The History of the Bethany Bands Samantha Anderson, Foundations of Education 3/14/2016

Purpose and Research Questions The purpose of this project was to explore the metamorphosis of the Bethany Bands from the days of Carl Swensson conducting to what they have become today. How has the band differed, and what changes has it gone through over the years? In observations of photographs, only men were in the band. When were women allowed in the band?

Old Mill Museum and West Kentuck

Bethany Bands (1800’s) 1877 – First Bethany Band 1882 – Instruction in music 1882 – Bethany Silver Cornet Band 1892 – Lessons on wind instruments

Bethany Bands (1900’s) 1925 – Blue Dozen began 1930 – Women in Symphonic Band 1936 – Accredited as School of Music WWII years Pick-up Blue Dozen band accompanied Bethany men to their assignments 1944-1946 – band not held 1962 – Women allowed in the Blue Dozen

The Blue Dozen; Then vs. Now

Bethany Symphonic Band; Then vs. Now

Fun Facts! Dr. Elmer Copley said that in 1960 the Bethany College Choir came nowhere close to achieving the same level of excellence in performance as the Bethany Band! Lowell Boroughs, the 9th conductor of the Bethany band, would call students “bucketheads” for playing with careless musical behavior

Old Mill and West Kentuck music finds

Concluding Remarks The Bethany College Band’s have gone through several changes. From the beginning as a community band, to the reorganization by Carl Swensson as a Cornet band, and is now a band that includes community members. The Blue Dozen used to be the most famous group on campus. The pep band may not have all the glory it used to, but some day soon, it will once again rise to the top!

Acknowledgements Thank you to Lenora Lynam, Sheila Malm, and the rest of the Old Mill staff for their assistance in using their archives.

Resources: McPherson County Historical Archives. [ca. 1900’s]. Archives at the Old Mill Museum, Lindsborg, KS. Lindquist, Emory. Bethany in Kansas: The History of a College. Lindsborg, Kan.: Bethany College, 1975. Print. Olson, Carl; Herrmann, Michael. The History of the Bethany Band. Lindsborg, Kan.