Podcast The White House Recording Library: The Forgotten Collection
A donation from the Recording Industry Association of America to the Nixon White House, the White House Recording Library was...
Main Content
William H. Santelmann, Director (1898-1927), served for 29 years—the longest of any bandleader. He joined the band under Sousa, and played violin, clarinet, and baritone horn. Santelmann was credited with expanding the orchestral component of the band by requiring all wind and percussion performers to be proficient in stringed instruments.
Untied States Marine BandDuring his distinguished 30-year career, Lieutenant Colonel Timothy W. Foley has served as assistant solo clarinetist, Assistant Director, and since 1996, as the 26th Director. On July 11, 1998, he led the band into its third century.
United States Marine BandThis photograph taken on December 5, 2019, during the pre-show of the 97th annual National Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony shows WUSA9 News morning anchor Annie Yu and National Park Service interpreter Kyle Yarusso speaking with Col. Jason K. Fettig, director of the United States Marine Band.
Matthew D'Agostino for the White House Historical AssociationAbout this Gallery
During its first two centuries, the Marine Band has had more than two dozen directors. Each leader has contributed to the recognition and appreciation of "The President's Own" through their original band compositions, orchestral transcriptions, and programming. Directors serve as music advisor to the White House and traditionally are selected from within the band's membership. As the Sousa baton is a symbol of his dedication, leadership, and vision is passed to an incoming Director, so too is passed 200 years of history and tradition.
A donation from the Recording Industry Association of America to the Nixon White House, the White House Recording Library was...
In 1792, Irish immigrant James Hoban won a contest to design the White House and created an enduring symbol for America...
For two hundred years, Decatur House has stood as a near neighbor to the White House across Lafayette Square. Stewart...
Music is often called the universal language. It has been known to break down barriers and shape historic events in...
Americans are familiar with the ceremonies of Inauguration Day, when a new President takes the oath of office at the...
Portrait artists have captured the image and personality of our presidents throughout history, providing a record of their time in...
Spring is a special time in our nation’s capital, when cherry blossoms bloom and the White House garden comes al...
The burning of the White House by the British in 1814 during James Madison's presidency represented a low point in our...
The National Archives has been collecting records of the United States since 1934. It holds billions of documents, photographs, and objects...
Baseball has been known as our national pastime and has links to the presidency as far back as the Abraham...
President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy’s advocacy for the arts endures as a vital part of th...
The history of the White House appears in unexpected places, from trivia questions at Major League Baseball games to archival...