Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Guide to the Helen May Butler Collection

Summary
Helen May Butler Collection
Helen May Butler Collection: 1899-1937,(bulk ca. 1902).
Collection ID:
NMAH.AC.0261
Creators:
Young, Helen May Butler
Dates:
1899-1937
bulk 1902-1902
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
1 Cubic foot
3 boxes, one oversize folder
Repository:
Scope and Contents
Scope and Contents
The materials cover the career of a woman bandmaster with an all women's traveling military band from 1898-1913, with the bulk of the material ca. 1902. Contents include clippings, photographs, programs, sheet music, hand noted music, posters, post cards, advertising fliers, letters, telegram, biographical article announcing candidacy for U.S. Senate seat in 1936, and "The Flood of 1937" section of the Cincinnati Post, February 13, 1937. Bands included Helen May Butler's Ladies Military Band, Talma Ladies Orchestra, U.S. Talma Ladies Military Band.
Arrangement
Arrangement
The collection is arranged into one series.
Biographical / Historical
Biographical / Historical
Helen May Butler, woman bandmaster, directed an all-women traveling military band from 1898 to 1913. "Music for the American people, by American composers, played by American girls" was one of the band's mottoes. Born in New Hamphire in 1873, she pursued a variety of musical studies and became an accomplished performer in both violin and cornet. She announced candidacy for a U.S. Senate seat in 1936.
Administration
Author
Erma Jean Loveland and Robert S. Harding
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Collections donated by Helen May Butler Young, June 1962.
Custodial History
Collection transferred from the Division of Musical Instruments (Now Cultural and Community Life)to the Archives Center on May 26, 1987.
Processing Information
Collection processed by Erma Jean Loveland and Robert S. Harding, May 26, 1987
Using the Collection
Preferred Citation
Helen May Butler Collection, 1899-1937, Archives Center, National Museum of American History
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Keywords
Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Programs Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Saint Louis (Mo.) -- 1890-1920 Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Scrapbooks Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Sheet music Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Women musicians -- 1890-1920 Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Boston (Mass.) Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Bands (Music) -- 1890-1920 Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Correspondence -- 1930-1950 Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Bandmasters -- 1890-1920 Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Advertising fliers -- 1890-1920 Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
advertising Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Postcards Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Posters -- 1880-1900 Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Music -- Performance -- 1890-1920 Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Musicians -- 1890-1920 Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Floods Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Charleston (S.C.) Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Clippings -- 1890-1920 Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Brass bands -- 1890-1920 Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Buffalo (N.Y.) Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photographs -- 1900-1950 Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Butler, Helen May Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
United States. Congress. Senate -- 1930-1940 Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
National Museum of American History (U.S.). Division of Musical Instruments Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Helen May Butler's Ladies Military Band. Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Repository Contact
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
P.O. Box 37012
Suite 1100, MRC 601
Washington, D.C. 20013-7012
archivescenter@si.edu