Traditionally, Arbor Day is celebrated in the United States on the last Friday in April; however, it does vary from state to state based on the best planting zones for trees. Dating back to 1872, what has become National Arbor Day is thanks to J. Sterling Morton, who would later serve as President Grover Cleveland’s Secretary of Agriculture. Should the name J. Sterling Morton ring a bell for Sousa aficionados, it is the high school in Cicero, Illinois that still retains a portion of the original Sousa Band library that came by way of Victor J. Grabel.
I thought you might enjoy John Philip Sousa’s Arbor Day contribution which took place in 1928. It was during the lengthy ‘Golden Jubilee’ tour, when Mr. Sousa took a break from his two-day, four concert appearances in Los Angeles and exchanged baton for shovel to plant a tree in the California Botanic Gardens’ “Forest of Fame,” a garden devoted to perpetuating the names of famous people. Conflicting press notices stated Mr. Sousa planted a silver oak tree while others reported a grevillea “while wielding a silver spade.” [Figs. 1, 2]
A band member’s annotated route sheet showing the Los Angeles portion of the 1928 “Golden Jubilee” tour. [Fig. 3]
A matinee and evening concert program from the Shrine Civic Auditorium in Los Angeles. [Fig. 4]
Happy Arbor Day everyone!
John Philip Sousa, the famous march king planted a tree in the “Forest of Fame.” He wielded a silver spade and planted a silver oak tree in the young forest at the California Botanic Gardens, here. The garden is devoted to perpetuating the names of famous persons, and the tree symbolized his famous “Silver Symphony.”
Another press notice identifies the tree as a ‘Grevillea.’
A band member’s annotated route sheet from the 1928 tour
Typical matinee and evening programs rendered during the Los Angeles engagement.
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