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American Guild of Organists, Eastern New York Chapter
Records, 1920-2020

SC23222

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

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Historical Note:

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.

Scope and Content Note:

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 and Folder List:

Box Folder Description

1

1

Minutes of meetings and rosters of officers and members, 1920-1922

1

2

Membership Rosters, 1925, 1931, 1934
Financial report, 1935
Minutes, 1938

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

  1. Albany's Historic Mansion Neighborhood, Undated
  2. Bethany Reformed Church, 2010
  3. Capital District Chapter Meeting, 2010
  4. The Cloudsplitter, 2007, 2009
  5. The Columbian Repository, 2000
  6. Coop Scoop, 2009

3

4

Miscellaneous newsletters

  1. The Epistle of St. Paul's, 2009-2010
  2. Feathers, 2009-2010
  3. Grand Street Community Arts, 2009
  4. First Ward News, 1998
  5. Mansion Neighborhood News, 1999
  6. River Ramblings, 2009
  7. Sodus Bay Historical Society, 2000
  8. The Spire, 2009-2010
  9. The Swan and Elk, 2008
  10. Taconic Hiking Club, 2009
  11. Wingbeats, 2009

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

  1. Sing to God Your Praises
  2. Adoramus le Christe
  3. Dum Medium Silentium

7

5

Commissioned Music

  1. God of Mercy

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]

  1. Minutes 1920-1946 to 1979 Regional Convention held at Albany
  2. Concert programs, 1931-1937; Directory, 1979-1997

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

  1. The Albany Episcopalian, 2009-2010
  2. Rochester History, 2006
  3. The Tracker, 1980-1981, 1985-1986

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
AGO Tentative Ballot, 2015
Job descriptions for AGO corresponding secretary, historian, and newsletter editor, August 1, 2014

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):

  1. American Theatre Organ Society Hudson-Mohawk Chapter, 2014-2015 season
  2. The Hymn Society, n.d.

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)

  1. Minutes 1920-1946 to 1979 Regional Convention held at Albany
  1. Concert programs, 1931-1937; Directory, 1979-1997

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.

 

EL 1

2 items:

  1. Newspaper clipping from the Albany Times Union, January 6, 2014
  2. Newspaper clipping from the Albany Times Union, January 11, 2014
Last Updated: March 3, 2022