Guide to the Odell M. Chapman papers, 1882-1975
Newport Historical Society
82 Touro Street
Newport, RI 02840
Tel: 401-846-0813
Fax: 401-846-1853
email: info@newporthistorical.org
Published in 2013
Collection Overview
| Title: | Odell M. Chapman papers |
| Date range: | 1882-1975 |
| Creator: | Chapman, Odell M. (1887-1966) |
| Extent: | 0.417 linear feet and 2 museum objects |
| Abstract: | This collection contains photographs, music books, sheet music,a fife, as well as other documents relating to martial ensembles primarily of Connecticut and Rhode Island. |
| Language of materials: | English |
| Repository: | Newport Historical Society |
| Collection number: | Ms.44.4 |
Scope & content
Images, written and printed music, (instruments,) and documents relating to Odell M. Chapman, his musical pursuits, and martial musical ensembles of New England and the United States more broadly. The collection consists mainly of images of drum and band ensembles throughout Connecticut and Rhode Island as well as images of products manufactured by Odell M. Chapman's musical supply business, such as drums, fifes, and drumsticks. The remainder of the collection is made of written material, including both handwritten and published books of music for drums and band instruments, a brief history of the Mattatuck Drum Band written by contemporary band leader Charles S. Miller, and transcripts of a weekly radio program featuring the music of Odell M. Chapman's band. This collection also includes a wooden fife (44.4.1) and a photo album (44.4.2).Access Points
Subject Names Subject Topics- Business
- Drum--Instruction and study
- Fife and drum corps music
- Musical instruments industry
- Performing Arts
Arrangement
These papers are arranged in one series, alphabetical by type:
- 1. Music files
Biographical note
Odell M. Chapman was a musician and machinist active in the manufacturing and musical communities of Connecticut and Rhode Island. He was born in 1887 in Ledyard, Connecticut, and died in Newport on January 14, 1966.He began a career in manufacturing in the silk and cotton mills of Connecticut, serving as the superintendent of the Atwood Machine Company in Willimantic, Connecticut, by 1920. In Willimantic, Chapman also became a longtime leader of local drum corps. Willimantic contained a number of fife and drum groups, notably the city wide Willimantic Fife and Drum Corps originally led by Lyman Maine, Jr. Odell M. Chapman's involvement is dated to November 18, 1918 when he became manager and drum major of the Thread City Continental Fife and Drum Corps that either surpassed or replaced the Willimantic Corps. The Thread City Corps became well known throughout the state for their skill and presentation, earning a number of awards from the Connecticut Fifers and Drummers Association. In addition to managing the group, Odell M. Chapman made and maintained the corps' instruments, a few of which were over one hundred years old at the time of his leadership (Lincoln, 964-965).
With this experience and interest, he began manufacturing and selling drums, band equipment, and music. His business, Chapman Drums, held endorsements from a variety of drum, fife and drum, and other martial ensembles throughout the New England and across the United States. A scrapbook in the collection contains a many of these endorsements as well as numerous advertisements for Chapman Drums.
With the coming of the Second World War, Chapman moved to Newport, Rhode Island to work at the Naval Torpedo Station. According to his obituary, he served there for ten years as a leading machinist (Chapman). Chapman continued collecting and restoring historic instruments throughout his life, eventually creating this sizable collection. At an evening event of martial music in his honor, Odell M. Chapman donated his collection to the Newport Historical Society in 1944 (Collection).
References: "Newport Historical Society Receives the Odell M. Chapman Drum Collection as a Memorial to his Name." From reprint of original article by Newport Herald dated February 9, 1944. In Newport Historical Society Odell M. Chapman Collection.
"Odell Chapman, Machinist, 78." From news clipping dated January 15, 1966. In Newport Historical Society Obituary Files.
"Popular Amusements: Fife and Drum Corps." In A Modern History of Windham County, Connecticut: A County Treasure Book Volume 2, edited by Allen B. Lincoln. Windham County, CT: S.J. Clark Publishing Company, 1920. Pages 964-965.
Access & Use
| Access to the collection: | There are no restrictions on access, except that the collection can only be seen by prior appointment. |
| Use of the materials: | Researchers are advised that express written permission to reproduce, quote, or otherwise publish any portion or extract from this collection must be obtained from Newport Historical Society. Although NHS has physical ownership of the collection and the materials contained therein, it does not claim literary rights. It is up to the researcher to determine the owners of the literary rights and to obtain any necessary permissions from them. |
| Preferred citation: | Odell M. Chapman papers, Ms. 44.4, Newport Historical Society. |
| Contact information: | Newport Historical Society 82 Touro Street Newport, RI 02840 Tel: 401-846-0813 Fax: 401-846-1853 email: info@newporthistorical.org |
Administrative Information
| ABOUT THE COLLECTION | |
| Acquisition: | These papers were donated to the Newport Historical Society by Odell M. Chapman on February 8, 1944. |
| ABOUT THE FINDING AID | |
| Author: | Finding aid prepared by Renee Erb. |
| Encoding: | This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2013 |
| Descriptive rules: | Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS) |
Additional Information
Inventory
| Box 100, Folder 1 | Music Compositions |
undated |
| Box 100, Folder 2 | Photographs (1 of 4) |
1921, 1924, undated |
| Box 100, Folder 3 | Photographs (2 of 4) |
1921, 1924, undated |
| Box 100, Folder 4 | Photographs (3 of 4) |
1921, 1924, undated |
| Box 100, Folder 5 | Photographs (4 of 4) |
1921, 1924, undated |
| Box 100, Folder 6 | Printed material |
1882, 1931, undated |
| Box 100, Folder 7 | Product plates |
undated |
| Box 100, Folder 8 | Radio Transcripts |
1931-1932 |
| Box 100, Folder 9 | Scrapbook |
circa 1929 |
| Fife Contents Note: Museum object: 44.4.1, stored separately |
circa 1915 |
| Photo album Contents Note: Museum object: 44.4.2, stored separately |
circa 1929 |