Crossroads of Music Collections

B

Baxter, Phil- musician, songwriter, Papers, 1918-1968;1 microfilm reel (50 ft.): negative; Photograph collection, 1879-1959, 130 copy prints

Baxter, born in Texas, was a composer and band leader during the Big  Band era of the 1920s and 1930s.  His group, the “Texas Tommies” played throughout the United States during the period. Songs he penned include:  “My Faded Summer Love,” “Have A Little Dream on Me,” and “Ding Dong Daddy from Dumas.” Baxter also wrote songs for Bing Crosby and Ginger Rogers

The collection consists of photographs of Phil Baxter, his band, the “Texas Tommies,” and celebrities he associated with during his music career, and bulks (1926-1959) with prints of autographed photographs of singers and musicians Baxter knew.  It also includes photographs of Baxter with E.B. Germany, the co-chair of John Nance Garner’s campaign to secure the 1932 Democratic presidential nomination; Curtis Sanford, the founder of the Cotton Bowl; and of George Clark Bogart, a relative of William Clark of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

There are also news clippings, correspondence, and scrapbook material concerning Phil Baxter’s musical career.  Also includes sheet music.

Bickerstaff, Connie, Photograph Collection, 1920-1930; 30 b&w copy prints, SWCPC 366 E6

Is comprised of images of traveling tent show entertainers in the 1920s.  The Grandi Brothers and Brunk’s Comedians were popular entertainers who traveled with tent shows in the 1920s across Texas and the Midwest.

Brown, Durwood, Photograph collection, 1930-1940; 39 copy prints

Durwood Brown was the brother of Milton Brown, and original member of Bob Wills’ Light Crust Doughboys in Fort Worth, Texas.

This collection contains photos of country and western bands (1930-1940).  These include the following bands: (1)  Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys, (2) Crystal Springs [Ft. Worth, Texas], (3) The Cherry Sisters, (4) Clif Bruner and His Texas Wanderers, (5) Bar-X-Cowboys, (6) Milton Brown and His Musical Brownies, (7) KGKO’s-Dude Ranchers, (8)  the Modern Mountaineers, (9)  The Light Crust Doughboys, and (10) Ross Rythmn Rascals.

Brown, Harold “Tex”, Photographs collection, 1932; 1 copy print

Harold “Tex” Brown of Floydada, Texas, organized the annual Bob Wills Day in Turkey, Texas.    

Consists of a photograph of Bob Wills at a saloon in Turkey, Texas (1932).

Brown, Milton, Papers, 1935-1959; 1 microfilm (8ft.): negative

Brown was a member of the original Light Crust Doughboys band in Fort Worth that was founded by W. Lee O’Daniel and Bob Wills. Later, Brown started his own musical group called the Brownies, but on April 18^th, 1936, he died of pneumonia from injuries received five days earlier in a car wreck near Jacksboro. Durwood then took over the Brownies, which was ranked as one of the nation’s top fiddle bands.

Includes a scrapbook containing news clippings, photographs, and other memorabilia on Milton Brown and his brother, Durwood.

Bynum, Raymond T., Papers, 1923-1975; 2 microfilm reels: negative; Photograph Collection, 1923-1970;14 b&w copy negatives, SWCPC 358

A long-time bandmaster in Abilene, Texas, Bynum was born in 1906 in Springdale, Arkansas.  He served as bandmaster at Abilene High School from 1926-1946 and as band director at McMurry College in Abilene from 1946-1972.  Bynum Band Hall on the McMurry campus was named in his honor.

Includes photographs and scrapbooks reflecting Bynum’s association with the Abilene High School and McMurry College bands. the images are of marching bands, orchestras, uniforms, instruments, conductors and auditoriums in Texas, Oklahoma, and Mexico.