• News
    • Research News
    • Faculty News
    • Alumni News
    • Student News
    • STEM News
  • Events
    • Spring 2018 Commencement
  • Publications
    • A&M Magazine
  • Media
    • Videos
      • Videos
      • FAMU Taught Me Series
      • Discover FAMU Series
    • Social Media
    • Student Media
    • Experts Guide
  • Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • Request Forms
    • Advertising Rate Sheet
  • FAMU.edu
  • Follow us
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Youtube
    • Instagram
    • RSS
FAMU Forward
FAMU Forward

Tallahassee, Florida

January 22nd, 2021
  • News
    • Research News
      FAMU Professor Awarded National Science Foundation Excellence in Research Grant

      FAMU Professor Awarded National Science Foundation Excellence in Research Grant

      FAMU’s Medical Marijuana Education and Research Initiative Announces Pensacola Community Forum

      FAMU’s Medical Marijuana Education and Research Initiative Announces Pensacola Community Forum

      FAMU College of Pharmacy Prints 3D Cornea Using Human Cells 

      FAMU College of Pharmacy Prints 3D Cornea Using Human Cells 

      FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Air Force Research Laboratory Celebrate New Partnership

      FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Air Force Research Laboratory Celebrate New Partnership

    • Faculty News
      FAMU-FSU College of Engineering Researcher Receives over $1 Million in NSF Grants for Multi-Institutional Bacteria Research

      FAMU-FSU College of Engineering Researcher Receives over $1 Million in NSF Grants for Multi-Institutional Bacteria Research

      FAMU Professor Receives $2.4M Federal Grant To Research Parkinson’s and Other Neurological Disorders

      FAMU Professor Receives $2.4M Federal Grant To Research Parkinson’s and Other Neurological Disorders

      FAMU 2019-2020 Research Funding Totals $60.8M, Highest in School History

      FAMU 2019-2020 Research Funding Totals $60.8M, Highest in School History

      FAMU Named Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leader

      FAMU Named Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leader

    • Alumni News
      FAMU Alumni Named To Key Roles in White House, DNC

      FAMU Alumni Named To Key Roles in White House, DNC

      FAMU Alum Vincent Evans Named to White House Post

      FAMU Alum Vincent Evans Named to White House Post

      FAMU Alum Wins $20K in Startup Pitch Contest

      FAMU Alum Wins $20K in Startup Pitch Contest

      FAMU Alum Jerry Lorenzo Inks Long-term Partnership with Adidas

      FAMU Alum Jerry Lorenzo Inks Long-term Partnership with Adidas

    • Student News
      FAMU Receives $1M From TikTok’s Future Health Heroes Fund

      FAMU Receives $1M From TikTok’s Future Health Heroes Fund

      Nursing Student Is A Fourth Generation FAMU Graduate

      Nursing Student Is A Fourth Generation FAMU Graduate

      FAMU Student Writes Children’s Book to Motivate Black Youth to Attend Law School

      FAMU Student Writes Children’s Book to Motivate Black Youth to Attend Law School

      SGJC Student Earns Orlando Sentinel Internship

      SGJC Student Earns Orlando Sentinel Internship

    • STEM News
      FAMU Physics Professor Awarded $350,000 National Science Foundation Grant

      FAMU Physics Professor Awarded $350,000 National Science Foundation Grant

      FAMU Chemical Engineering Student Gets Historic Doctorate, Gets Offer From Harvard

      FAMU Chemical Engineering Student Gets Historic Doctorate, Gets Offer From Harvard

      Electrical Engineering Alumnus Marcos Purty Wins 2020 Black Engineer of the Year Career Achievement Award

      Electrical Engineering Alumnus Marcos Purty Wins 2020 Black Engineer of the Year Career Achievement Award

      FAMU Hosts International Day of Women and Girls in Science

      FAMU Hosts International Day of Women and Girls in Science

  • Events
    • Spring 2018 Commencement
  • Publications
    • A&M Magazine
  • Media
    • Videos
      • Videos
      • FAMU Taught Me Series
      • Discover FAMU Series
    • Social Media
    • Student Media
    • Experts Guide
  • Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • Request Forms
    • Advertising Rate Sheet
  • FAMU.edu
  • Follow us
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Youtube
    • Instagram
    • RSS
Home
Uncategorized

Preserving A Legacy: FAMU Alum Digitizes Decades of Marching “100” Performances

November 8th, 2019 Andrew Skerritt News, Uncategorized
Preserving A Legacy: FAMU Alum Digitizes Decades of Marching “100” Performances

By Tenae Taylor

Seven decades of Florida A&M University (FAMU) Marching “100” Band performances have been catching dust on reel-to-reel film in the University’s Foster-Tanner Music Building. FAMU alumnus Dale Thomas is changing that.

Thomas, who graduated in 1986 with a music education degree, has organized a digitization project set to collect and preserve footage of the Marching “100” that will provide global access to the revolutionary era of band founder William P. Foster, Ph.D. 

“Music has always been a part of the cultural history of Florida A&M University since 1887 and the Music Department, with its various musical ensembles, has helped to establish that culture,” said Thomas, who has been a band director in Oklahoma and Florida and has written articles and two books related to band history. “Collecting, preserving and making these historical and archival materials easily accessible, is important for the legacy of the programs.”

The Marching “100” is featured in BET’s “We Own Homecoming”

With more than 30 videos of recovered footage published on YouTube, Thomas has over 250,000 views spread across his channel. Some of the digitized video is included in the latest episode of the Black Entertainment Television (BET) lifestyle documentary series “We Own Homecoming,” which features the Marching “100.” 

Streamed on Facebook Watch and hosted by Jasmine Luv, the weekly series will highlight the nation’s historically Black college and universities (HBCU) culture and homecoming traditions. Beginning Nov. 7, the Marching “100” will be in the spotlight, introducing the band to an even wider audience.

That attention is well-deserved, said Nashid Madyun Ph.D., director of the FAMU Black Archives and Research Center, which houses images of HBCU life from the early 20th Century and late 19th Century and houses films of the University’s football program from the 1950s to the present.

“FAMU has pioneered many areas of American life, but of utmost importance to HBCU band leadership and design, is the work of Dr. Foster and the Marching ‘100,’” Madyun said. Thomas is enabling access to a national treasure. 

“Present generations should know this brilliance,” Madyun added. 

Some of the University’s archived film had deteriorated or needed immediate attention. Thomas, who previously served FAMU as a music librarian and assistant university librarian and is a media specialist with Leon County Schools, said he was able to salvage Marching “100” reels more than 65 years old. His main challenge was finding equipment on which to view the original film.

FAMU alumnus Dale Thomas is working on digitizing old film of Marching “100” performances.

Most financial support for the digitization project has been provided through a grant from the Bernard and Shirley Kinsey Foundation for Arts & Education. Fellow alumni have also chipped in with donations. 

Viewing the films gives band alumni and longtime supporters a sense of nostalgia and pride in knowing that they helped contribute to the legacy of the music and band programs at FAMU.  

Shelby Chipman, Ph.D., Marching “100” director who trained under William Foster, appreciates Thomas’ preservation efforts.

“He continues to be an advocate of the Music Department as well as the Marching “100,” so I think this is great that he’s added on another layer that will be now part of the documentary done by BET, who has supported FAMU as well.” 

Facebook Twitter Google+ LinkedIn Pinterest
Previous article PUNTER CHRIS FADDOUL: FAMU’s Equalizer
Next article Happening on the "Hill" - Cori Bostic Presented with Check from Perfect Results Inc.
Related Posts
FAMU Alumni Named To Key Roles in White House, DNC

FAMU Alumni Named To Key Roles in White House, DNC

January 21st, 2021
FAMU President Robinson ‘Optimistic About the Future’ In State Of The University Address

FAMU President Robinson ‘Optimistic About the Future’ In State Of The University Address

January 21st, 2021
FAMU Associate Provost Jackson Appointed to 1920 Ocoee Riots Review Committee

FAMU Associate Provost Jackson Appointed to 1920 Ocoee Riots Review Committee

January 21st, 2021
Subscribe to our Newsletter
Enter your email address to subscribe and receive notifications of new posts by the FAMU Office of Communications.


Timeline
Jan 21st 6:46 PM
Alumni

FAMU Alumni Named To Key Roles in White House, DNC

Jan 21st 6:30 PM
News

FAMU President Robinson ‘Optimistic About the Future’ In State Of The University Address

Jan 21st 2:07 PM
News

FAMU Associate Provost Jackson Appointed to 1920 Ocoee Riots Review Committee

Jan 20th 9:41 AM
MMERI

FAMU MMERI To Host Episode 5 Virtual Forum

Jan 19th 12:13 AM
News

FAMU Marching ‘100’ Participates in “We Are One” Presidential Inaugural Event

Follow Us!
Tweets by @FAMU_1887
RSS FAMU Sports News
  • Florida A&M’s Randolph Earns “MEAC Player of the Week” Honors
  • Florida A&M Men’s Basketball Games Against South Carolina State and North Carolina A&T Postponed
  • Legendary Florida A&M Head Football Coach, Rudy Hubbard, to be Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
  • Florida A&M Opens MEAC Play with 70-68 Triumph Over South Carolina State
  • SCHEDULE UPDATE: Florida A&M Men’s Basketball Hosts South Carolina State on Jan. 10 and 11
A&M Magazine Digital Stories
FAMU Videos

President Robinson Hosts "Sustaining Excellence," a State of the University Address

The Marching "100" “We Are One” Presidential Inaugural Performance

Upcoming Events
Jan
27
Wed
10:00 AM FAMU Career and Internship Expo @ Via Zoom
FAMU Career and Internship Expo @ Via Zoom
Jan 27 @ 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
FAMU Career and Internship Expo @ Via Zoom
The Career and Professional Development Center invites students of all majors and classifications to participate in the Spring Career and Internship Expo. The Expo will take place on HireARattler powered by Handshake Wednesday, January 27,[...]
Mar
3
Wed
all-day FAMU Board of Trustees Meeting @ TBD
FAMU Board of Trustees Meeting @ TBD
Mar 3 – Mar 4 all-day
Florida A&M University Board of Trustees Meeting March 3-4, 2021 Time: 8 a.m. Location: TBD
Apr
30
Fri
all-day SPRING COMMENCEMENT 2021 @ TBD
SPRING COMMENCEMENT 2021 @ TBD
Apr 30 – May 1 all-day
Florida A&M University Spring Commencement 2021 April 30 & May 1 Location: TBD Time: TBD
May
31
Mon
all-day IN OBSERVANCE OF THE MEMORIAL DA...
IN OBSERVANCE OF THE MEMORIAL DA...
May 31 all-day
In Observance of the Memorial Day Holiday Florida A&M University will be closed on May 31, 2021 Re-Open on June 1, 2021
View Calendar
Add
  • Add to Timely Calendar
  • Add to Google
  • Add to Outlook
  • Add to Apple Calendar
  • Add to other calendar
  • Export to XML
Calendar
November 2019
S M T W T F S
 12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
« Oct   Dec »
Archives
Subscribe to Our Newsletter!

Enter your email address to subscribe to our news site and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Follow Us!
Got a Story?

We love hearing from our alumni.  Let us know what you’ve been up to since you left the hill! Contact us here today!

© Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University 2019. All rights reserved.
Powered by the FAMU Office of Communications