Clarence Simeon Putnam was born September 16, 1859 at Barre, Vermont.  He was educated at Barre Academy and Dartmouth College where he studied for two years. Because of the urging of his mother, he attended the Philadelphia Medical School and graduated in 1883 from the Hahnemann Medical College in Chicago. During all this time, Mr. Putnam was active in musical groups, directing a band at the age of 17.  In 1904 a fire in the Edwards Building in Fargo destroyed his medical office. He thereupon began teaching various courses at the North Dakota Agricultural College. At the College, he develop the fledging band classes into the Gold Star Band, so named because of the top ratings it received by the national inspectors of the Reserve Officers Training Corps. In addition, he organized at the college a concert orchestra, girl's and boy's glee clubs and a string ensemble. "Doc" Putnam continued in his work as bandmaster throughout his career at the NDAC until his death. He was also responsible for writing many compositions including the North Dakota Hymn and the NDAC school song, The Yellow and Green.

The Putnam Collection was artificially assembled by the Institute staff over many years and contains a wide variety of material. The correspondence file contains only fragments of Putnam's correspondence including several letters to Mrs. Putnam in the 1950's. The two music manuscripts are scores composed by Mr. Putnam. Each includes individual sheets for the various band instruments with the President Worst March also containing the music sheets for marching. 

Literary, Music and Theater