Finding Aid of the American Guild of Organists records
0019
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
2010
Doheny Memorial Library 206
3550 Trousdale Parkway
Los Angeles, California 90089-0189
specol@usc.edu
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
USC Libraries Special Collections
Title: American Guild of Organists records
creator:
American Guild of Organists. Southern California Chapter
creator:
American Guild of Organists. Los Angeles Chapter
creator:
American Guild of Organists. Pasadena Chapter
Identifier/Call Number: 0019
Identifier/Call Number: 11
Physical Description:
35.37 Linear Feet
36 boxes
Date (inclusive): 1908-2004
Date (bulk): 1950-2000
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.
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.
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.
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.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Photographs
Scrapbooks
Contracts
Magnetic tapes
Organists -- Societies, etc. -- Archival resources
Music -- Performance -- Societies, etc. -- Archival resources
Minutes
Periodicals
Yearbooks
Programs (documents)
Financial records
Correspondence
American Guild of Organists. Southern California Chapter -- Archives
American Guild of Organists -- Archives
American Guild of Organists. Los Angeles Chapter -- Archives
American Guild of Organists. Pasadena Chapter -- Archives
Administrative Files 38398
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, programs for concerts,
and newsletters.
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, Box 25, Box 27, Box 28, Box 29, Box 30, Box 36
Southern California Chapter 38399
Box 36, Folder 1
Meeting minutes
1912-1922
Box 36, Folder 2
List of members, addresses, etc.
1909-1914
Box 20-24, Box 1-5, Box 36
Los Angeles Chapter 38400
Box 36, Folder 3
Meeting minutes
1908-1915
Box 36, Folder 4
Activities
1928-1961
Scope and Contents
[Transcribed from previous folder:] Announcements of concerts and recitals, blotters, letters, manuscripts, photographs, and
programs. 48 items.
Box 36, Folder 5
Centennial Celebration Concert program
2010
Box 36, Folder 6
Centennial Anniversary [congratulatory certificate]
2009-06-25
Box 18-19, Box 26
Other Chapters/National Organization 512574
1970s-2004
Scope and Content
This series consists of annual convention programs and related materials.
Publications 38402
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 20, Box 6
The American Organist 38403
1987, 1997, 2004
Scope and Content
Selected issues.
Box 6
The California Organist 38404
Box 6
Los Angeles Chapter Yearbooks 38405
Box 6
Pasadena Chapter Yearbooks 38406
Box 6
Choral Conductors Guild Yearbooks 38407
Scrapbooks 38408
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, Box 8, Box 31-33, Box 35
Los Angeles Chapter 38409
1930-1993
Box 9-12
Pasadena Chapter 38410
1962-1991
Box 16, Box 15, Box 14, Box 17, Box 13
Sound and Video Recordings 38411
Scope and Content
Series contains recordings of performances on Ampex Magnetic reels, audiocassette tapes, video (VHS) tapes, and DAT tapes
(boxes 13, 15); David Fay's recordings of concerts, primarily on 10" reel to reel tapes (boxes 16, 17); AGO instructional
cassettes (box 14).
