, 1985, 1992 | series 4.3 | box 3 | folder 19 | ||
| Folder 18 - The 51st Annual ABA ConventionKiel-Kohler, Wisconsin; The United States Army Band (Pershings Own), Colonel Eugene W. Allen, Leader and Commander (2 copies), 1985 | series 4.3 | box 3 | folder 19 | item 1.0 | |
| Pershings Own" The United States Army Band, Colonel L. Bryan Shelburne, Jr., Leader and Commander; In Performance for The American Bandmasters Association 1992 Conference, Washington, D.C., March 4, 1992 (2 copies), 1992 | series 4.3 | box 3 | folder 19 | item 2.0 | |
Series 5: Photographs, 1949-1970 (4 folders)
This series contains photographs relating to Boots' military career, both at the United States Military Academy and with the United States Army Band.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Point Photos, 1949-1958, and undated | series 5 | box 4 | folder 1 | |
| Photos, 1952-1968, undated | series 5 | box 4 | folder 2 | |
| Photos, 1964-1970, undated | series 5 | box 4 | folder 3 | |
| Oversized photographs: Tokyo, 1952 or 1953 and undated and funeral procession. Stored in map case 1, drawer 2., undated | series 5 | box 4 | folder 4 | |
Series 6: Scores, 1959, undated (9 folders)
This series contains manuscripts, printing masters, and published scores for works composed or arranged by Boots.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Ballad of Roger Young, printing master, undated | series 6 | box 5 | folder 1 | |
| The Ballad of Roger Young, manuscript scores (A-flat and G-flat), undated | series 6 | box 5 | folder 2 | |
| Semper Paratus, printing master, undated | series 6 | box 5 | folder 3 | |
| On, Brave Old Army Team, published score, 1958 | series 6 | box 5 | folder 4 | |
| On Brave Old Army Team, printing master, undated | series 6 | box 5 | folder 5 | |
| World War I Medley, manuscript score (choir and piano), undated | series 6 | box 5 | folder 6 | |
| World War I Medley, printing master (choir and piano), undated | series 6 | box 5 | folder 7 | |
| World War I Medley, printing master (choir and piano), undated | series 6 | box 5 | folder 8 | |
| World War I Medley, manuscript (choir and band), undated | series 6 | box 5 | folder 9 | |
| Key to Tokyo, awarded to Boots in 1954 (from Sub-series I.3), 1954 | series 6 | box 5 | folder 10 | |
Related Material
The Frederic Boots Papers are part of the American Bandmasters Association (ABA) Research Center.
The Boots materials included three ABA Convention programs from 1960 and three ABA Convention programs from 1961. If you would like to view these materials, they are located with the ABA Archives materials.
The Boots materials included ABA Directories from 1975 through 2006. If you would like to view these materials, they are located with the ABA Archives materials.
The Boots materials included a third revision copy of "Lest We Forget." If you would like to view this, it is located with the ABA Archives materials.
Howard, George S. A Symphony in the Sky. The John Philip Sousa Foundation; San Antonio, Texas: Southern Music Co., 1991. Copy also found in Lowens Special Collections Room - ML422.H6 A3 1992.
For other related archival and manuscript collections, please see the following subject guides.