Title Page | Collection Summary | Biographical/Organizational Note | Scope and Content | Arrangement
Biographical Note
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1854, Nov. 6 | Born, Washington, D.C. |
| 1860-1867 | Studied several instruments while enrolled at a conservatory |
| 1868-1975 | Apprentice musician, United States Marine Band |
| 1875 | Discharged from the Marines |
| 1876 | Moved to Philadelphia, Pa. Arranger, composer, and proofreader for music publishing companies |
| 1879, Dec. 30 | Married Jane van Middlesworth Bellis (died 1944) |
| 1880-1892 | Became 17th leader of the U.S. Marine Band |
| 1881, Apr. 1 | Son John Philip Sousa, Jr. born (died 1937) |
| 1882, Aug. 7 | Daughter Jane Priscilla Sousa born (died 1958) |
| 1887, Jan. 21 | Daughter Helen P. Sousa born (died 1975) |
| 1888 | Composed “Semper Fidelis” which is traditionally regarded as the official march of the Marine Corps |
| 1889 | Composed “The Washington Post” march for the newspaper’s essay awards ceremony |
| 1891 | President Benjamin Harrison gave Sousa permission to take the Marine Band on its first tour |
| 1892 | Resigned as director of the Marine Band and formed the Sousa Band |
| 1892-1931 | Sousa Band toured the U.S., Europe, Great Britain, the Canary Islands, and in the South Pacific |
| 1896 | Composed “Stars and Stripes Forever” |
| 1927-1928 | Testified before the United States Congress to fight for composers' rights |
| 1932, Mar. 6 | Died, at the Abraham Lincoln Hotel, Reading, Pa. |
| 1987, Dec. 11 | “Stars and Stripes Forever” designated as the official national march of America by an act of the United States Congress |