A Visit to the Museum - XIX
At the end of January, the Museum received a treasure trove of items from Jamie Lynn Cluna, the daughter of the late Carmen Cluna. The package created a large number of Cluna’s memorabilia from his years teaching several New York City area drum corps. Among these items were a uniform top, flag, and corps ring from St. Rita’s Brassmen. Also in the package, were items from the St. Ignatius All-girls corps, his whistle, Drum Corps Hall of Fame badge, and an extensive collection of newspaper and magazine clippings, photographs, and plaques. Cluna’s partnership with renown brass arranger and instructor Herman “Hy” Dreitzer brought many first place awards and championships to the Hicksville, Long Island corps. He also worked with the New York Skyliners and New Image II, the corps that succeeded St. Ignatius, among others.
Jack Hopey has joined the Museum team. A veteran of Jersey Surf and the Reading Buccaneers, he is currently the Social Media manager for the Bucs and will be assisting the Museum staff on Social Media and with horn inventory. On his first visit to the Museum, he was most impressed with the chair from the Santa Clara Vanguard’s Phantom of the Opera show.
Therese Sauerland Anderson sent some uniform items from the Hicksville, Long Island, New York St. Ignatius All-girl. Included were two uniform tops, a red vest, cummerbund, and cap.
At a recent party, Museum Curator and CEO Bill Ives met up with Ef Deal, who presented a t-shirt with a letter explaining the printing on the shirt. She also made a financial contribution. So far this year, the Museum has received over $18,000 in cash contributions which continue to advance the goal of seeking a permanent home for the Museum.
But the most recent and interesting find came from Matthew Harris from North Carolina and someone who has never marched in drum corps but has been collecting drum corps records since 2019. While browsing the Balsam Antique Mall in Waynesville, he stumbled upon a very unusual 78 RPM record with the title Squad Right – March, played by 12th Regiment New York National Guard Drum and Bugle Corps.
The record had been seemingly dropped, cracked, and glued back together improperly. But as a vinyl enthusiast, he noticed that it only had grooves on one side which sometimes indicated a record was extremely old. It was discovered that the record was made somewhere around 1906-1916, but more research will be required.
Despite the record's age and condition, Matthew will be working with Museum audio guru Tom Norton to use a laser turntable to scan the grooves and to create a digital file. We greatly look forward to hearing the results!
The Museum especially appreciates those who contribute to the collection with various artifacts and financial contributions. In addition to his extensive work categorizing and creating an inventory list, Bill is actively seeking commercial sponsorship and grant funding. However, it is understood that, in consideration of the many changes in Washington and expected changes to tax laws, such grants and sponsorships may become more and more difficult to secure. It’s a major reason why donations from individuals are especially prized.
Details continue to be worked out on the recently announced merger of the Museum and the DCX, The Drum Corps Experience. This effort makes sense on so many levels. DCX has a huge repository of scores and corps repertoires from many decades where as the Museum many artifacts from these years. It is hopes that the marching arts society will embrace and continue to support this effort.
Bill continues to visit other museums on the east coast to see their displays and develop ideas for a proposed permanent home for the museum collection. One recent visit was to the American Swedish Historical Museum in South Philadelphia. Bill also continues to be in contact with local community and political staff members, waving the banner for MPAM.
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”