A Visit to the Museum – XIII

It’s been a few months since my last article on activities and donations to the Marching Pageantry Arts Museum, so it’s past time to catch up as we approach the end of the winter and get ready for spring.

Museum Curator Bill Ives has appointed Juliana Denick as the Museum’s Collection Manager Assistant.  She has been a great asset also assisting with publicity and the business side of the Museum’s activities.

Bud McCormick stopped by the Museum in mid-November to drop off five two-valve “G” horns once played by the 1st Canadian Regiment.  These horns came into vogue following their legalization in the mid-1970s.  Bryan Jenner also made a visit to Upper Darby to donate four jackets, one each from the Long Island Kingsmen, Spirit of Atlanta, Garfield Cadets, and Drum Corps World.

In the mail came rare uniforms from the Miami Vanguard and Greater Miami Boys Club, in addition to a number of photographs and records produced by the late Stetson Richmond of Boonton, New Jersey, and by Fanfare Records of Miami, Florida.  These were donated through the courtesy of Terry Arley.

Joy Martin Best sent in a collection of photos, a uniform, an overseas cap, and a t-shirt from the York White Roses of Pennsylvania.  This corps was interesting in that it started out as a senior corps, then competed as a junior corps before returning as a senior corps, and later merging with the Hershey Chocolatiers.

Ginny White (with whom both Museum Curator Bill Ives and I marched in the Archer-Epler Musketeers in the early 1980s) sent a collection of photographs from the Northeast “Band” Fife and Drum Corps and the Chaplain Dale Fife and Drum Corps.  

A number of items were received in December at the World Drum Corps Hall of Fame induction ceremony and banquet.  Hans Kloppert, Director of Jubal from Dordrecht, the Netherlands, was in attendance and brought several uniforms he was donation to the museum.  He also donated a silver fife, once used by Jubal, which was founded in 1911 as a fife and drum corps.  He has joined the Museum staff as a researcher of European corps activity.  Hans’ friend, Lisa Gilmer, brought a bass drum head from the Capitolaires of Madison, Wisconsin, which she had found at the Woodwind and Brass Store in Indiana.  She also donated a true drum corps cooler, adorned with bumper stickers from numerous drum corps.  And Bob Boehner brought a jacket and shako from the Cannoneers of Duncannon, Pennsylvania.  In addition to the donated collectible items received at the WDCHOH banquet, Roman Blenski presented a contribution of $600.  He has been a consistent donor over the last few years. 

The Museum has also received numerous other generous cash donations.  Two anonymous donations were received at the end of 2023; one for $10,000 and another for $2,000.  Catherine Chandler has donated many hours to the Museum.  Her company donated $750 to the Museum for the worthwhile time she has spent helping with the collection.

Jay Mele has loaned a Troopers jacket to the Museum, with a plan to return it to the corps and be worn by a Rookie of the Year or drum major and passed on each year to their successor.  Jay, who marched with several junior corps and the New York Skyliners, also sent along a jacket from the Toros, the feeder corps of the Appleton, Wisconsin Americanos, and a windbreaker from the Spirit of Newark Marching 100.

Sue Babalonis contributed some items by mail: a 1964 Ludwig drum catalog, a copy of the 1976 DCA Yearbook (which I had a hand in writing way back then!), and a autographed photograph of none other than the Hawthorne Caballeros great Drum Major James “Jim” Russo.

Received in the mail was a history book about drum corps in the Netherlands. The photographs are interesting photographs but, since it’s published in Dutch, it has proven to be a slow read!  And if you ever complained about marching while playing one tympani, try playing two while riding on a motorcycle!  This was donated by Albert Rottier, one of 90 history books currently on file in the collection.    

Another fascinating history book was received from the Wynn Center Toppers’ Book Project Collective – Dr. Gerald Shepherd (Project Leader) entitled The Wynn Center Toppers – Precious Memories of an African American Drum and Bugle Corps.  Until receiving this item, there were no books in the collection about the African American drum corps experienced.  It provides an historical background of the corps’ 75 years of existence, its impact on the New York City’s Bedford Stuyvesant community, and the corps co-founders, Sidney Austin and Joseph Tucker.  The book was a non-profit endeavor published by Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing.

As of January 7th, 2024, the Museum inventory includes over 80,000 artifacts collected over a period of 33 years.  Among these are a vast number of drums, 154 horns, 540 uniforms, 325 hats and shakos, 330 jackets, 1,580 records.  Over the past year, 62 individuals contributed memorabilia and 11 mobile exhibits were presented in five states.  Nearly 1,600 volunteer hours were donated by a staff of 57 volunteers in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and various European countries.  Cash donations of $14,360 were received in 2023 compared to $12,643 in 2022 and $2,800 in 2021, when the museum started receiving tax exempt contribution.

The Museum lost one of its historians in November with the passing of William A. “Bill” McGrath, Jr.  Following in his family’s footsteps, Bill was heavily involved in the drum corps activity as a percussion arranger, instructor, and performer over many decades. He was a valuable resource and friend of the Museum.  His presence and good counsel are sadly missed. 

The Marching Pageantry Arts Museum is currently located at the historic Archer-Epler VFW Post 979, 6736 Marshall Road, in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, just outside of Philadelphia.  Bill Ives is President, CEO, and archivist of the museum corporation, an IRS 501(c)(3) charitable corporation.  Donations of drum corps, marching band, and color guard memorabilia are always welcome.  Cash donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law and may be made payable to: 

Marching Pageantry Arts Museum
c/o Bill Ives
1024 Second Avenue
Media, PA  19063

The museum, a member of the American Alliance of Museums, is currently open on Monday evenings from 6:00 to 10:00 PM by appointment only.  Bill can be reached by e-mail at ivesbill@mac.com or by phone at (610) 937-6555. 

The Marching Pageantry Arts Museum – “A story worth telling and worth knowing”