Guide to the Leo Christy Marching Band Papers, 1935–1962

Overview of the Collection

Repository: 
Special Collections & Archives
McIntyre Library
University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire
P.O. Box 4004
105 Garfield Ave.
Eau Claire, WI 54702-4004
(715)-836-2739
http://www.uwec.edu/Library/archives/info.htm

Reference Code: USGZE AS399

Accession Number: 89-125; 93-076

Collection Number: Archives Series 399

Creator: Christy, Leo (1915–1988)

Title: Leo Christy Marching Band Papers

Dates: 1935–1962

Quantity: 0.4 linear feet (1 archives box).

Location of Collection: D6/4e

Languages: Collection materials are in English.

Summary: Papers of music department faculty member Dr. Leo Christy (1956–1980), director of marching and concert bands from 1956–1963. Papers relate to marching band activities with formal publications on directing and creating marching band shows, papers on various marching band topics, and music selection and formation charts for half-time shows, 1956–1962.

Biographical/Historical Note

Leo J. Christy was born in 1915 in East Chicago, Indiana. He earned two undergraduate degrees in chemistry and music, one master’s, and one doctorate degree from Indiana University and the University of Illinois between 1939–1956. He married Harriet Johnson in 1949, who was an instructor of library science and media education at UW-Eau Claire. They had two children, Ann and Robert. Christy passed away in June 1988, at the age of 73, in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

Before coming to the Wisconsin State College at Eau Claire in 1956, Christy worked as an industrial chemist for two years, and served as an officer in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He taught music at San Diego State University, and Carleton College and Gustavus Adolphus College in Minnesota. Christy joined the music faculty in 1956 as director of bands. He directed the marching and concert bands until 1963, and later taught courses in music literature and music history, applied bassoon, saxophone, and clarinet. He retired in 1980.

Content Description

This collection contains papers from the files of music department faculty member Dr. Leo Christy (1956–1980), director of the marching and concert bands from 1956–1963. The papers relate to his activities as marching band director. Materials range from 1935–1962, with formal publications describing how to direct marching bands and design marching band shows, bibliography lists of marching band books, papers on various marching band topics by Christy and others, such as marching band fundamentals, and music selection and formation charts created for Eau Claire football game half-time shows, ranging from 1956–1962. 

Administrative Information

Acquisition Information: Donated to the Special Collections & Archives, University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire, by Harriet Christy in Sept. 1988 and Feb.1993. Other items transferred to University Archives prior to March 2006.

Access Restrictions: Collection is open to the public.

Use Restrictions: Researchers are responsible for using in accordance with 17 U.S.C. Copyright owned by the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire.

Processing Note: Reprocessed by Julie Hatfield, March 2022.

Arrangement: Flat arrangement.

OCLC #: 21109285

Subjects

Personal Names:
Christy, Leo, 1915–1988

Corporate Names:
University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire — Bands.
University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire — Bands — History.
University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire — Department of Music.
University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire — Faculty.

Subject Terms:
Bands (Music) — Wisconsin — Eau Claire.
Marching bands — Wisconsin — Eau Claire.

Detailed List of Contents

Container

Contents

Dates 

Box/Folder

1/1

Music selection & formation charts for half-time shows

1956–1958

1/2

Music selection & formation charts for half-time shows

1957–1962

1/3

Music selection & formation charts for half-time shows

1956–1960

1/4

“You are my Sunshine” & “Here Comes the Band” formation charts

1951, 1957

1/5

Keepin’ the Good Will of the Bandmaster

ca. 1950–1962

1/6

Developing the Marching Band

1958

1/7

Marching Fundamentals

ca. 1950–1962

1/8

Percussion Music — “Street Beats”

ca. 1950–1962

1/9

Use of Drum Major’s staff or baton

ca. 1950–1962

1/10

Marching Band Bibliographies

1957, 1962

1/11

Here comes the…Stunt Band: A Manual of Band Maneuvers, by J.R. King

1947

1/12

Marching Maneuver Series, Vol. 1 and 2

1935

1/13

Gridiron Pageantry: The Story of the Marching Band, by Charles Boardman Righter

1941

1/14

New Formations and Materials for the Marching Band, by Richard Lee Schilling

1948