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Finding Aid of the American Guild of Organists records

Finding aid prepared by Rebecca Hirsch, 2010

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.

Summary Information

Repository
USC Libraries Special Collections
Creator
American Guild of Organists. Los Angeles Chapter.
Creator
American Guild of Organists. Pasadena Chapter.
Creator
American Guild of Organists. Southern California Chapter.
Title
American Guild of Organists records
Collection no.
0019
Date [bulk]
Bulk, 1950-1995
Date [inclusive]
1908-1999
Extent
14.92 Linear feet, 13 boxes
Language
English
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.

Preferred Citation

[Box/folder# or item name], American Guild of Organists records, Collection no. 0019, Special Collections, USC Libraries, University of Southern California.

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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.

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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.

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Administrative Information

Publication Information

USC Libraries Special Collections
2010
Doheny Memorial Library 206
3550 Trousdale Parkway
Los Angeles, California, 90089-0189
213-740-5900
specol@usc.edu

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.

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Controlled Access Headings

Corporate Name(s)

  • American Guild of Organists. -- Archives

Genre(s)

  • Contracts
  • Correspondence
  • Financial records
  • Magnetic tapes
  • Minutes
  • Periodicals
  • Photographs
  • Programs (documents)
  • Scrapbooks
  • Yearbooks

Subject(s)

  • Music--Performance--Societies, etc.--Archival resources
  • Organists--Societies, etc.--Archival resources

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Collection Inventory

Series 1:  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.

 Southern California Chapter 

Box
1

 Los Angeles Chapter 

Box
1-5

 Pasadena Chapter 

Box
5

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Series 2:  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.

 The American Organist 1987 

Box
6

 The California Organist 

Box
6

 Los Angeles Chapter Yearbooks 

Box
6

 Pasadena Chapter Yearbooks 

Box
6

 Choral Conductors Guild Yearbooks 

Box
6

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Series 3:  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.

 Los Angeles Chapter 1930-1971 

Box
7-8

 Pasadena Chapter 1962-1991 

Box
9-12

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Series 4:  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.

Box
13

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