| Quantity: | 11 boxes (3.25 cubic ft.) |
|---|---|
| Access: | Open to research except for Boxes 5 and 9-11; approval from the associate librarian is required to access these boxes |
| Acquisition: | Gift: American Guild of Organists, Eastern New York Chapter, June 2011; accretion June 2014; accretion 2018; accretion March 2020. |
| Processed By: | Sharon Wolff, Student Intern (University at Albany), Manuscripts and Special Collections, July 2011; revised August 2014; revised by Matthew Laudicina, Senior Librarian, Manuscripts and Special Collections, March 2019, August 2021 |
The American Guild of Organists (A.G.O.) was founded by a group of 145 English and American church musicians in 1896. The guild was chartered by the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York in the same year and was given authority to grant the titles of associate and fellow to those of its members who passed required examinations. The AGO currently has some 17,000 members in 300 chapters in the United States, Australia, Korea, Singapore, and several European countries.
The first meeting of the Eastern New York chapter took place on September 14, 1920. It was organized by Dr. F.H. Candlyn and Russell Carter, both transferred members from other chapters of the AGO Three other people present were also transferred members; the other 17 attendees were new members. Since then, the Eastern New York chapter has been acting on and carrying out the same principles and goals of its parent organization: providing opportunities for discussion of topics related to its cause; giving examinations that certified professional musicians; and offering scholarships to students to further their musical education.
The records of the Eastern New York Chapter of the American Guild of Organists contain minutes of meetings and a secretary's book (1920-2012, 1939-1946); a treasurer's book and financial reports (1921-1929, 1977-2013); membership directories (1957-2010); correspondence (1970-2000); and copies of its newsletter, The Clarion, (1957-2013, missing 2003). The collection also contains copies of newsletters from several different organizations, mostly religious affiliates. Both the newsletters and minutes shed light on what it takes to keep the AGO running, as well as what the members put into the organization in terms of musical gifts and offerings.
There are also several examination booklets, as well as student scholarship information, dating from the 1980s to the 1990s. These could be helpful to musical beginners by providing guidelines to follow while developing skills. Of additional interest to organists and choir directors is a small collection of music commissioned by the AGO Several concert programs (1931-2013) could also prove worthwhile in terms of providing musical inspiration.
Three artifacts are housed in Box 8: a framed certificate presented to the Eastern New York Chapter upon its founding, declaring it an official branch of the A.G.O.; a wooden block stamp with the official AGO logo; and a lapel pin from 2008, marking the A.G.O.'s "year of the organ."
| Box | Folder | Description |
|---|---|---|
1 |
1 |
Minutes of meetings and rosters of officers and members, 1920-1922 |
1 |
2 |
Membership Rosters, 1925, 1931, 1934 |
1 |
3 |
Secretary's book: minutes of meeting, October 1939-May 1946 (150 p..; 27 cm.) |
1 |
4 |
Minutes of meetings, 1957-1959 |
1 |
5 |
Minutes of meetings, 1960-1965 |
1 |
6 |
Minutes of meetings, 1966-1969 |
1 |
7 |
Minutes of meetings, 1970-1975 |
1 |
8 |
Minutes of meetings, 1976-1979 |
1 |
9 |
Minutes of meetings, 1980-1984 |
1 |
10 |
Minutes of meetings. 1985-1989 |
1 |
11 |
Minutes of meetings, 1990-1995 |
1 |
12 |
Minutes of meetings, 1996-1999, 2004-2012 |
2 |
1 |
The Clarion, 1957, 1965 |
2 |
2 |
The Clarion, 1966-1970 |
2 |
3 |
The Clarion, 1971-1976 |
2 |
4 |
The Clarion, 1977-1983 |
2 |
5 |
The Clarion, 1984-1989 |
2 |
6 |
The Clarion, 1990-1994 |
2 |
7 |
The Clarion, 1995-1999 |
2 |
8 |
The Clarion, 2000-2002, 2004-2005 |
2 |
9 |
The Clarion, 2006-2007 |
2 |
10 |
The Clarion, 2008-2009 |
3 |
1 |
The Clarion, 2010-2011 |
3 |
2 |
The Clarion, 2012-2013 |
3 |
3 |
Miscellaneous newsletters
|
3 |
4 |
Miscellaneous newsletters
|
3 |
5 |
American Guild of Organists, Eastern New York Chapter News, 1997-1998, 2005-2009 |
3 |
6 |
Regional Conventions, 1957, 1974-1979, 1982-1989, 1997 |
3 |
7 |
Workbook for Region IX Convention of American Guild of Organists, 1985; includes membership survey, 1981-1982 |
3 |
8 |
2003 Regional Convention, 2000-2003 (1/4) |
3 |
9 |
2003 Regional Convention, 2000-2003 (2/4) |
3 |
10 |
2003 Regional Convention, 2000-2003 (3/4) |
3 |
11 |
2003 Regional Convention, 2000-2003 (4/4) |
3 |
12 |
2003 Regional Convention Policies and Guidelines |
3 |
13 |
"King of Instruments Series": concert programs and other papers related to a series of recitals by prominent organists, 1982-1983 |
4 |
1 |
Concert Programs, 1931-1959 |
4 |
2 |
Concert Programs, 1960-1969 |
4 |
3 |
Concert Programs, 1970-1979 |
4 |
4 |
Concert Programs, 1980-1989 |
4 |
5 |
Concert Programs, 1990-1998 |
4 |
6 |
Concert Programs, 2002-2006 |
4 |
7 |
Concert Programs, 2007-2008 |
4 |
8 |
Concert Programs, 2009-2010 |
4 |
9 |
Concert Programs, 2012-2013 |
4 |
10 |
Miscellaneous programs, 2008-2010 |
|
|
Access to Box 5 is restricted pending approval from Associate Librarian. |
5 |
1 |
Membership directories, 1957-1967 |
5 |
2 |
Membership directories, 1968-1976 |
5 |
3 |
Membership directories, 1982-1987 |
5 |
4 |
Membership directories, 1987-1991 |
5 |
5 |
Membership directories, 1992-1994 |
5 |
6 |
Membership directories, 1995-1997 |
5 |
7 |
Membership directories, 1998-1999 |
5 |
8 |
Membership directories, 2000-2003 |
5 |
9 |
Membership directories, 2004-2005 |
5 |
10 |
Membership directories, 2006-2008 |
5 |
11 |
Membership directories, 2009-2010 |
6 |
1 |
Surveys and questionnaires, 1985, 2007 |
6 |
2 |
Manual of examination procedure, ca. 1978 |
6 |
3 |
Examination booklets, 1979 |
6 |
4 |
Examination booklets, 1980 |
6 |
5 |
Examination application and other forms, 1980-1983 |
6 |
6 |
Information brochures, handbooks, manuals, etc., ca. 1980-1985 |
6 |
7 |
Resources, Standard Operating Procedure |
6 |
8 |
Job descriptions, 1962-1968; information regarding the duties and responsibilities of club officers |
6 |
9 |
Constitution and by-laws; tax exempt status, ca. 1977-1985 |
6 |
10 |
Financial information and tax status, 1981-1989, 1992-1994, 2000-2013 |
6 |
11 |
Treasurer's book, 1920-1938 (ca. 150 p.; 25 x 32 cm.); record of receipts and disbursements |
6 |
12 |
Miscellaneous papers, 1957, 1972, 1984-1989, 1990-1998 |
6 |
13 |
Miscellaneous chapter papers, 1980-1988 |
7 |
1 |
History of the Eastern New York Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, 1974 (2 copies) |
7 |
2 |
Correspondence, 1970-1982 |
7 |
3 |
Correspondence, 1984-2000 |
7 |
4 |
Commissioned Music
|
7 |
5 |
Commissioned Music
|
7 |
6 |
Music and copyright information pamphlet |
7 |
7 |
Organ scholarships and student competitions, 1989, 1994, 1998 |
7 |
8 |
Seventy-fifth organ competition, 1996-1997 |
7 |
9 |
Microfilm rolls [Moved to Box 9, Folder 18]
|
7 |
10 |
Words of Albert Schweitzer and the Music of Bach |
7 |
11 |
Rensselaerville Historical Society Newsletter, 1986, 1995, 1999-2009 |
7 |
12 |
Harriet Tubman Home, 2005 |
7 |
13 |
Miscellaneous booklets from other organizations
|
7 |
14 |
The Diapason, April 1, 1937, and December 1, 1959 |
8 |
1 |
Document certifying the Eastern New York Chapter as an official branch of the AGO |
8 |
2 |
Official stamp of the A.G.O. |
8 |
3 |
AGO pin from 2008/2009, "The year of the organ" |
|
|
Books – Items removed and catalogued as monographs in NYSL Book collection. |
|
|
Our Acoustic Environment by Frederick A. White |
|
|
The Cincinnati Organ edited by George Ward Nichols |
|
|
Organ Loft Whisperings edited by Agnes Armstrong |
|
|
Access to Boxes 9-11 is restricted pending approval of Associate Librarian. |
9 |
1 |
Membership directories, 2003-2004; 2011-2013 |
9 |
2 |
Membership directories, 2013-2015; 2017-2018 |
9 |
3 |
Membership forms, 2012-2013 |
9 |
4 |
Membership forms, 2013-2014 |
10 |
1 |
Membership forms, 2014-2015 |
10 |
2 |
The Clarion, February 2018, April-June 2019, February-March 2020 |
10 |
3 |
Email correspondence, September 17, 2014-September 29, 2015 |
10 |
4 |
Email correspondence, February 7, 2015-September 30, 2015 |
10 |
5 |
Notes, prices, and copies of advertisements for AGO directory advertisements, August 5, 2010-September 29, 2012 |
10 |
6 |
ENYAGO member roster, February 5, 2016 |
10 |
7 |
Programs and newspaper clippings for AGO performances and events, May 2, 1986-May 7, 2016 (13 items) |
10 |
8 |
AGO Regional Convention pamphlet, 1957 |
10 |
9 |
Membership pamphlets (2 items):
|
10 |
10 |
AGO budget worksheets for 2013-2014 and 2015-2016 fiscal years |
11 |
1 |
Photographs, pamphlets, and lunch menu: Student-Teacher Recital, May 17, 2014 |
11 |
2 |
Photographs: ENY AGO Banquet Concert and Reception, May 12, 2017 |
11 |
3 |
Photographs on DVD and pamphlet: A Gala Celebration 50th Anniversary of Music Ministry, Mrs. Elinore Farnum. September 25, 2018 |
11 |
4 |
Microfilm rolls (moved from Box 7, Folder 9)
|
11 |
5 |
Photographs on CD: American Guild of Organists Organ Crawl, April 2019. |
11 |
6 |
Eastern New York Chapter of the American Guild of Organists "FOR PRACTICAL PURPOSES: CREATIVE ACCOMPANIMENTS AND RE-HARMONIZATIONS." Presented by David C. Jonies [sic]. April 10, 2018. |
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EL 1 |
2 items:
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