American Historical Ephemera and Photography, Featuring African Americana

"Tour of South American and the Caribbean / Spring 1951." 24pp, 9 x 12 in. (light wear, toning, mild dampstaining to cover). Program includes an introduction to the chorus, biographies of de Paur and the soloists, and a full concert listing. Illustrated with more than 30 photographs.

[With:] Program, "The Community Concert Association Presents de Paur's Infantry Chorus." 1951-1952. 4pp, 6 1/4 x 9 1/2 in. (light soil, faints creases). Includes a full listing of songs in the program as well as a brief background on de Paur and the Infantry Chorus.

Leonard de Paur was a prominent African American musician, composer, and choral director best known for conducting the de Paur Infantry Chorus, a part of the 372nd Infantry Regiment. The chorus, a group of thirty-five African American veterans, had its roots in World War II during which time the chorus was created to sing for American troops. During their three years of travel, the chorus gave more than 2000 concerts for the American armed forces, visiting every theater of the war. De Paur had already achieved a level of national acclaim as a conductor prior to enlisting in the United States Army Air Forces in 1942, but post-war his career and fame exploded as the de Paur Infantry Chorus embarked upon transcontinental tours and became the top performing group at Columbia Masterworks Records. De Paur disbanded the Infantry Chorus in 1957, though in later years he formed a new choral group and embarked upon a lengthy career with the Lincoln Center. A scarce program from a famed African American chorus group.