Conrad Gebelein papers

Collection

Identifier: MS-0458

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The collection consists of correspondence, two scrapbooks and other ephemeral material related to Gebelein's association with the Johns Hopkins University.

Dates

Creation: approximately 1920-2005

Creator

Gebelein, Conrad, 1884- (Person)

Conditions Governing Use

Single copies may be made for research purposes. Researchers are responsible for determining any copyright questions. It is not necessary to seek our permission as the owner of the physical work to publish or otherwise use public domain materials that we have made available for use, unless Johns Hopkins University holds the copyright.

Biographical Note

Conrad Gebelein was born in 1884 in Bavaria. He emigrated to the United States as a teenager, and settled in Baltimore. Having been trained as a musician, he soon found work playing in dance bands, and eventually studied at the Peabody Conservatory. He gave private music lessions, and also organized a banjo club, the city's first mandolin orchestra, and played the first live music on WBAL-AM in the late 1920s as the leader of a radio orchestra.

His association with the Johns Hopkins University began in 1924 and lasted nearly fifty years. He served as director of instrumental musical programs, directed the glee club, and the Reserve Officers Training Corps band. He was also a familiar figure at lacrosse games, where he directed the Hopkins band.

Extent

4.01 Cubic Feet (1 letter half-size document box, 1 legal half-size document box, 1 flat box (25 x 21 x 3 inches), 1 flat boxes (12.5 x 9 x 3 inches), 1 flat box (17 x 12.75 x 4 inches), 1 cardfile box (12 x 10.75 x 8.75 inches), 1 oversize boxes (19 x 13 x 6 inches))

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Provenance

The collection was donated by Leonore Fine, a long-time friend of Conrad Gebelein. Additional donations were made by Lisa Kesecker in May 2015 and James Blanchard in February 2019.