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William Foster papers

 Collection
Call Number: RH MS 656

Overview

William Foster was the band director for Florida A & M University (FAMU) from the 1940s-2001. His papers include material regarding the FAMU Marching 100 band as well as his other professional activities.

Dates

  • Creation: 1940 - 2012

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

No access restrictions.

Conditions Governing Use

Spencer Library staff may determine use restrictions dependent on the physical condition of manuscript materials.

Biography of William Foster (1919-2010)

William P. Foster received his bachelor's degree from the University of Kansas (Lawrence, Kansas), in 1941. He went on to receive a master's degree from Wayne State University in 1950, a Doctor of Education with a major in music from Teachers College, Columbia University, in 1955, and the Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Florida A & M University (FAMU) in 1998.

Foster served as the band conductor for Florida A & M University, where he created a broad range of innovations in the field of marching band Pageantry. The FAMU Marching 100 is known internationally. Dr. Foster created over 200 halftime pageants for the band, the band appeared on the television programs "60 Minutes" and "20/20" and in three films, three commercials, numerous magazine and newspaper articles, and 34 nationally televised performances seen by over 5 billion viewers. The Marching 100 was also the only American marching band featured in the French Bicentennial Parade. The Marching 100 has been the centerpiece of many public events including the 15th and 25th anniversaries of Walt Disney World.

When not conducting the Marching 100, Foster authored Band Pageantry, the preeminent textbook on marching band pageants, as well as 18 articles for professional journals and more than 20 musical and marching band clinics all over the country. He also served as a guest lecturer at universities throughout the country and as guest conductor for the US Air Force Band, US Army Band, Interlochen Arts Academy Band, McDonald's All-American High School Band and others. Foster composed several scores of music including "March Brilliante," "National Honors March," "March Continentale," and "Centennial Celebration."

Foster retired from conducting the Marching 100 and went on to serve on the Arts Council under President Bill Clinton and started the William P. Foster Foundation, which strives to help less fortunate members of the marching 100 achieve their educational and life goals. Dr. Foster was a member of the G. Leblanc Corporation, John Philip Sousa Foundation, Tallahassee's Symphony Orchestra, International Music Festival, The Marching Musician, American Band Masters Association, College Band Director National Association (CBDNA), National Bandmasters Association (NBA), Florida Music Educators Association (FMEA), National Association for Music Education (MENC), Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Kappa Kappa Psi National Band Fraternity, Phi Beta Mu National Bandmasters Fraternity, Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, John Philip Sousa Foundation, and The Afro-American Hall of Fame. He had a wife, Mary Ann Foster, and two sons, William P. Foster and Anthony Frederick Foster. William P. Foster died at the age of 91 in August 2010.

Extent

5.75 Linear Feet (8 boxes + 4 oversize boxes, 6 oversize folders, 11 LPs, 5 CDs, 5 videocassettes)

Language of Materials

English

Scope and Contents

The collection dates from 1940 to 2012 and is divided into six series: Florida A&M University (FAMU) Bands, Foster Correspondence, Foster Papers, Photographs, Audio Recordings, and Video Recordings.

The FAMU Bands series covers material related to the FAMU Bands with a focus on the Marching 100 band; items include clippings, records, clinic information, and trip information.

Correspondence consists of correspondence from the 1940s-1990s relating to the Marching 100 band tours and appearances.

Papers includes an assortment of material describing Foster as conductor of the Marching 100, guest conductor of several other bands, and his other professional activities. It also contains his original textbook and music scores.

Photographs are located at RH MS-P 656. Audio Recordings, which include records and compact discs, are located at RH Phono 15 and RH CD 4. Video Recordings, which consists of videocassettes, are located at RH Video 23. Oversize materials can be found at RH MS Q135 and RH MS R134.

Series List

The William P. Foster collection is organized in six series and six subseries, based on format:

  1. FAMU bands, 1940s-1990s
  2. Correspondence, 1940s-1990s
  3. Papers (sub-series: Clippings, Publications, Programs, General papers), 1950s-2012
  4. Photographs
  5. Audio recordings (sub-series include LPs and CDs)
  6. Video Recordings

Physical Location

RH MS 656

Physical Location

RH MS Q135

Physical Location

RH MS-P 656

Physical Location

RH MS-P 428(f)

Physical Location

RH MS R134

Physical Location

RH Phono 15

Physical Location

RH CD 4

Physical Location

RH Video 23

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gifts, William Foster and others, 1986-2014.

Title
Guide to the William Foster Collection
Subtitle
William Foster papers
Author
Finding aid prepared by bkm, 2006. Finding aid encoded by bkm, 2006. Finding aid revised by mbw, 2008; ea, 2013; mwh, 2021.
Date
2006
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Finding aid written in English.
Sponsor
Support for portions of the processing of this Collection was provided by the Dana and Sue Anderson African American Collecting Program Endowment Fund.
Finding aid permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/10407/8737201413
Preferred citation
William Foster papers, Kansas Collection, RH MS 656, Kenneth Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas

Repository Details

Part of the University of Kansas. Kenneth Spencer Research Library Repository

Contact:
1450 Poplar Lane
Lawrence KS 66045-7616 United States
785-864-4334