Ted Mesang Collection, 1925-1968

Container List

Series 1: Compositions and Music Publishing Records, 1948-1960 Add to Shelf

Series 1 consists of Ted Mesang’s handwritten music manuscripts for more than 30 marches, published music by Mesang, and royalty contracts. Some of Mesang's pieces were professionally published and distributed in several March Books. The series contains several pieces of published sheet music, including a 1959 concert march, The Oregon Trail, which presumably was written with the Oregon Centennial in mind. Several of Mesang’s music royalty contracts are also included in this series.

Sub-Series 1: Music Manuscripts, 1948-1950 Add to Shelf

The music manuscripts are scored for concert band, except for The Great Northwest, which includes only the piano/conductor part. All of the pieces are marches, except for Skidding, a trombone feature. Two of the pieces, Col. Auster and Holiday include publisher's proofs from the Paul A. Schmitt Music Co. of Minneapolis.

Box-Folder 1.1: All Out Add to Shelf

Box-Folder 1.2: Belmont Add to Shelf

Box-Folder 1.3: The Challenge Add to Shelf

Box-Folder 1.4: Coliseum Add to Shelf

Box-Folder 1.5: Colonel Auster (manuscript copies and proof) Add to Shelf

Box-Folder 1.6: Don Roberto Add to Shelf

Box-Folder 1.7: East & West Add to Shelf

Box-Folder 1.8: Emblem of Glory Add to Shelf

Box-Folder 1.9: The Forest Ranger Add to Shelf

Box-Folder 1.10: The Great Northwest (piano and conductor part only) Add to Shelf

Box-Folder 1.11: Holiday (manuscript copies and proof) Add to Shelf

Box-Folder 1.12: Justice Add to Shelf

Box-Folder 1.13: Ketchikan Add to Shelf

Box-Folder 1.14: Majorette Add to Shelf

Box-Folder 1.15: Marching Men Add to Shelf

Box-Folder 1.16: Music Club Add to Shelf

Box-Folder 1.17: New Frontiers Add to Shelf

Box-Folder 1.18: New Trials Add to Shelf

Box-Folder 1.19: Northwoods Add to Shelf

Box-Folder 1.20: Onward Victorious "On to Victory" Add to Shelf

Box-Folder 1.21: Purple Pride Add to Shelf

Box-Folder 1.22: Southern Special Add to Shelf

Box-Folder 1.23: Skidding "Trombone Smear" Add to Shelf

Box-Folder 1.24: The Skirmishers Add to Shelf

Box-Folder 1.25: The Spirit of Democracy Add to Shelf

Box-Folder 1.26: State Guard Add to Shelf

Box-Folder 1.27: State Pride Add to Shelf

Box-Folder 1.28: Washburn Add to Shelf

Box-Folder 1.29: W.S.M.A. "Wisconsin School Music Association" Add to Shelf

Box-Folder 1.30: Yeoman Add to Shelf

Box-Folder 1.31: Youth and Progress Add to Shelf

Box-Folder 1.32: Assorted Sheet Music Add to Shelf

Item 1: Benton Hall Add to Shelf

Item 2: The Cascades Add to Shelf

Item 3: Oregon Trail Add to Shelf

Item 4: The Buckaroo Add to Shelf

Item 5: Expedition Add to Shelf

Box-Folder 1.33: March Music Books, 1948-1960 Add to Shelf

Box-Folder 1.34: Music Royalty Contracts, 1951-1957 Add to Shelf

Series 2: OSU Concert and Marching Bands, 1949-1967 Add to Shelf

Series 2 consists of newspaper clippings, congratulatory correspondence, performance programs and an undated half-time performance script. Of special interest are materials relating to the OSU Marching Band’s participation in the 1957 and 1965 Rose Bowl parades and football games.

Box-Folder 1.35: Newspaper Clippings, 1949-1967 Add to Shelf

Box-Folder 1.36: Professional Materials Add to Shelf

Item 1: Correspondence, 1957-1966 Add to Shelf

Item 2: Performance Programs, 1965-1967 Add to Shelf

Item 3: Performance Script (half-time), undated Add to Shelf

Item 4: Published Articles, 1957-1967 Add to Shelf

Series 3: Eulogy, Condolences and Memorials, 1967-1968 Add to Shelf

Series 3 consists of a typewritten eulogy and obituary, correspondence, condolences, newspaper clippings and memorial programs. The materials are related to Ted Mesang’s untimely death following an October 1967 marching band rehearsal at OSU.

Box-Folder 1.37: Mesang Death, 1967-1968 Add to Shelf

Item 1: Eulogy, 1967 Add to Shelf

Item 2: Correspondence and Condolences, 1967-1968 Add to Shelf

Item 3: Clippings, 1967-1968 Add to Shelf

Item 4: Memorial Performance Programs, 1967-1968 Add to Shelf

Series 4: Diplomas and Certificates, 1940-1955 Add to Shelf

Series 4 consists of diplomas and certificates related to several milestones in the life of Ted Mesang. He registered in Wisconsin with Selective Service on October 16, 1940. Following World War II, Mesang received his Bachelor of Music and teaching certificate at the University of Wisconsin on May 25, 1946. Mesang was awarded an honorary membership in the Kappa Kappa Psi Honorary Band Fraternity on February 3, 1950 and became a member of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers on February 17, 1955.

Box-Folder 1.38: Diplomas and Certificates, 1940-1955 Add to Shelf

Series 5: Photographs, circa 1925-1967 Add to Shelf

Series 5 consists of various photographs which document Ted Mesang’s career as a teacher and music director from his early days in Wisconsin to his final years at Oregon State University (OSU). There are several formal studio portraits of Ted Mesang in his band uniforms, including a handtinted portrait, along with group shots of Mesang as a member of the collegiate North Woods Dance Orchestra and raucous Hop’s Syncopated Aces of the Garland City. He also appears in group shots as the director of the Largest Boys Band in the World, the Beaver School Flagolet Band, the Ashland Senior Boys Band and the Ashland High School Band all based in Ashland, Wisconsin. This series also includes photographs of Ted Mesang during his years at OSU taken by Corvallis Gazette-Times photographers and others. Several images of the Oregon State marching band on the field at Parker Stadium are included. There are also four autographed portraits of fellow conductors and band directors, including Charles Brendler, Ray Dvorak, and Anthony Mitchell. The bulk of the images are black and white prints; one color photographic print is included. Several of the images are oversize prints.

Box-Folder 1.39: Photographs, circa 1925-1967 Add to Shelf

Box-Folder 2.1: Oversize Photographs Add to Shelf

Series 6: Artifacts, circa 1950 Add to Shelf

Series 6 consists of several small items Ted Mesang used to direct the band and prepare his music manuscripts. Artifacts include his cork-handled conductor’s baton, an engineering pencil, fountain pen, pink eraser, pocket knife and a small copper-colored plaque with a raised image of Beethoven on it.

Box-Folder 2.2: Artifacts Add to Shelf