Collection (1942 – 2014, undated) of programs, notes, photographic prints, etc. documenting the history and membership of the U. S. Navy B-1 Band, the first All-African American band to serve in the U. S. Navy during World War II, including reunion programs, historical and biographical sketches and photographs of the band and its members, rosters, and the music and lyrics for naval hymns.
Collection contains mainly material related to the African American Navy Band members who served at the Great Lakes Naval Base during World War II (1942-1945). This material includes programs and related material from the February 28-March 2, 2003, salute to these African American band members that was held in Chicago, Illinois, and from former band member Carl Foster's participation in a symposium sponsored by the North Carolina Museum of History in 2003. Other material includes programs (1987) for concerts by the North Carolina Jazz Ensemble and a 1945 USO Hawaii booklet.