Sousa Archives and Center for American Music

The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music is a university museum at the University of Illinois that collects manuscripts, letters, and recordings from American musicians. The collection spans works by composers, conductors, and music educators from different periods and documents the development of American musical traditions.

The center opened in 1994 when the University Bands donated the papers of John Philip Sousa and Herbert L. Clarke. This donation formed the foundation for a specialized research facility dedicated to preserving American music history.

The archives hold personal documents from influential American musicians and show how these artists shaped the musical landscape. Visitors can discover letters, scores, and records that document the development of composition and music education in America.

The collection is housed in the Harding Band Building and is accessible to researchers and visitors through scheduled appointments and tours. It is best to contact ahead to view the materials and benefit from the staff's expertise.

The center houses the Sal-Mar Construction, an electronic music system that pioneered the combination of human and computer-generated sounds in music composition. This instrument shows how technology and traditional music came together in innovative ways.

Location: Illinois

Inception: September 26, 2002

Part of: Harding Band Building

Website: http://library.illinois.edu/sousa

GPS coordinates: 40.10480,-88.23070

Latest update: December 12, 2025 12:05