Charles A. Henzie Collection

Collection

Identifier: MSS047

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collection contains the personal papers, awards, and photographs in Charles Henzie’s possession upon in death and relevant materials through 2000. The earliest items include commencement programs from Henzie’s graduation from Butler University in 1936.

The file box contains a variety of awards and honors Henzie received throughout his life, including photocopies of plaques that he was awarded. Documents detailing Henzie’s involvement with both the Butler Bands as well as the Alumni Band are also included. The collection also contains correspondence from Hook Drugs regarding the Hook’s All-State Marching Band as well as friends and fellow band alumni. Photographs are also prevalent in the collection, including Butler Band and Alumni Band photographs, as well as family and personal photographs, and even pictures of the Jimmy Meirs Jazz Band and the Indiana Vagabonds Jazz Band. Also included is Henzie’s obituary from the Indianapolis Star.

The oversized box includes a variety of photographs of the Hook’s Indiana All-State Marching Band from 1985-1990. It also contains sheet music from the 1990 Hook’s Band, including the Hook’s Drug Theme. An original, handwritten copy of “Butler Varsity” by Joel Marsh, as well as Marsh’s poems about Henzie is also included in the collection.

Dates

Creation: circa 1936 - 2000

Creator

Henzie, Charles A. (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Biographical / Historical

Charles A. Henzie was born on September 10, 1913, in Indianapolis, Indiana. He graduated from Manual High School in Indianapolis in 1930 and continued his education locally at Butler University. Henzie graduated with a bachelor’s degree in music education, completed his master’s degree in music education at the Arthur Jordan Conservatory of Music in 1948, and went on to earn a doctorate from Indiana University in 1960. He married Ruth C. Ruehrschneck and had two children, Charles L. Henzie, and Marilyn J. Henzie (Cook).

Henzie taught as a special instruction faculty member at the Jordan Conservatory of Music from 1934-1946 and worked as the director of bands at Manual High School from 1936-1946. He began his career at Butler University in 1946 as the Director of the Marching Band, a position that he held for twenty years. He also served as chairman of the music department for twenty years and the director of graduate music studies for twenty-three years, until his retirement in 1978. During his career at Butler, Henzie also organized and directed numerous summer band camps including Smith-Walbridge Band Camp and Butler University Summer Music Camp.

Henzie’s involvement in professional and community activities was extensive. He was past president of the Gamma chapter of Phi Beta Mu International Band Directors Fraternity and the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, national music fraternity. He also served as president and member of the Indiana Bandmasters Association, Indiana Music Educators Association, and Indiana Opera Theatre. He also served on the board of directors of Young Audiences of Indiana. In the community, Henzie served as music coordinator for the White River State Park Games, director of the Hook’s Indiana All-State Marching Band, coordinator of bands for the 500 Festival Parade for eleven years, and the National Sports Festival ceremonies.

His dedication to his field, along with his hard work earned Henzie numerous awards including the Butler University Alumni Association’s Butler Medal in 1972, Outstanding Musician of the Year in 1987 by the Indiana Music Educators Association and Phi Beta Mu Outstanding Bandmaster in 1977. He was also named a Sagamore of the Wabash in 1979, Manual Alumnus of the Year in 1993, and inducted into Butler University’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 1996 for his role as band director. Henzie remained active in the Indianapolis and Butler communities until his death on June 7, 1999.