Canton High School Band Scrapbook (Z/2418)

Collection Details:

Collection Name and Number: Canton High School Band Scrapbook (Z/2418).
Creator/Collector: Patrick M. Harrison.
Date(s): Dates Dates.
Size: 0.40 cubic feet.
Language(s): English.
Processed by: MDAH Summer Intern Isabelle White, 2025.
Provenance: Gift of Patrick M. Harrison of Staunton, Virginia, on October 17, 2023; Z/U/2023.055.
Repository: Archives & Records Services Division, Mississippi Department of Archives & History.

Rights and Access:

Access restrictions: Collection is open for research.

Publication rights: Copyright assigned to the MDAH. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to Reference Services. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the MDAH as the owner of the physical items and as the owner of the copyright in items created by the donor. Although the copyright was transferred by the donor, the respective creator may still hold copyright in some items in the collection. For further information, contact Reference Services.

Copyright notice: This material may be protected by copyright law (Title 17, U.S. Code).

Preferred citation: Canton High School Band Scrapbook (Z/2418), Mississippi Department of Archives & History.

Biography:

Patrick “Pat” M. Harrison

Patrick “Pat” M. Harrison was born in Canton, Madison County, Mississippi on September 5, 1936 as youngest of the four children of Mary Morgan Harrison and James Ellis Harrison. Mary Harrison, originally Mary Elizabeth Morgan, was born on July 29, 1902 in Kennesaw, Cobb County, Georgia and lived for 98 years, passing away on February 16, 2001. During her lifetime, Mary completed a high school education and primarily worked as a house wife and mother. Pat’s father, Ellis Harrison, was born on November 6, 1899 as the youngest of six in Baconville, Madison County, Mississippi and died on October 19, 1983 at age 83. James also completed a high school education and went on to work as a salesman, attendant, and plant worker over the years.

Mary Elizabeth Morgan and James Ellis Harrison married on September 22, 1923 in Canton, Mississippi. They went on to have four children: Charles Ellis Harrison, Peggy Elizabeth Harrison, James Walter Harrison, and Patrick “Pat” Morgan Harrison. Each of these children attended and graduated from Canton High School. The high school’s original building was designed by N.W. Overstreet and constructed in 1923 with a Prairie architectural style. An addition was made to the school in 1937, funded by the Public Works Administration, which added many rooms including a gymnasium, library, clinic, and offices. This building was closed in 1969, and has not been utilized for education since.

During Pat’s time at Canton High School, from 1949-1954, he was an active member of the Canton High School Band and his instrument of choice was the baritone saxophone. The Canton High School Band attended numerous clinics, competitions, and events each year, often resulting in their receiving various honors and awards, both at a company and individual level. The Canton High School Band itself also presented awards to its own members; During his final semester, Pat was presented with the 1954 Arion Foundation medal for outstanding performance with the band.

Pat’s musical career also extended beyond Canton High School. He and a select few of his peers were chosen as members for the Mississippi Lions All-State Band. This honor band, founded in 1949, was comprised of student members from across the state of Mississippi that would perform at large events in major cities across the nation. Pat himself was a member of both the 1953 and 1954 Mississippi Lions All-State Bands, which attended events in Chicago and New York City respectively.
 

Scope and Content Note:

This collection included an original scrapbook created by Patrick "Pat" M. Harrison documenting his years in the Canton High School Band during 1949-1954, and related events.  For archival purposes, the original scrapbook was dismantled and arranged in folders.  A photocopy of the original scrapbook is available.

Series Identification:

Series 1: Original Scrapbook Photocopy. 2025.
The original scrapbook donated by Pat Harrison was photocopied in order to preserve its original order and organization. The scrapbook documents Pat’s time with the Canton High School Band and important events relating to the band and its members. Included in the scrapbook are a wide variety of documents including photographs, event programs, schedules, sheet music, and various memorabilia.

Box 1, Folder 1

Series 2: Original Scrapbook Materials. 1949-1954.
The original scrapbook used several sheets of black construction paper as backing for photographs. These pages contain photograph titles and dates. The original scrapbook also used plastic sleeves to protect and organize photographs. Some of these protectors contain photograph titles and dates.

Box 1, Folders 2-3

Series 3: Photographs. 1949-1954.
This collection contains twenty-two photographs that portray various moments of Pat Harrison’s time with the Canton High School Band. Included are official photos of the band’s full membership for each respective school year, photos of Pat and his fellow All-State Band members from Canton High School, a formal photo of Pat Harrison, and several informal photographs that seem to have been taken by Pat himself.

Box 1, Folders 4-16

Series 4: Event Programs. 1950-1954.
A variety of event programs from events that were hosted and attended by the Canton High School Band. These events typically occurred during the Spring semester of a school year and vary from state-wide festivals to the Canton High School Band’s concerts and musical.

Box 1, Folders 17-22

Series 5: Bulletins. n.d. [1949-1954]
A series of announcements and instructions that were issued to Canton High School Band members in preparation for band camps and contests. These bulletins contain schedules as well as appearance and behavior expectations for band members.

Box 1, Folder 23

Series 6: Northwest Mississippi Mississippi Band Clinic. n.d. [1949-1954]
Three items regarding the Northwest Mississippi Band Clinic in Indianola, Mississippi: a small card signed by Pat Harrison, an itinerary for the clinic, and a roll of every student selected for the clinic’s Blue Band. Pat Harrison is registered as playing tenor saxophone for the Blue Band.

Box 1, Folder 24

Series 7: Jackson District. 1954.
A schedule of the Jackson District band competition on March 20, 1954. Pat Harrison is scheduled to perform before his judge in the woodwinds category at 11:30am.

Box 1, Folder 25

Series 8: Buena Vista Band Clinic. 1952.
Two documents regarding the Sixteenth Annual Clinic of the Mississippi Music Educators Association at the Buena Vista Hotel that took place December 11-13, 1952. One is a room guide for the clinic’s tryouts on December 11. The other is the clinic’s full event program. Pat Harrison played baritone saxophone for the clinic’s Grey Band.

Box 1,  Folder 26

Series 9: Tour Itineraries. 1953-1954.
A series of documents from the 1953 and 1954 Mississippi Lion All-State Band tours to Chicago and New York City respectively. These itineraries contain travel details such as departure and arrival times as well as overnight hotel stays. Pat Harrison is specified as having played tenor saxophone for the All-State Band of 1953.

Box 1, Folders 27-28

Series 10: Correspondence. 1953.
Three letters addressed to Pat Harrison regarding his acceptance to the 1953 Mississippi Lions All-State Band. These letters were sent to Pat from the All-State Band Committee, the University of Mississippi, and Mississippi State College, now commonly known as Mississippi State University, respectively.  Two original envelopes are also included in this series.

Box 1, Folder 29

Series 11: Sheet Music. n.d. [1949-1954]
Three pieces of sheet music used by Pat Harrison during his time with the Canton High School Band.

Box 1, Folder 30

Series 12: Comment Sheet. n.d. [1949-1954]
A judge’s grading of and comments on Pat Harrison’s individual performance at a band competition.

Box 1, Folder 31

Series 13: Awards. 1949-1951.
Two Meritorious Awards given to Pat Harrison by the Canton High School Band for the 1949-1950 and 1950-1951 school years to commemorate his two-time earnings of the band’s Lyre Monogram.

Box 1, Folder 32

Series 14: Celebrity Visit. n.d. [1951]
A band folio cover autographed by two celebrities and a sticky note, likely attached by Pat Harrison on a later date, that identifies the celebrities as Preston Foster and Adrian [Booth].

Box 1, Folder 33

Series 15: Banquet Card. n.d. [1949-1954]
A small place card with Pat Harrison’s name, used at an annual band banquet.

Box 1, Folder 34

Series 16: State Contest Sticker. 1952.
A souvenir sticker commemorating the 1952 State Band Contest in Jackson, Mississippi.

Box 1, Folder 35

Series 17: Handwritten Notes. n.d. [1949-1954]
A pair of undated, handwritten notes that outline the public activities of the Canton High School Marching Band in connection with a local cancer drive and the March of Dimes respectively.

Box 1, Folder 36

Series 18: Newspaper Clippings. 1949-1954.
A modest collection of newspaper clippings originally preserved in Pat Harrison’s personal scrapbook. These clippings focus on the activities and accomplishments of the Canton High School Band and its individual members. Often mentioned are the results of band competitions, advertisements for and positive reviews of band performances, and changes in the band’s leadership. An additional focus of these clippings are the members and activities of the Mississippi Lions All-State Band, of which Pat Harrison was a member in 1953 and 1954.

Box 1, Folder 37

Box List:

Box 1
Folder 1: Original Scrapbook Photocopy.
Folder 2: Original Scrapbook Black Pages, n.d.
Folder 3: Original Scrapbook Plastic Sleeves, n.d.
Folder 4: Canton High School Band Photographs, 1949-1950 School Year.
Folder 5: Canton High School Band Photographs, 1950-1951 School Year.
Folder 6: Canton High School Band Photographs, 1951-1952 School Year.
Folder 7: Canton High School Marching Band Photograph, 1952-1953 School Year.
Folder 8: Canton High School Concert Band Photograph, 1952-1953 School Year.
Folder 9: Canton High School Orchestra Photograph, 1952-1953 School Year.
Folder 10: Canton High School Band Photographs Undated.
Folder 11: MS Lions All-State Band Trip Photographs, 1953.
Folder 12: Patrick Harrison, Betty Black, and Linda Black 1953 Confederate Photographs.
Folder 13: Patrick Harrison and Betty Black NYC 1954 Photographs.
Folder 14: Patrick Harrison Formal Photograph, n.d.
Folder 15: Canton High School Senior Class Photograph, 1954.
Folder 16: Canton High School Campus Photographs, n.d.
Folder 17: Canton High School Band Event Programs, 1950.
Folder 18: Canton High School Band Event Programs, 1951.
Folder 19: Canton High School Band Event Programs, 1952.
Folder 20: Canton High School Band Event Programs, 1953.
Folder 21: Canton High School Band Event Programs, 1954.
Folder 22: Canton High School Band Event Programs, Undated.
Folder 23: Canton High School Band Bulletins.
Folder 24: Northwest Mississippi Band Clinic.
Folder 25: Jackson District.
Folder 26: Buena Vista Band Clinic, 1952.
Folder 27: MS Lions Club 1953 All-State Band Tour Itinerary.
Folder 28: MS Lions Club 1954 All-State Band Tour Itinerary.
Folder 29: Patrick Harrison Correspondence, 1953.
Folder 30: Sheet Music, n.d.
Folder 31: Patrick Harrison Adjudicator’s Comment Sheet, n.d.
Folder 32: Patrick Harrison Meritorious Award 1949-1950 and 1950-1951 Seasons.
Folder 33: Patrick Harrison Pan-American Band Music Folder and Note, n.d.
Folder 34: Patrick Harrison Banquet Place card, n.d.
Folder 35: State Band Contest Stickers, 1952.
Folder 36: Hand-written Notes, n.d.
Folder 37: Newspaper Clippings, n.d.

Photograph Inventory: