Nashville community band photographs, 1897-1903.
(Document/manuscript/pamphlet/archival material)

Arrangement: Chronological.

Materials housed in Special Collections Division of the Main Library, Nashville Public Library.

In library use only. Available by appointment.

Scope and content: The Nashville Community Band Photographs collection includes nine (9) black and white oversized images pertaining to Nashville, Tennessee during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Five photographs show images of carnival or entertainment-oriented bands; two photographs appear to be military-oriented bands; and another two photographs contain images related to the Tennessee Centennial Exposition of 1897.

Images of the Glendale Park Band, the Elks' Street Carnival Band, and the Schnitzelbank Carnival Band help to identify some of the local festivals and entertainment options provided to Nashvillians at the turn of the twentieth century. The images also identify two local band masters and musicians, Dan Mack and Ivo Miller. Several of the photographs were taken by Thuss Photographers of Nashville.

This small collection of photographs will be of interest to researchers of Nashville music history, Nashville military history, Glendale Park, Athletic Park (a.k.a. Sulphur Dell), carnivals and festivals, men's lodges, the Tennessee Centennial Exposition, the history of German immigrants in Nashville, and cultural life in Nashville during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

Cite as: Nashville Community Band Photographs, Special Collections Division, Nashville Public Library

Some items may be protected by copyright law (Title 17 U.S. Code).

Some photographs may be extremely fragile. Handle with care.

Lisa Pruitt, director, Albert Gore, Sr. Center, Middle Tennessee State University;,Gift;,2008.,Acc. 2008.010.

During the nineteenth century, Nashville saw an influx of German and other European immigrants as a result of large migrations to the United States in the 1830s and 1840s. These German and other European immigrants and their families contributed to the Nashville community by forming local businesses; they also brought with them their music and festival traditions.

Expositions, carnivals, festivals and parades played an important role in the cultural life of the Nashville community throughout the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. They served as an important method for promoting area businesses and civic organizations, as a way to recognize the services of military personnel, and as a way to entertain citizens. These large public events relied upon the talents of local community bands for their success. In addition to providing entertainment at major public events, these community bands also could be found playing at men's lodges, beer gardens and local parks.

The largest festival of its kind, the Tennessee Centennial Exposition was held in Nashville in 1897. Beginning on May 1 and lasting for six months, this grand celebration of the state's one hundredth anniversary was developed as an opportunity to showcase Tennessee's industries, education, and culture. The exposition had a lasting impact on Nashville through the creation of Centennial Park and the building of a permanent Parthenon structure. Local women like Kate Kirkman played an important role in planning and promoting the event. A memorial album containing photographs taken by Thuss Photographers was published in 1898.

The Tennessee Centennial Exposition included military units that conducted dress drills, dress parades and mock battles; the First Tennessee Regiment was among the units that participated in the exposition events. Recruiting began for volunteers for the First Tennessee Regiment to serve in the war in the Philippines when the U.S. declared war on Spain in April 1898. The First Tennessee Regiment, the only Tennessee unit to see combat service in the Spanish American War, served in Manila from December 1898 to October 1899 and returned to Nashville in late November, 1899.

In October 16-21, 1899, the Nashville Retail Merchants' Association held a Street Fair and Oriental Carnival to promote local businesses. The local Rough Riders Band was prominently featured throughout the fair-they helped lead the opening parade and other subsequent parades held throughout the week; they played at the carnival's midway entrance in order to "make things lively"; and, they played a very popular daily concert. The photographs of the Rough Riders and First Tennessee Regiment bands found in this collection are presumably related to the above events.

Glendale Park, originally known as Woodstock Park, was a privately-owned streetcar park established in the southern/southwestern suburbs of Nashville in the late 1880s. During the late 1890s, the park provided visitors with a variety of entertainment options including live musical performances, dancing, a bowling alley and a shooting gallery. The Glendale Park Band was among the regular musical performers at the park; musician Dan Mack served as the park's band master during the 1900 season. Dan Mack is also listed as a local resident and musician in the 1900-1903 Nashville city directories.

The local Elks lodge held an eleven-day "industrial bazaar and carnival" in downtown Nashville from September 10-21, 1901. The purpose of the carnival was multifold - to promote Nashville and its businesses, to provide entertainment, and to raise funds for a new Elks lodge building. Among its many highlights, the carnival included a German Village and a bandstand holding a thirty-piece band directed by Ivo C. Miller. Ivo Miller also was director of the Conservatory of Music and leader of Miller's Concert Orchestra in 1900-1901 and served as musical director of the Vendome Theatre in 1903, according to the 1900-1903 Nashville city directories.

The 1900-1903 Nashville city directories list Dan Mack as a local resident and musician; they also confirm that Ivo Miller served as director of the Conservatory of Music and leader of Miller's Concert Orchestra (1900, 1901) and as musical director of the Vendome Theatre (1903).

The Schnitzelbank Club's Fall Festival and Carnival was held September 22 to October 3, 1903, at Athletic Park (a.k.a. Sulphur Dell). Newspaper reports suggest that this event was more entertainment-oriented and less geared toward promotion of local businesses than those mentioned above. The term "schnitzelbank" derives from German culture and has multiple meanings.

In English

Finding aid available in repository;,item level control.,https://assets.library.nashville.org/documents/finding-aids/Special_Collections_Division_Finding_Aid_NashvilleCommunityBandPhotos.pdf.

The photographs were donated circa January 2008. The photographs were found in a closet in the Linebaugh Library in Murfreesboro, Tennessee - there was no record of their provenance. There were other items in the closet, but these were the only Nashville-related ones.

Process;,2011;,Tracey Howerton, staff member and Rose Mary Dorris Reed and Marty O'Reilly, volunteers.

No further accruals are expected.