Special Collections Finding Aids

Carl Dengler Scrapbooks - Ephemera

Accession: SC1996.16

Location: M2A 7,1

Size: 3 feet

Biography: Twelve scrapbooks compiled by Carl Dengler (Dec. 16, 1914- ), Rochester native, containing clippings, photographs,memorabilia and ephemera. The material relates to the dance band era on the local and national level, centering on Dengler's own activity as a dance band leader in Rochester from 1927 to 1990. Dengler started his first band in 1927 while in junior highschool and went on to be the foremost band leader in Rochester, achieving national recognition as well. He presented a regular radio program on the local station WHAM and was also broadcast nationally. His activity centered around the Peacock Room in the Hayward Hotel in Rochester during the 1930s and 1940s. Dengler was a close associate of Alec Wilder, Howard Hanson, and many other locally and nationally prominent musicians. He maintained an informal but close relationship with Eastman School by employing many of its students and launching their careers, especially in popular and studio music. The collection is a unique and valuable resource for the study of the dance band era, local musical life, and the history of Eastman School.

Provenance: The collection was donated to Sibley Library by Dengler in 1996.

Scope and Content: The scrapbooks cover items related to local activity in popular and dance band music in Rochester from 1914 to 1995, centering particularly on the career of Carl Dengler but including much additional material. The collection is valuable for the study of the development of popular music, especially the dance band, in the early and mid twentieth century.

Associations: Watanabe Special Collections also holds the Alec Wilder Archive.

Restrictions: none

Series: 1

Series Name: Ephemera

Series Description: The series consists of twelve scrapbooks containing clippings, photographs and other memorabilia.