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Harold Bachman Papers
Umbrella Collection name: American Bandmasters Association
Research Center
Individual Collection name: Harold Bachman Papers
Repository name: Special Collections in Performing Arts,
Performing Arts Library, University of Maryland
Type: Professional papers, newspaper clippings, and one audio tape.
Collection dates: c.1940-c.1971. Most items from c.1942-c.1945.
Extent: .25 linear feet; 1 box.
Description: The Harold Bachman Papers consist mostly of official papers related to Bachman's career as a military bandleader during World War II.
SCPA shelf location: SCPA Collections Room, Aisle C
Access: Materials from this collection must be used in the Performing Arts Library's Irving and Margery Morgan Lowens Special Collections Room, 10 to 5, Monday through Friday. Please make an appointment with the
curator.
Biography: Harold Bachman, a prominent music educator and military bandleader, was born in Atlanta, Illinois on September 2, 1892. He received his academic training at the North Dakota Agricultural College in Fargo where he graduated in 1916. While still a student, Bachman toured with several professional bands as cornetist, including Al G. Barnes's Circus Band and Bohumir Kryl's Concert Band. During World War I, Bachman served in World War I as Bandleader of the 116th Engineer Band, and after the war he organized and conducted a professional concert band known as Bachman's Million Dollar Band. From 1935 until entering the Army in World War II, Bachman was director of the band at the University of Chicago, where he became widely known as an advisor on school music issues to the Educational Music Bureau of Chicago and as Associate Editor of the Educational Music Magazine. During World War II, Bachman was commissioned as a Captain and made Supervisor of Music in the 6th Service Command. In October of 1943 he was ordered overseas to become supervisor of music with the Special Services Section in the South Pacific. Bachman resigned from active service as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1948 to accept a position as Director of Bands at the University of Florida. He served as President of the ABA in 1950-1951 and he received an Honorary Doctorate of Literature from the University of Idaho in 1963. Bachman died on April 10, 1972.
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