Theodore Lawrence Mesang was born December 7, 1902 in Eau Clarie Wisconsin. He attended Northland College in Ashland, Wisconsin, from 1930 to 1940 and received a Bachelor of Music from the University of Wisconsin in 1945. Mesang received a Master of Education degree from the University of Minnesota in 1949. In 1929-1948 he was director of instrumental music in Ashland (Wisconsin) public schools.
Mesang came to Oregon State College in the fall of 1949 as Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Bands. He was promoted to Associate Professor in 1957 and Professor in 1964. During his career at Oregon State, Mesang directed the marching and concert bands, advised the basketball pep band, and taught music education courses. He published over 250 musical compositions and was a member of ASCAP, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Mesang died October 26, 1967 following a marching band rehearsal.
The Ted Mesang Collection consists of materials pertaining to his career as a music instructor and band director at Oregon State University from 1949 to 1967. The collection includes original scores for marches, published music, and several music royalty contracts. The materials also include newspaper clippings, congratulatory correspondence and performance programs related to the Oregon State University Marching Band's participation in the 1957 and 1965 Rose Bowl parade and football games. Mesang's death in 1967 is documented with a eulogy and obituary, correspondence, condolences, newspaper clippings and programs from several memorial performances. There are also related diplomas and certificates, photographs, and a small collection of artifacts.
Collection is open for research.
The records are arranged in six series: I. Compositions and Music Publishing Records, 1948-1960; II. OSU Concert and Marching Bands, 1949-1967; III. Eulogy, Condolences and Memorials, 1967-1968; IV. Diplomas and Certificates, 1940-1955; V. Photographs, circa 1925-1967; and VI. Artifacts, circa 1950.
Ted Mesang Collection, Oregon State University Archives, Corvallis, Oregon.
Materials were transferred to Archives in several accessions from 1979 to 2006.
Additional materials pertaining to bands at Oregon State are available
in the Music Department Records (RG 148) and Photographs (P 137); the
Oregon State University Bands Photographs (P 104) and
Series I consists of Ted Mesang’s handwritten music manuscripts for more than 30 marches, published music by Mesang, and royalty contracts. Some of Mesang's pieces were professionally published and distributed in several
The music manuscripts are scored for concert band, except for
Series II consists of newspaper clippings, congratulatory correspondence, performance programs and an undated half-time performance script. Of special interest are materials relating to the OSU Marching Band’s participation in the 1957 and 1965 Rose Bowl parades and football games.
Series III consists of a typewritten eulogy and obituary, correspondence, condolences, newspaper clippings and memorial programs. The materials are related to Ted Mesang’s untimely death following an October 1967 marching band rehearsal at OSU.
Series IV consists of diplomas and certificates related to several milestones in the life of Ted Mesang. He registered in Wisconsin with Selective Service on October 16, 1940. Following World War II, Mesang received his Bachelor of Music and teaching certificate at the University of Wisconsin on May 25, 1946. Mesang was awarded an honorary membership in the Kappa Kappa Psi Honorary Band Fraternity on February 3, 1950 and became a member of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers on February 17, 1955.
Series V consists of various photographs which document Ted Mesang’s career as a teacher and music director from his early days in Wisconsin to his final years at Oregon State University (OSU). There are several formal studio portraits of Ted Mesang in his band uniforms, including a handtinted portrait, along with group shots of Mesang as a member of the collegiate North Woods Dance Orchestra and raucous Hop’s Syncopated Aces of the Garland City. He also appears in group shots as the director of the
Series VI consists of several small items Ted Mesang used to direct the band and prepare his music manuscripts. Artifacts include his cork-handled conductor’s baton, an engineering pencil, fountain pen, pink eraser, pocket knife and a small copper-colored plaque with a raised image of Beethoven on it.