Collection inventory

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Syracuse University Marching Band Collection

An inventory of its collection at the Syracuse University Archives

Finding aid created by: Nicole Morello
Date: 2018

Revision history:

Historical Note

Syracuse University’s Marching Band, known as “The Pride of the Orange,” is one of two athletic bands on campus that appear at football, basketball and other events. The first University Band was formed in 1901 with 23 members and, on October 12, made its first football game appearance. The band was dismissed just three years later for financial reasons but slowly began to reform in 1907, playing at several functions on campus, and in 1909 Chancellor Day authorized scholarships for band members. In 1919, the band merged with the ROTC band and received new uniforms and instruments from the U.S. government. In 1924 the Marching Band became a minor sport and began receiving funding from the athletic department, separating it from the ROTC band, though they continued to occasionally perform together. In 1940, due to a shortage of male students lost to the war effort, the first women were allowed to join the band and were the majority by 1943. In 1944, the first majorettes joined the band and in 1946 the band was established within the School of Music. After World War II women were removed from the band. In 1947 the band debuted as “100 Men and a Girl” with Dottie Grover as featured twirler. The band enjoyed growing success and in 1966 women were again allowed to join. In 1970 the band went on a European concert tour which included the World Band Festival in Holland. The band won three awards at the competition and were welcomed back with much acclaim. That fall, they were introduced for the first time as “The Pride of the Orange.” The Marching Band continues to represent Syracuse University at home and on the road and in 2014 played the Super Bowl pregame show alongside the Rutgers University Marching Band.

Scope and Content Note

The Syracuse University Marching Band Collection spans from 1901 to 2017 and contains various materials related to the organization including uniforms, photographs, and printed materials. The collection is divided into four series:

The Memorabilia series comprises uniform pieces from various eras in the Marching Band’s history.

The largest series, Photographs, encompasses the majority of the collection. It contains photographs documenting the band's seasons from some of its earliest bowl performances to its 2014 performance at the Super Bowl pregame show at the Meadowlands.

The Records series contains printed materials related to the band such as directories and drill formation documentation.

The Scrapbooks series contains two scrapbooks documenting the band’s 1962 season and their 1952-1953 Orange Bowl trip.

Restrictions

Access Restrictions:

Please note that the collection is housed off-site, and advance notice is required to allow time to have the materials brought to the Reading Room on campus.

Use Restrictions:

Written permission must be obtained from the Syracuse University Archives and all relevant rights holders before publishing quotations, excerpts or images from any materials in this collection.

Related Material

A poster was removed from the collection and added to the Poster Collection.

The University Archives holds a clipping file on the Marching Band, additional photographs can be found in the Photograph Collection and several posters are housed in the Poster Collection. Buttons and uniforms from the Marching Band can also be found in the Memorabilia Collection.

Selected Search Terms

Names

Syracuse University -- History.
Syracuse University.
Syracuse University. Marching Band.

Subjects

Color guards.
Marching bands.
Student activities.
Higher education.

Types of Material

Photographs.
Scrapbooks.
Uniforms.

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Preferred citation for this material is as follows:

Syracuse University Marching Band Collection,
University Archives,
Special Collections Research Center
Syracuse University Libraries

Acquisition Information

The collection was transferred to the University Archives by the Setnor School of Music in 2016.

Processing Information

Materials were rehoused in folders and boxes.

Arrangement

Folders are arranged alphabetically or chronologically within series.

Table of Contents

Memorabilia

Photographs

Records

Scrapbooks

Inventory