B-flat trumpet used by the Florida A&M University Marching Band: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

A Holton B-flat trumpet used by the Florida A&M University Marching Band. Lacquered in worn yellow brass, the trumpet features three piston valves with mother-of-pearl finger buttons. The mouthpiece and one finger button is missing, and a green material rests between the finger buttons and the valve holes. A red label is tape-adhered to the higher end of the bell: [PROPERTY OF / FLORIDA / A&M UNIVERSITY / F – 12245]. Each valve is numbered by a small manufacturer’s engraving; valve 2 is manufacturer engraved with serial number 867749. The Holton company logo engraving is featured midway on the bell, forming a circle, which reads: [HOLTON / U.S.A.]. The letters [MF] are engraved on the proper left side of the trumpet. There is a light blue polishing cloth in one corner of the case.

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: 1948-1962
• Manufactured by: Holton (Leblanc), American, 1898 - 2008
• Subject of: Florida A&M University, American, founded 1887
• Owned by: William Patrick Foster, American, 1919 - 2010
• Type: brass instruments
• Type: musical instruments
• Type: trumpets
• Medium: brass (alloy), metal and mother of pearl
• Dimensions: H x W x D: 23 1/16 × 5 7/8 × 4 15/16 in. (58.5 × 15 × 12.6 cm)
• Place used: Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida, United States, North and Central America
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Education
• Topic: HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities)
• Topic: Instrumentalists (Musicians)
• Topic: Marching bands (Music)
• Topic: Music
• Object number: 2019.94.1.1
• Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift from Anthony Foster in memory of William P. Foster
• Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Sources and reuse

Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of African American History and Culture through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed. The displayed image also has an explicit CC0 designation. The underlying object's rights statement is: No Known Copyright Restrictions Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.