Kenneth Slater Collection

Individual Collection name: Kenneth Slater Collection

Repository name: Special Collections in Performing Arts,
Performing Arts Library, University of Maryland

Type: Professional and personal papers including programs, military documents, books, music, and regalia

Collection dates: 1859-1997, most materials from 1940-1980

Extent: 17 linear feet

Description: The Kenneth Slater Collection contains materials relating to Slater's career and the ensembles with which he was involved. These include the United States Marine Band, the United States Army Field Band, the Hagerstown Municipal Band, and the Almas Temple Band. There is also a significant amount of material related to the career of Slater's father, George H. Slater. While the majority of the materials are textual and in good condition, some items may be restricted owing to their fragile state. Please contact the curator for information on specific items.

Finding Aid: An unpublished finding aid is available in the repository.

SCPA shelf location: SCPA Collections Room, Aisle D

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: The distinguished band director Kenneth Burton Slater was born in 1917 in Cohoes, New York. His earliest musical instruction was on the cornet under his father George H. Slater, a euphonium soloist in Arthur Pryor's Band. Upon graduation from the New York Military Academy in 1937, Slater accepted a position as a trumpet player in the United States Marine Band, "The President's Own." Ten years later he was appointed cornet soloist with the newly formed United States Army Field Band, a position he would hold for another decade. Shortly before his retirement from the military, Slater became director of the Almas Temple Shrine Band in Washington, D.C. This ensemble won the National Shrine Band competition in 1955. In 1959 Slater was appointed director of the Hagerstown Municipal Band, a position he would hold for a decade. Slater also served briefly as director of the Shippensberg, Pennsylvania City Band. Slater was a member of the Almas Temple, Washington, D.C., a charter member of the Shrine Bandmasters, a Past President of the Pennsylvania Bandmasters Association, and a member of the American Bandmasters Association. He has served as a frequent guest conductor of the Virginia Grand Military Band in Arlington, and composed several pieces. Kenneth Slater died in 2005

Life Chronology:
1917            Born in Cohoes, New York on June 18
1937            Graduates, New York Military Academy
1937-1947    Trumpet player, United States Marine Band
1942            Marries Evelyn Fey on April 11
1947-1957    Cornet soloist, United States Army Field Band
1953-1962    Director, Almas Temple Shrine Band (Washington, D.C.)
1959-1969    Director, Hagerstown (Maryland) Municipal Band
1961-1966    Director, Shippensburg (Pennsylvania) City Band
1965            Elected to the American Bandmasters Association
1997            Moves from Hagertown to Indianapolis
2005            Dies in Indianapolis on 14 April

Series Arrangement: Series I: Correspondence
Series II: The United States Marine Band
Series III: The United States Army Field Band
Series IV: The Almas Temple Band
Series V: The Hagerstown Municipal Band
Series VI: Associations
Series VII: Individuals
Series VIII: Programs
Series IX: Books, Articles, and Catalogues
Series X: Music

Series Description:
Series I, Correspondence, 1937-1997, contains over three hundred items organized by correspondent or corresponding agency. There are letters to and from family, friends, and business associates in this series. Prominent correspondents include Eugene Allen, Kenny Althouse, Vincent Bach, Harold Bachman, Glenn Bainum, Paul Bierley, John Bourgeois, Peter Buys, Robert Barnhouse, Robert Hoe, the H. N. White Company, Charles Payne, John Paynter, William Revelli, Frank Simon, and many others. Topics range from customer complaints to Slater's private students. Other series in the Slater Collection contain their own correspondence subseries.

Series II, The United States Marine Band, contains materials relating to this ensemble, of which Slater was a member between 1937 and 1947. In addition to containing correspondence with band members and leaders, this series contains a large collection of Marine Band programs from between 1922 and 1996. There are also programs from other organizations including the Alfalfa and Gridiron Clubs. This series includes a large number of newspaper clippings relating to the Marine Band and its members. Finally, the series is valuable for is significant number of materials relating to specific actions undertaken by the band, including tour itineraries and copies of documents regarding legal issues involving the band.

Series III, The United State Army Field Band, largely parallels series II in its content and organization. Slater was a member of this band between 1947 and 1957, and much of the series consists of correspondence, newspaper clippings, and band publications from that period. This series also contains several photographs of the band and a significant amount of materials relating to the band's 1953 European tour. Also found in this series are items concerning the Field Band's predecessor, the Army Ground Forces Band, and the inter-service National Concert Band.

Series IV, Almas Temple Band, contains materials related to Slater's tenure as bandleader of the Almas Temple, Oasis of Washington, D.C., between 1953 and 1962, and his work with the Shrine Bandmasters. The series includes correspondence with band members, programs, and other items regarding both the Almas Temple Band and the more general activities of the Almas Temple.

Series V, Hagerstown Municipal Band, contains materials relating to one of the most significant periods of Slater's career, his tenure as director of the Hagerstown (Maryland) Municipal Band. This series includes organizational documents regarding the band, correspondence with band members, concert programs, newspaper clippings, and other materials.

Series VI, Associations, contains materials relating to three of the associations with which Slater was involved. The first subseries contains correspondence, convention materials, and newspaper clippings regarding the American Bandmasters Association. Many of the materials are related to Slater's election to the American Bandmasters Association and to John Philip Sousa's election to the Hall of Fame for Great Americans. There are also documents regarding the Association's efforts to have Sousa's The Stars and Stripes Forever named the National March of the United States. The second subseries contains similar documents for the Pennsylvania Bandmasters Association. A third subseries contains publications and convention materials relating to the circus music association, Windjammers Unlimited, Inc.

Series VII, Individuals, contains materials concerning several well-known band musicians with which Slater had a close relationship. The materials in this series were separated from the rest of the collection, probably by Slater himself. The first subseries contains information related to the circus bandleader Merle Evans. Included are correspondence, programs, route sheets, newspaper clippings, and a small number of photographs, as well as materials regarding the Merle Evans Papers at the University of Maryland. The second subseries contains materials relating to Joseph Losh, a trumpet player and student at the Ernest Williams Music School. Losh was also a member of Windjammers Unlimited and the Commander and Band Director of the John Philip Sousa American Legion Post. Included are correspondence and newsletters of the John Philip Sousa American Legion Post. The third subseries contains materials related to Slater's father, George Slater. Included are correspondence, programs, newspaper clippings, publications, music, memorabilia, and photographs. The fourth subseries contains materials related to Leonard Smith, director of the Detroit Concert Band. Included are correspondence, publications, programs, clippings, music, and teaching materials. The fifth subseries contains materials related to the Ernest Williams Alumni Association. Included are correspondence, programs, and photographs.

Series VIII, Programs, contains over 150 programs of various musical ensembles and other events collected by Slater. The first subseries contains programs for concerts that Slater guest conducted. The second subseries contains programs for military band concerts. The third subseries contains programs for non-military band concerts. The fourth subseries contains orchestral, solo, and chamber ensemble concert programs. The fifth subseries contains programs for non-musical events such as religious services.

Series IX, Books, Articles, and Catalogues, contains a small number of published materials. Most of these are music dictionaries and teachers' guides. There are also a few music-related catalogues.

Series X, Music, contains sheet music for voice and piano, cornet parts, piano music, and a few pieces for orchestra and band. Of particular significance are several cornet method books and music for drum and bugle.

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