Every once in a while one of the Center’s visitors will ask me what has been our most unusual acquisition for our collections.  I have to give this some serious thought because we have so many unique music instruments to choose from.  Sarrusophones, harmonic tone generator, octavins, over-the-shoulder saxhorns, Sal-Mar Construction, ophicleide, Grand Letar, and Eharps are just a few of the many music wonders that are part of our historical collections.  However, this morning one of our band directors who helped lead our outstanding Marching Illini band during the 2024 Cheez-It Citrus Bowl game brought in this one-of-a-kind box of Cheez-It crackers for our University Bands collection. 

The box is unopened and in mint condition.  Given the excitement of the Illini football team’s win over the South Carolina Gamecocks team and the band’s nearly insatiable appetite for snacks while on the road, I was completely surprised.  So we will add to our University Band’s collection this unique historical record of the band’s and Illinois football team’s win during the 2024 Cheez-It Citrus Bowl.  When visitors to the Sousa Archives now ask me what I consider our most unusual acquisition, my answer will be this special box of Cheez-It crackers.  As for the delicious crackers that fill this box, we will pass them back to the band so they can be enjoyed by the members of the Marching Illini and their directors.

For further information about the Center’s University Band collection email schwrtzs@illinois.edu or call 217-333-4577.