A Visit to the Museum – VIII
Monday nights at the museum are always busy. Bob Cook visited recently and donated his Bridgemen yellow parade shirt from 2005/06 along with 10 headbands for the hats and a black hat from ‘05. Another gem was a hat he wore in 1961 for the Levittown (PA) Junior Corps. The Museum is grateful for his donations.
Last October, a trip to the home of Moe Knox in Bridgeport, Connecticut to see his collection and decide how it was to be organized and transported. Moe’s photographic archive is a treasure trove of history. That first trip removed 14 totes of photos and other items, with three more trips planned to bring everything back. Bill recently met with Abby Shaw of Hollinger Metal Edge Archival Boxes to order 15 of the units. Once all of the collection is cataloged, Moe and the Museum will enter into an agreement on how this historic collection will be shared. A big thanks to Judy Battersby and Bob Cook for recording and boxing those items that have already been received. .
From Mike Williams of Archer-Epler, Philadelphia PAL Cadets, and Cardinal Dougherty High School, comes an awesome list of all of the people that came out of Cardinal Dougherty High School Band of Philadelphia. Cardinal Dougherty was one of largest Catholic high school bands in the country, winning many awards. They had so many members that they could split the band into three groups and do three different parades in one day! The list represents some amazing talent from a span of a quarter century, with many listed by the various drum corps in which the members marched. A recent Facebook post showed a handbill for a Mission Drums contest which featured the Cardinal Dougherty band in an exhibition performance.
Over the last 10 years, the Museum has collected over 1,000 program books going back to 1935. Within the collection are drum corps, colorguard, and high school books from the US, Canada, and Europe. Many people have helped in this effort over the years Including Tony Arena, Judy Battersby, George Growcott, Fred Omega Pye, James Halpin, Blair Drummond, Joan Stalford, Cathy Corcoran, Joanne Nammavong, and Emily Nammavong. With the purchase of the white binders and plastic tags a few months ago, these items are now in the most organize state ever. Once cover sheets and spine labels are printed, the binders will be placed in a book case and organized by years. Progress occurs each week. Bill welcomes any additional help.
The Museum also thanks George Growcott and Tony Arena for helping sort through the records and cassette tapes. Tom Norton is also playing an integral role by organizing the audio and video archives. Tom continues the process of digitizing and storing the massive amount of material - films, photographs, video tape, records, and open reel, cassette, and 8-track tapes - that have come to the museum.
When Nate Owen, a 2012 member of Jersey Surf, saw that the Museum had received its 501(c)(3) IRS certification, he indicated that he wanted to donate money and that his company (Microsoft) would match his donation. After going through the qualification process, the Marching Pageantry Arts Museum was approved. The funds were disbursed by the American Online Giving Foundation, Benevity's foundation partner. Nate donated $750.00 which Microsoft matched for a total contribution of $1,500.00.
If your company has a matching donation, but a different matching program, contact Bill Ives at the address below and he will send the information needed for approval. All donations are accepted up to a million dollars!
In the next issue of Drum Corps World, I will discuss a number of new donations to the Museum, including several items that were received at a rehearsal at the Archer-Epler post staged in preparation for the annual G.A.S. Reunion, held last month in Avenel, New Jersey.
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 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”