Preview
Faculty Mentor
Gigi Peterson
Creation Date
4-2023
Description
Acknowledging the histories of the local community is an important and underappreciated role of historians. Sometimes, these histories can lead to unexpected tales of adventure, and a former member of the Cortland community has a story worth sharing. Victor Butler, a Cortland resident, was a member of an Army Band, known as the Up-Beats, during World War Two. This poster will discuss the journey of the band, from New York, to the European Theatre, and back to the United States where members of the band went on to play local Central New York Jazz Clubs. In addition, the team of student historians will share their process for tracking the band and forming a chronology, as well as their future plans to produce internet resources telling Victor’s story.
Keywords
Cortland New York, Jazz, World War II, Army Band, Up-Beats, Photography, Europe, Transformations