Collections : [University of Michigan Bentley Historical Library]

Established by students in 1896, the University of Michigan Band had its first salaried director in 1915. The William Revelli era (1935-1971) brought the Band to prominence as the marching, concert, and symphony bands toured and performed extensively, including a tour of Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union by the Symphony band in 1961, the Jazz Band's 1965 tour of Latin American, and the Symphony Band 2011 tour of China. Records include scrapbooks of band activities (including photographs); bound volumes ("Blue Books"), 1936-present, containing band formations, newsletters, and announcements of band activities, also topical files relating to band tours and concerts. The Marching Band is best documented, although concert band, symphony band, and related ensembles are represented.

The University of Michigan Band records are divided into eight series: Tours and Concerts, Yearbooks, Photographs and Posters, Audio-Visual Material, Band Books ("Blue Books"), Scrapbooks, Publications, and Director's Records. The majority of the records consist of bound volumes of band formations, announcements, and publications, and oversized scrapbooks of band activities. Additional material includes topical files documenting tours and performances. The bulk of the documentation pertains to the Marching Band.

Scrapooks and photographs primarily related to University of Michigan football 1914-1916 and the career of John Maulbetsch, All-American halfback in 1914 and Michigan team captain in 1916, with some material on campus social life and the Maulaubetsch family. One of 1914 scrapbooks mainly relating to football, was compiled by Ida E. Cappon, Maubetsch's future wife

Scrapbooks containing clippings and photographs largely relating to the University of Michigan football team, 1914-1916, also game programs and other athletics memorabilia, as well material relating to Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity and campus social life. The scrapbooks include extensive coverage of the 1914 Harvard and Penn games in which Maulbetsch starred and gained a national reputation. The photos include formal and informal team photographs, posed shots of individual players, and game action images. Many of the scrapbook photographs have annotations and comments by Maulbetsch. One of 1914 scrapbooks mainly relating to football, was compiled by Ida E. Cappon, Maubetsch's future wife. The 1911-1912 volume documents his one year on the Adrian College football team. The 1950 scrapbook consists of letters, telegrams, and sympathy cards to Ida Cappon Maulbetsch following her husband's death. The Photographs series includes additional football photos (including an Ann Arbor High School photo and an Adrian College team photo), portraits and family photos, and photos of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity house (then located at 621 S. State St.)

The collection contains materials collected by the University of Michigan Symphony Band Tour members during the Band's international tour through the Soviet Union, Eastern Europe and the Near East, February through June, 1961. Also, materials created during the 2011-2012 Band reunions. Collection materials include clippings, correspondence, photographs, programs, and scrapbooks.

The collection is composed of two series, the content of which includes clippings, correspondence, photographs, programs, and scrapbooks. The 1961 Tour series contains materials created and collected during the tour. A small amount of material is related to the 1981 and 1984 reunions. The 50th Anniversary Reunion and Return to Russia Tour series contains materials created and collected during the 2012 reunion tour to Moscow and St. Petersburg. Also, one folder containing obituaries.