University Libraries Virtual Tour
Fred Waring's America
The Fred Waring's America archives are located on the third floor of west Pattee. Fred Waring was a very popular bandleader and choral director, from the 1920's through the 1960's. Fred was born in Tyrone, Pennsylvania, and attended Penn State, from 1919-1922. He left just before he got his degree to take his fledgling but enormously successful band on tour. Fred was later presented with a distinguished alumnus degree from Penn State, and served on the University Board of Trustees for seven years. Before Fred passed away, he and his wife, Virginia, gave an enormous amount of Waring memorabilia to Penn State. The collection includes over 6,000 arrangements of music created for and by Fred Waring and his band, the Pennsylvanians. Here you may also access an enormous collection of recorded material, from his early days to his daily radio and television performances, to road concerts and special shows. The collection also holds over 9,000 photographs, and over 600 pieces of cartoon art. Fred Waring's America archivist Peter Kiefer, worked with Fred for many years as the director of the Waring music workshops. Pete can tell you anything and everything you want to know about Fred Waring and the Pennsylvanians. Compact discs of the music of Fred Waring and the Pennsylvanians are available. Go to http://www.libraries.psu.edu/waring/ for more information.