UNI Marching Band Collection
Scope and Contents
The UNI Marching Band Collection, dating from 1963 to 1997, contains a variety of materials, largely from its times under the leadership of William Shepherd and John Vallentine. The first series consists of administrative records, such as marching band student handbooks (1984; 1991 to 1997) detailing the band's rules, policies, and schedules. It also includes a grouping of logistical materials concerning football trips in which the group participated.
Series 2, Football Seasons, focuses exclusively on the band's role during UNI football games and provides insight into how performances came together. The series includes show charts; correspondence; logistical information; news clippings; schedules; photographs (including some from the 1990 season, featuring the Iowa State Band at JT Stadium and the Panther Marching Band at the UNI Dome); and a June 30, 1986, letter from the Minnesota Vikings organization congratulating the band on being selected to perform at a Vikings-Detroit Lions game. Box 15 contains additional charts.
The third series, Events, consists of files concerning Band Day, marching band performances, and other associated events. It is comprised of logistical information, correspondence, marching band charts, and sheet music. The publications series contains two football programs with short pieces about the marching band.
The final series, Audiovisual Materials, makes up the bulk of the collection and dates from c. 1963 to 1994. It primarily includes marching band recordings, but also a number of Symphonic Band recordings, and one Varsity Men’s Glee Club reel-to-reel audio tape. Formats include 16mm films, reel-to-reel tapes, and audiocassettes. Please consult the inventory list for the complete list of recorded performances.
Dates
- 1963-1997
Creator
- Shepherd, William (Person)
- Vallentine, John (Person)
Language of Materials
Materials entirely in English.
Conditions Governing Access
Most materials are open for research. Materials related to the confidentiality of personnel, student, medical, and other legally protected records are CLOSED to researchers for 70 years from the date of creation. Consult the archivist with any questions or concerns.
Technical Access
Content is recorded on 16mm film, videocassettes, and reel-to-reel tapes, and requires special playback equipment for access and use.
General Use, Reproduction, and Copyright Policies
Many items housed in the Rod Library Special Collections & University Archives, including unpublished images and manuscripts, may be protected by copyright, publication rights, trademarks, or model release rights which the library does not own and for which the library cannot grant permission or licensing. Materials currently under copyright are usually still available for research and limited reproduction under Fair Use laws. However, it is the sole responsibility of the patron to determine whether or not their use of a given material falls within Fair Use guidelines and to obtain permission for said use from the rightful copyright owner.
Sensitive Materials Statement
Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy or similar laws, and the Iowa Open Records Law (see Iowa Code § 22.7). Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals represented in this collection without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of action under common law for invasion of privacy may arise if facts concerning an individual's private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive to a reasonable person) for which the University of Northern Iowa assumes no responsibility.
Biographical / Historical
The University of Northern Iowa Panther Marching Band was founded in 1900 as the Cadet Band. It initially had less than ten members, but grew over time and began accompanying Iowa State Normal School (now UNI) students competing in oratorical contests. In 1929, President Orval Latham requested that the school create a marching band similar to that at the University of Illinois, which he had seen perform over the years. Following this, uniforms were purchased and Central Hall was renovated to accommodate rehearsals. As of 2020, the band is the largest student organization on campus and includes students from 79 majors, the majority of whom are not majoring in music. The band performs and all home games and certain away games, and has also performed internationally, including: the New Year’s Day Parade in London (2014), the New Year’s Day Parade in Rome (2016), and at the St. Patrick’s Parade in Dublin, Ireland (2019).
Extent
17.06 Linear Feet (16 boxes)
Arrangement
The collection is arranged into the following five series:
- Series 1: Administrative Records
- Series 2: Football seasons
- Series 3: Events
- Series 4: Publications
- Series 5: Recordings
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Professor Wiliam Shepherd, former director of the UNI Marching Band, donated the bulk of this collection to SC&UA in the fall of 1997. Materials related to John Vallentine’s time as head of the group were donated in 2017.
Bibliography
- "Marching Band campaign seeks funds."Northern Iowa Today, Fall Issue 1998, vol 27 issue 1. RG 08/00/04, University Archives, Rod Library, University of Northern Iowa.
- "Panther Marching Band."UNI Bands, University of Northern Iowa. Accessed September 2020. "https://bands.uni.edu/pmb".
Processing Information
Material initially processed by Student Assistant Heather Bird and initial inventory developed by Library Assistant Susan Basye, September 1998. Reprocessed by Student Assistant Nicholas Jordan, October-November 2013, with inventory developed by University Archivist Gerald L. Peterson, November 8, 2013. Updated by Gerald Peterson, November 8, 2013; Library Associate Dave Hoing, January 2018 and April 2018; and Archival Processor Tessa Wakefield, September 2020. Linear feet updated on September 14, 2017.
- Title
- UNI Marching Band Collection
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script