Arthur Wise Papers

Individual Collection name: Arthur Wise Papers

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

Type: Correspondence, photographs, music, research materials, and book drafts.

Collection Dates: 1903-1972

Extent: 9 linear feet

Statement of provenance: Gift of Arthur Wise, October 1972.

Finding Aid: An unpublished finding aid by Bradley Mariska is available. [View Online]

SCPA shelf location: SCPA Collections Room, Aisle C.

Access: Materials from this collection must be used in the Michelle Smith Performing Arts Library's Irving and Margery Morgan Lowens Room for Special Collections, 10 to 5, Monday through Friday. Please make an appointment with the curator.

Biography: Born 17 December 1906, Arthur M. Wise studied cornet with Ross Hickernell at the Dana Musical Institute (now part of Youngstown University), earning a B.M. in 1929 and a M.M. in 1940. A teacher for over 35 years, Wise was band director at Lisbon H.S. in Lisbon, Ohio, and Lincoln High School in Philadelphia.

In 1947, Wise organized the Columbiana County (Ohio) Symphony Orchestra. The following summer, he attended the Berkshire Music Festival at Tanglewood, where he studied conducting with Bernstein, Copland, Koussevitsky, and others. In 1958, Wise was selected to play string bass in the Fourth All-American Bandmasters’ Band, organized for the Mid-West National Band Clinic.

A Civil War buff, Wise collaborated with Francis A. Lord to publish two books on topics relating to the Civil War, Bands and Drummer Boys of the Civil War (New York: T. Yoseloff, 1966) and Uniforms of the Civil War (South Brunswick: T. Yoseloff, 1970).

Wise moved with his wife to Phoenix in 1965 because of health reasons. Soon after, he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.

Wise was extremely active as an arranger, though only a handful of his works were ever published. Wise also left behind a manuscript about the history of the Willow Grove Park Band Concerts upon his death in 1973. It was never published.

Description: The Arthur Wise Papers contain materials primarily related to the conductor and author’s research interests. Notes for his two books, both written with Francis A. Lord, Bands and Drummer Boys of the Civil War (New York: T. Yoseloff, 1966) and Uniforms of the Civil War (South Brunswick: T. Yoseloff, 1970), are an important part of the collection. Wise also collected materials while doing research for an unpublished book on Willow Grove Park, including original programs for such bands as those of Arthur Pryor, Patrick Conway, John Philip Sousa, and the Banda Rossa, as well as the orchestras of Wassili Leps, Theodore Thomas, Nahan Franko, Walter Damrosch, and Victor Herbert. A draft of this book is included in the papers.

Wise was also active as an arranger and composer. Dozens of manuscripts of compositions—mostly for band—comprise a significant portion of the collection. Most of these works were never published.

The Wise papers also contain materials related to Wise's career as a music educator, primarily at Lisbon (Ohio) High School and Philadelphia’s Lincoln High School.

View Items from the Collection: A strength of the Wise Papers is the extensive collection of original programs from concerts performed at Willow Grove Park. The programs span the years 1901-1926, including famous ensembles inlcuding those led by John Philip Sousa, Arthur Pryor, and more. Click below to see selected programs.

• Victor Herbert and His Orchestra, 1904
• Patrick Conway and His Band, 1910
• John Philip Sousa and His Band, 1914 [autographed]

Series Arrangement:
            Series I: Music Manuscripts
            Series II: Published Music
            Series III: Photographs
            Series IV: Programs
            Series V: Correspondence
            Series VI: Civil War Research Materials
            Series VII: Willow Grove Park Research Materials
            Series VIII: School Bands
            Series IX: Other Professional Materials
            Series X:Serial Articles
            Series XI: Miscellaneous

Series Description:

Series I, Music Manuscripts, contains band and orchestra scores and parts, as well as choral music, in manuscript. Most pieces are Wise’s arrangements and transcriptions, with a few original compositions. Nearly all of these works went unpublished.

Series II, Published Music, contains published scores and instruction books collected by Wise.

Series III, Photographs, contains pictures of Arthur Wise and his ensembles.

Series IV, Programs, contains programs of concerts conducted by Wise.

Series V, Correspondence, includes letters to Wise on various research topics, including Willow Park concerts, civil war history, etc. Some personal correspondence is also included.

Series VI, Civil War Research Materials, includes research materials and drafts of two books related to the Civil War. A manuscript of Bands and Drummer Boys of the Civil War is included. Published editions of each book were donated to the ABA Research Center by Wise and have been cataloged.

Series VII, Willow Grove Park Research Materials, contains a draft of an unpublished book about the history of the Willow Grove band concerts, as well as research materials. This series includes many original programs from Willow Grove Park concerts.

Series VIII, School Bands, includes documents from Wise’s work as an educator and memorabilia from schools where he taught.

Series IX, Serial Articles, contains articles from newspapers and magazines about Wise and/or his ensembles.

Series X, Other Professional Materials, includes items relating to Wise's work as a church musician and director of the Columbiana County (Ohio) Symphony Orchestra.

Series XI, Miscellaneous, contains various items relating to Wise's personal and professional life.

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