World’s Columbian Exposition, Bureau of Music, Official Report

Historical Note

In 1890, Chicago was chosen as the host city for the World’s Columbian Exposition (World’s Fair), a celebration to mark the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’s voyage to America. For the event, over 686 acres along the city’s south lakefront, part of which is now Jackson Park, were transformed into a landscape of canals, lagoons and around 200 new (but deliberately temporary) buildings to showcase exhibits. The Exposition opened May 1, 1893 and ran for six months. During that time, it drew more than 27 million people from around the world.

In 1891, Exposition planners approved the organization of a Bureau of Music who would be charged with organizing artistic performances from composers, orchestras, choirs and military bands from around the world and assembling an exhibit of musical instruments. Theodore Thomas was named the Exposition’s Music Director and William L. Tomlins was named the Choral Director. Both men were part of the Chicago Orchestra founded in 1891 that would become today’s Chicago Symphony Orchestra. The Bureau’s Secretary, George H. Wilson, compiled the report and created the albums for their presentation.

The Bureau of Music was charged with the creation of orchestral, choral and band performance plans and an exhibit of musical instruments at the World’s Columbian Exposition. Among the Bureau’s recommendations to the Committee on Liberal Arts, was the creation of a standing Exposition Orchestra that would continue afterwards as permanent orchestra in Chicago. The documents make reference to the Sousa Military Band; composer, George W. Chadwick; choral societies of Eastern and Western Divisions and renowned Polish musician, Ignacy Jan Paderewski, whose pianoforte preference led to a dispute and a call by some Exposition officials for Thomas’s resignation. Additionally, the Bureau was charged with securing the composition of original music for dedication ceremonies.

The Bureau of Music was forced to cancel international and American performances by August 1, 1893, due to a discontinuation of support by Exposition officials. Before resigning, Thomas suggested that the bands and orchestras could be divided into smaller units for the continuing amusement of fairgoers. After briefly disbanding, many members of the Exposition Orchestra accepted a new offer and new terms with the Exposition.

Scope and Content

The Official Report of the World’s Columbian Exposition, Bureau of Music consists of an oversize album with typed narratives, copies of letters, photographs and clippings about the Bureau’s founding; its initial orchestral, choral and band performance plans; its artistic principles; considerations for Festival Hall (Choral Hall or Choral Building) and Music Hall and the creation of a permanent orchestra for the Exposition. The 53-page album was created in 1895 by Bureau of Music Secretary, George H. Wilson. The Library holds two copies. Copy 1 (Poole number 2508) includes a letter to Chicago Public Library Commissioner, F.W. Hild, that accompanied the album’s donation.

Separations

Two bound volumes of music programs were also part of the donation to the Library from the Bureau of Music. Please request these volumes by their title and catalog number:
Official Programme of Exposition Concerts, Chicago, May-Oct, 1893
ML38.C5 W77 1

Arrangement

The contents are listed in the order they appear in the album. Copies 1 and 2 contain the same documents with the exception of the order of pages 9 and 10.

Authority and Subject Headings

• Chadwick, G. W. (George Whitefield), 1854-1931
• Ellsworth, James W. (James William), 1849-1925
• Orchestral Association (Chicago, Ill.)
• Paderewski, Ignace Jan, 1860-1941
• Thomas, Theodore Christian Friedrich (1835-1905)
• Tomlins, Wm. L. (William Lawrence), 1844-1930
• Wilson, G. H. (George Henry), 1854-1908
• World's Columbian Exposition (1893 : Chicago, Ill.). Bureau of Music

Related Collections

• C.D. Arnold Photographic Collection
• Ellsworth-Arnold Photograph Albums Collection
• James W. Ellsworth Collection
• World’s Columbian Exposition, Ephemera Collection
• World’s Congress Auxiliary Pre-Publications, Programs and Circulars Collection

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