| Abstract | This paper examines the role of women in the Texas Christian University marching band in its first one hundred years, 1904 to 2004. By analyzing primary sources such as yearbooks, newspapers, and other TCU archives to identify patterns inclusion and exclusion, this study informs a new perspective of the Horned Frog Band's (HFB) history. From its establishment as a male-only military band, the marching band has excluded women from participation as instrumentalists. Instead, the only women involved in marching band in the first forty years were band sweethearts. Band sweethearts, chosen by the bandsmen for their dedication, were highly scrutinized for their physical ability and appearance. It wasn't until World War II that women were able to participate in the HFB because of the lack of available bandsmen. Despite this, women were pushed out of the organization and forced to reside as spirit members rather than instrumentalists after the conclusion of the war. Only when the lack of instrumentalists rose as a problem in 1953 were women finally admitted as full members of the ensemble. While this is earlier than many other schools, who waited until Title IX, women were still not recognized as leaders or outstanding members. The TCU marching band's gender history continued to profoundly impact the structure and organization of the ensemble, as it continues to today. |
