Finding Aid of the American Guild of Organists records
0019
Finding aid prepared by Rebecca Hirsch
The processing of this collection and the creation of this finding aid was funded by the generous support of the National
Historic Publications and Records Commission.
USC Libraries Special Collections
Doheny Memorial Library 206
3550 Trousdale Parkway
Los Angeles, California, 90089-0189
213-740-5900
specol@usc.edu
2010
Title: American Guild of Organists records
Collection number: 0019
Contributing Institution:
USC Libraries Special Collections
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
14.92 Linear feet
13 boxes
Date (bulk): Bulk, 1950-1995
Date (inclusive): 1908-1999
Abstract: Established in 1908, the Southern California Chapter of the American Guild of Organists is a local chapter of the national
professional association serving the organ and choral music fields. This collection contains the records of the Los Angeles
and Pasadena chapters of the American Guild of Organists, including administrative files, publications, and annual scrapbooks.
creator:
American Guild of Organists. Los Angeles Chapter.
creator:
American Guild of Organists. Pasadena Chapter.
creator:
American Guild of Organists. Southern California Chapter.
Historical Note
The American Guild of Organists (AGO) is the national professional association serving the organ and choral music fields.
The Guild serves approximately 20,000 members throughout the United States, Asia, Australia, and Europe. Founded in 1896 as
both an educational and service organization, the Guild, headquartered in New York City, seeks to set and maintain high musical
standards and to promote the understanding and appreciation of all aspects of organ and choral music. Each AGO year runs from
October 1 to September 30. In any given year, a chapter may host concerts, educational events and social gatherings, have
regular monthly meetings, and participate in either a regional or a national convention.
The Association of Organists of Southern California was established in 1908 and in 1910, it became the Southern California
Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. As other chapters were founded around California, the chapter changed its name
to the Los Angeles Chapter. In 1936, the Pasadena Chapter split off from the Los Angeles one; in 1999, they recombined.
Conditions Governing Access
COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE. Advance notice required for access.
Conditions Governing Use
The collection contains published materials; researchers are reminded of the copyright restrictions imposed by publishers
on reusing their articles and parts of books. It is the responsibility of researchers to acquire permission from publishers
when reusing such materials. The copyright to unpublished materials belongs to the heirs of the writers. Permission to publish,
quote, or reproduce must be secured from the repository and the copyright holder.
Preferred Citation
[Box/folder# or item name], American Guild of Organists records, Collection no. 0019, Special Collections, USC Libraries,
University of Southern California.
Scope and Content
This collection consists of the records of the Los Angeles and Pasadena chapters of the American Guild of Organists, including
the chapters' administrative files, publications, scrapbooks and a few audio and visual recordings. Most of the material present
is from the Los Angeles Chapter. Please see the Scope and Content notes of individual series for more information.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
American Guild of Organists. -- Archives
Contracts
Correspondence
Financial records
Magnetic tapes
Minutes
Music--Performance--Societies, etc.--Archival resources
Organists--Societies, etc.--Archival resources
Periodicals
Photographs
Programs (documents)
Scrapbooks
Yearbooks
Administrative Files
Scope and Content
This series consists of the administrative files of the Southern California, Los Angeles, and Pasadena Chapters of the American
Guild of Organists. These records include membership registers, minutes, general correspondence, financial records, correspondence
and contracts pertaining to concerts given by the Guild, submissions to competitions run by the Guild, and programs for concerts.
Arrangement
This series is arranged chronologically, with the exception of minutes and financial records from the Los Angeles Chapter.
These are arranged separately in chronological order at the end of the Los Angeles Chapter sub-series.
Box 1
Southern California Chapter
Publications
Scope and Content
This series contains issues of the
American Organist, the national magazine of the American Guild of Organists, the
California Organist, published by the Los Angeles Chapter, and yearbooks published by the Los Angeles and Pasadena Chapters.
Box 6
The American Organist
1987
Box 6
Los Angeles Chapter Yearbooks
Box 6
Pasadena Chapter Yearbooks
Box 6
Choral Conductors Guild Yearbooks
Scrapbooks
Scope and Content
This series contains scrapbooks from the Los Angeles and Pasadena Chapters. Scrapbooks contain programs, calendars, photographs,
and correspondence pertaining to Guild activities.
Box 7-8
Los Angeles Chapter
1930-1971
Box 9-12
Pasadena Chapter
1962-1991
Box 13
Sound and Video Recordings
Scope and Content
Series contains recordings of performances on 4 Ampex Magnetic reels, 4 audiocassette tapes and 3 video (VHS) tapes.
