Scope and Content Note
The Christopher Dodrill Collection on John Philip Sousa spans the years 1876-1992 with the bulk of the materials dating from 1895 to 1930. The collection includes many first editions of Sousa’s marches and concert works in mint condition, as well as many rare European editions of his works. It also contains published sheet music, photographs, promotional posters, advertisements, and posthumously produced commemorative mementoes. About two-thirds of the pieces within the Music Series were penned by Sousa. The remaining scores were likely part of the Marine Band’s repertoire. Predictably, the overwhelming majority of works are marches (the celebrated “Stars and Stripes Forever” and “The Washington Post” among them); however, other genres are present as well. Although Sousa was known as “The March King” and wrote about 140 marches during his lifetime, they account for roughly 50% of his oeuvre. The other half consisted of operettas, overtures, suites, and other musical styles, some of which can be found within the collection.
Postage stamps, oil portrait reproductions, photographs, and concert posters are some of the items which constitute the Iconography Series. The 2-cent red and white commemorative Sousa stamps were issued eight years after the band leader’s death and first used on May 3, 1940. Among the collection’s photographs are 59 8x10 reproductions from the United States Marine Band. Finally, two Look ‘N See trading cards manufactured by Topps feature a portrait of the composer-conductor on one side and a brief biography on the verso. In 1952, the industry leader of collectible sports cards released a set of 135 luminaries, of which all but one (Babe Ruth) was not an athlete. Sousa was showcased on card #115.
Of three Programs in the collection, two feature the performances of his operettas ("El Capitan" at New York’s Broadway Theater in 1896 and "The Charlatan" at the New National Theatre in Washington D.C. in 1898). The third program pertains to the Sousa Band’s worldwide tour. At the time the program was published in 1900, the ensemble was in Milwaukee, WI at the Davidson Theatre.
One item of Sousa Correspondence within this portion of the collection references his favorite pastime: trapshooting. In John Philip Sousa: American Phenomenon, biographer Paul E. Bierley states that Sousa "was regarded as one of the best trapshooters in the country and had many trophies and medals to prove it." Further attesting that the bandmaster was also a master marksman was his posthumous induction into the Trapshooting Hall of Fame in 1985. In this letter, the musician sends his regrets for not being able attend the 1922 Delaware State Shoot due to an arm injury.
The collection contains only two Books. Sousa's Pipetown Sandy, published in 1905, is one of five literary works by the musician. The volume is autobiographical and draws largely on his childhood memories of growing up in the nation’s capital. The second book in the collection is Ann Lingg’s recount of Sousa’s life. Starting at age 11, the music biographer details Sousa’s prosaic beginnings through his rise to international acclaim.
A whimsical assortment of three items make up the Realia Series, including a silver spoon (which reveals a miniature portrait of Sousa within its bowl), a palm-sized metal box adorned with a hand-painted bouquet which shelters a tray of matches, and a Franklin Mint coin engraved with a portrait of the bandmaster.