Title: Association of Church Musicians Records
Inclusive Dates: 1947-2003

Creator:

• Association of Church Musicians (Madison, Wis.)

Call Number: Mss 1014

Quantity: 5.4 c.f. (12 archives boxes and 1 flat box)

Repository:

Wisconsin Historical Society, Division of Library, Archives, and Museum Collections

Archival Locations:

Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)

COLLECTION MAY BE STORED OFF-SITE: see catalog entry to request materials and for additional information.

Abstract:

Records of both the Madison Chapter of the American Guild of Organists (AGO) and its umbrella organization, the Association of Church Musicians (ACM). The Madison chapter of the AGO first organized in 1947 as the Wisconsin Association of Church Musicians (WACM) and incorporated as a chapter of the national Guild of Organists in 1953. In 1984 the AGO was integrated into the ACM. The group organized annual programs such as the Pipe Organ Encounter, Church Music Day, and its annual choir festival, and was also responsible for establishing the Louise Fulcher Memorial Library of Sacred Choral and Organ Music in 1949 and procuring a chapel organ for the Wisconsin Veterans Hospital in 1966. The bulk of the material in the collection was produced in the course of planning the various AGO-sponsored events, registering its members, and carrying out its standard administrative functions. Also included in the collection are the papers of Ruth Pilger Andrews (1905-1996), the Madison chapter's founding member.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-mss01014

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Before becoming the Association of Church Musicians, this organization was known as the American Guild of Organists, which itself began as the Wisconsin Association of Church Musicians (WACM). At the suggestion of Paul Jones, organ professor at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, area organists gathered to form the Wisconsin Association of Church Musicians (WACM) in 1947. The organization's main function was to host meetings where local organists could meet to discuss problems they had in their work. The members of the WACM also headed projects to organize hymn and choir festivals in the Madison Area as well as establishing the Louise Fulcher Memorial Library in 1949. The library was initially established with money received by WACM members, the Wisconsin Federation of Music Clubs, and the estates of deceased Madison organists. Madison area organists benefited greatly from the resources which the Fulcher Library made available to them. Ownership of the library was turned over to the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin Madison in 1950 and was transferred in 1970 to the State Division for Library Services before it reached its current location as part of the Janesville Public Library.

The American Guild of Organists is a national organization founded in 1896 through the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York. In September of 1953, the WACM reorganized into the Madison chapter of the American Guild of Organists (AGO) upon the suggestion of Lewis Elmer, then national president of the AGO, who had visited Madison in 1952.

The establishment of an AGO chapter in Madison was made possible by the efforts of Ruth Pilger Andrews, who had served as chair of the WACM's membership committee. Andrews was born on December 8, 1905 in Yorktown, Illinois. When she was three years old her family relocated to Milwaukee for a year before settling permanently in Ripon, where Andrews would receive her entire pre-graduate education. She completed a master's degree in French at the University of Wisconsin and taught undergraduate-level French in Kansas for six years before returning to Madison. Upon her return, Andrews began her career as an organist and teacher. She continued to train as an organist with renowned composer Leo Sowerby in Chicago. She was the principal organist at Luther Memorial Church in Madison for ten years and from 1950 to 1970 at the Unitarian Gathering House in Madison.

As founding member of the Madison chapter of AGO, Andrews also served as the organization's historian and membership chair. She also served as editor of the AGO newsletter, The Drawknob, in which she maintained a weekly column where she reviewed recently published music. In 1989 Andrews began to self-publish and underwrite her own bi-monthly publication, New Organ Issues, which circulated around the country. In it, she again reviewed newly published organ music. She continued to give private lessons until a month before her death on July 29, 1996.

In addition to the organization of the Fulcher Memorial Library, the Madison AGO also was responsible for procuring an organ for the chapel of the Wisconsin Veterans Administration Hospital in 1966. The Madison chapter's main activity was organizing hymn festivals, choir festivals, and organ recitals as a means by which to advance the cause of worthy religious music, elevate the status of church musicians, and increase the appreciation of their responsibilities, duties, and opportunities. The AGO also provided its members with opportunities to meet and discuss professional concerns. The Madison AGO is credited with organizing the first Inter-Church Hymn Festival in 1948 at First Congregational Church in Madison. The organization continued this tradition of holding an annual city-wide Church Music Festival, out of which the AGO's subsequent choir festivals grew.

AGO events were both instructional and recreational for people of all ages. High school students could be introduced to the pipe organ by taking part in the annual Pipe Organ Encounter, while professional organists could receive certification in practical organ playing, choir training, or the theory and general knowledge of music.

AGO chapters are headed by a Dean and a Sub-Dean who preside over meetings of the executive committee and at the chapter's general meetings. The chapter also has a secretary who is responsible for managing official chapter correspondence and maintains the chapter's membership information. The secretary is also given custody of the records for the chapter. The Registrar keeps a careful record of the proceedings at all meetings of the chapter. Each chapter also has a treasurer who is responsible for ensuring that membership dues are paid, and forwarding them to national headquarters, as well as remittance of bills for the chapter's expenses. The official tasks of the Madison AGO chapter are divided among the executive, nominating, and programming committees.

In 1984, the Madison chapter of AGO was integrated into the Association of Church Musicians (ACM) and currently operates under that name. The ACM functions as the Madison chapter of AGO and was formed to serve organists, cantors, liturgy coordinators, directors of adult, youth, children's, and handbell choirs, and instrumental ensembles as well as clergy and all others who are involved in the music leadership of churches of all denominations. Like the WACM and AGO, the ACM's objectives are to provide its members with opportunities for continuing education in church music and for sharing ideas and resources, and to give support and fellowship to one another.

The records of the Association of Church Musicians document its foundation, activities, official policies, and membership data. The collection is made up of administrative meeting minutes, official correspondence, monthly newsletters, official protocol literature, event programs, and membership directories which date from 1947 to 2003. The Madison chapter's main activity was organizing hymn festivals, choir festivals, and organ recitals as a means by which to advance the cause of worthy religious music, elevate the status of church musicians, and increase the appreciation of their responsibilities, duties, and opportunities and to provide members with opportunities for meeting for the discussion of professional topics.

Although the organization's meeting minutes and membership information are the collection's most abundant record types, the collection's emphasis is on its programming activities. Meeting minutes often deal with planning or organizing a recital or other organ performance event. The correspondence reflects this same function and the publications help to publicize the events and describe this programming activity at greater lengths.

After the AGO was integrated into the ACM in 1984 there is a significant change in the types of records that are kept and how they are kept. Most evident among these are the meeting minutes, which begin to appear in a more systematic format and are filed in conjunction with supporting financial information. The newsletter AGO Drawknob is replaced by Church Music Notes. Although AGO membership was now acquired by applying to the ACM directly, the AGO maintained separate membership records because not all ACM members were AGO members.

The collection is divided into six series: RUTH PILGER ANDREWS PAPERS AND FOUNDING HISTORY; ADMINISTRATIVE RECORDS; EVENTS, PROGRAMS, AND PROJECTS; MEMBERSHIP AND SUBSCRIBER INFORMATION; PROTOCOL, GUIDELINE, AND GENERAL INFORMATION; and PUBLICATIONS.

The RUTH PILGER ANDREWS PAPERS AND FOUNDING HISTORY series consist of both her papers as founder and also as the organization's historian. Her correspondence illustrates her role as founding member and documents later administrative functions within the organization. This series also includes the material she used in her reviews of new organ music as well as material she used for private organ instruction. The organization's founding documents such as the correspondence documenting the establishment and recognition of an AGO chapter in Madison by the National organization and the certificate of incorporation are also found in this series. The correspondence between Andrews and S. Lewis Elmer, then national president of the AGO, illustrate the process by which the Madison chapter of the AGO came into existence. Before the Madison chapter was established there was a larger Wisconsin chapter of the AGO and included in Andrews' correspondence is a group of letters from Andrews to other Wisconsin chapter deans. One of the highlights of this series is a scrapbook of newspaper clippings (1943-1966) documenting the activities of the organization when it operated as the WACM. The scrapbook also contains biographical information about Louise Fulcher, for whom the Fulcher Library was named. Also in this series is a pamphlet about the AGO's history before its inception into the ACM, covering a period from 1953 to 1981.

The ADMINISTRATIVE RECORDS series consists of meeting minutes, correspondence, and financial records of the ACM and its predecessor organizations. The organization's meeting minutes begin with notes taken at the first WACM meeting on July 15, 1947, and continue through the various incarnations of the organization. The bulk of the ACM's financial records appear within the context of individual meeting minutes or folders labeled meeting materials. The financial information corresponding to the period when the organization operated as the Madison Chapter of the AGO (1953-1984) appears in an oversize ledger in box 13. The organization's correspondence is scant and there is very little of it during the 1980s and 1990s.

The EVENTS, PROGRAMS, AND PROJECTS series documents the various activities of the organization and consists of correspondence with organ recitalists with whom the ACM or predecessor organizations in Madison signed contracts, programs, and publicity materials (which is often found interfiled within the recitalist correspondence). The series also contains information about the Fulcher Library and the process involved in procuring a chapel organ for the Veterans Administration Hospital which includes the contract used to acquire the organ and a blueprint of the organ.

The MEMBERSHIP AND SUBSCRIBER INFORMATION series is arranged chronologically and is comprised primarily of membership forms. The data presented in these membership forms, lists, and directories consist of contact information for each member as it was gathered for each fiscal year and a record of the membership level of each member and whether they were newsletter subscribers.

The PROTOCOL, GUIDELINE, AND GENERAL INFORMATION series contains all official protocol and policy information for AGO chapters nationwide as well as the organization's national constitution and correspondence with the Madison Chapter. These materials demonstrate how the AGO helped establish salary standards and ensured health care and compensation benefits for organists. Also included are pamphlets distributed by the national organization.

The PUBLICATIONS series is arranged chronologically and contains the newsletters of the ACM and its predecessors in Madison.

Acquisition Information

Presented by Donald J. DeBruin, May 24, 2005.

Processing Information

Processed by Gabriel Angulo (Intern), May 3, 2006.

	Series: Ruth Pilger Andrews Papers and Founding History
Box   1 Folder   1	AGO chapter history
Box   1 Folder   2	AGO officer installation services and founding documents, 1953
Box   1 Folder   3-6	Correspondence, 1946-1957
Box   1 Folder   7	Correspondence with music publishers, 1969-1977
Box   1 Folder   8	History, Constitution, and General Information
Box   1 Folder   9	Madison Chapter founding documents, 1953-1964
Box   1 Folder   10-11	Miscellaneous
Box   1 Folder   12	Organ Music for holidays, weddings, and funerals, 1963-1964
Box   1 Folder   13	Organ Music lists
Box   1 Folder   14	Pupil recitals, 1962-1976
Box   1 Folder   15	Scores for organ practice, undated
Box   1 Folder   16	Scrapbook materials, 1962-1980
Box   13	Scrapbook, 1943-1966
	Series: Administrative Records	⇧
	Meeting minutes
Box   1 Folder   17-19	WACM meeting minutes and early correspondence, 1947-1953
Box   1 Folder   20-24	AGO meeting notes, 1966, 1970-1983
Box   2 Folder   2-3	AGO meeting materials, 1984-1987
Box   2 Folder   1	ACM meeting minutes and other meeting materials, 1984-1986
	ACM meeting minutes
Box   2 Folder   4-13	1987-1994
Box   3 Folder   1-15	1994-2004
	Financial records
Box   4 Folder   1	ACM articles of incorporation and tax exempt status
Box   4 Folder   2-3	General, 1961-1963, 1967-1974
Box   13	AGO ledger, 1953-1978
Box   4 Folder   4	AGO finances, 1974-1981
Box   4 Folder   5	ACM financial report, 1987
Box   4 Folder   6	General, 1989-1993
Box   4 Folder   7	Last will and testament of Ruth Pilger Andrews, 1996
	Correspondence
Box   4 Folder   8-9	Correspondence, 1943-1970
Box   4 Folder   10	Correspondence with National Headquarters, 1981-1983
Box   4 Folder   11	Current business, 1968-1969
Box   4 Folder   12	Dean's office, 1959
Box   4 Folder   13-17	General correspondence, 1950-2002
Box   4 Folder   18	Immanuel Lutheran Church, 1982
Box   4 Folder   19	Jane Peterson correspondence, 1995
	Series: Events, Programs, and Projects	⇧
Box   4 Folder   20	ACM program, 1998-1999
Box   4 Folder   21	ACM Program Committee file, 1999-2000
Box   4 Folder   22	ACM Surveys, undated
Box   4 Folder   23	AGO Choir Festival, 1962
Box   4 Folder   24	AGO organ recitalists' publicity, 1954-1970
Box   4 Folder   25	Choir festivals, 1955-1960
Box   4 Folder   26	Civic Center questionnaire, 1967
Box   4 Folder   27	Event programs, 1948-1960
Box   5 Folder   1	Event programs and publicity, 1974-2003
Box   5 Folder   2-4	Fulcher Library, 1949-1982
Box   5 Folder   5	Gillian Weir contract materials, 1970
Box   5 Folder   6	Handouts for ACM programs, undated
Box   5 Folder   7	Hands-on experience registration, 1989-1992
Box   5 Folder   8	Karl Richter Recital, 1958
Box   5 Folder   9	Marilyn Mason Recital, 1959
Box   5 Folder   10-11	Meeting and program announcements, 1955-1980
Box   5 Folder   12	Newspaper clippings, 1946-1969
Box   5 Folder   13	Programs Committee correspondence, 1990
Box   5 Folder   14	Programming correspondence, 1957-1958
Box   5 Folder   15	Recitalist contract correspondence, 1958-1967
Box   5 Folder   16	Recitalist's promotional correspondence, 1954-1969
Box   5 Folder   17	Recitalist publicity, 1952-1970
Box   5 Folder   18	V.A. Hospital Chapel Organ, 1964-1966
Box   5 Folder   19	Veterans Hospital Organ materials, 1955
Box   5 Folder   20	WACM & AGO programs and meetings, 1949-1970
	Series: Membership and Subscriber Information	⇧
Box   6 Folder   1	Membership directories, undated
Box   6 Folder   2	AGO membership directory, 1963-1964
Box   6 Folder   3	Madison Chapter AGO Membership lists, 1965-1982
Box   6 Folder   4	AGO memberships, 1966-1967
Box   6 Folder   5	Drawknob subscribers, 1966-1967
Box   6 Folder   6	Membership lists, 1967-1969
Box   6 Folder   7-12	AGO membership, 1967-1979
Box   6 Folder   13	Madison Chapter AGO/ACM Membership lists, 1975-1996
Box   6 Folder   14	AGO membership forms & Drawknob subscriber lists, 1979-1982
Box   7 Folder   1-3	AGO Directory of members & Drawknob subscribers, 1980-1983
Box   7 Folder   4	Madison AGO Membership lists, 1982-1983
Box   7 Folder   5	Drawknob subscriber forms, 1983
Box   7 Folder   6	AGO Membership renewal forms, 1983-1984
Box   7 Folder   7	Membership Information, 1984-1998
Box   7 Folder   8	Madison AGO member information, 1984-1985
Box   7 Folder   9	ACM church membership forms, 1984-1985
Box   7 Folder   10	Madison AGO membership, 1985-1986
Box   7 Folder   11	Madison AGO dues report summaries and other membership information, 1985-1986
Box   7 Folder   12	ACM Church membership forms, 1985-1986
Box   7 Folder   13	Madison AGO membership, 1986-1987
Box   7 Folder   14-15	ACM membership lists and forms, 1986-1987
Box   8 Folder   1-3	ACM membership forms, 1986-1990
Box   8 Folder   4	Madison AGO dues report summaries, 1987-1988
Box   8 Folder   5	ACM member list, 1987-1988
Box   8 Folder   6	ACM member church list, 1987-1989
Box   8 Folder   7	ACM church membership forms, 1988-1989
Box   8 Folder   8	AGO Membership, 1988-1989
Box   8 Folder   9	Madison AGO dues report summaries, 1988-1989
Box   8 Folder   10	ACM membership list, 1989-1990
Box   8 Folder   11	AGO membership, 1989-1990
Box   8 Folder   12	Madison AGO dues report summaries, 1989-1990
Box   8 Folder   13	ACM membership renewal forms, 1990-1991
Box   8 Folder   14	Madison Chapter AGO membership, 1990-1991
Box   8 Folder   15	Madison AGO dues report summary, 1990-1991
Box   8 Folder   16	ACM/AGO renewal forms, 1990-1991
Box   8 Folder   17	ACM non-renewal forms, 1991
Box   8 Folder   18	ACM church membership list, 1991-1992
Box   8 Folder   19	AGO membership renewal forms, 1991-1992
Box   8 Folder   20	Madison AGO dues report summaries, 1991-1992
Box   9 Folder   1	ACM membership renewal forms, 1991-1992
Box   9 Folder   2	Madison AGO dues report summaries, 1992-1993
Box   9 Folder   3	AGO Membership renewal forms, 1992-1993
Box   9 Folder   4	ACM membership renewal forms, 1992-1993
Box   9 Folder   5	Madison AGO dues report summaries, 1993-1994
Box   9 Folder   6	Madison chapter AGO dues report summaries, 1994-1995
Box   9 Folder   7	ACM/AGO membership forms, 1995-1996
Box   9 Folder   8	Madison AGO dues report summaries, 1995-1996
Box   9 Folder   9	Madison AGO dues report summary & membership directory, 1996-1997
Box   9 Folder   10	ACM officer directories, 1996-2000
Box   9 Folder   11	Madison AGO dues report summaries, 1997-1998
Box   9 Folder   12	ACM membership forms, 1998-1999
Box   9 Folder   13	Madison AGO dues report summaries, 1998-1999
Box   9 Folder   14	ACM/AGO membership forms, 1999-2000
Box   9 Folder   15	ACM/AGO & chorister's guild membership forms, 1999-2000
Box   9 Folder   15	Chorister's guild charter, 1988
Box   9 Folder   16	ACM/AGO membership renewal forms, 1999-2001
Box   9 Folder   17	ACM membership application form, 2002-2003
Box   9 Folder   18	Newspaper clippings, 1999-2002
	Series: Protocol, Guideline, and General Information	⇧
Box   10 Folder   1	AGO event publicity and guidelines, 1985-1992
Box   10 Folder   2	ACM event publicity and guidelines, 1985-1992
Box   10 Folder   3	AGO National
Box   10 Folder   4	AGO student group information, 1965-1966
Box   10 Folder   5	Chapter portfolio, 1963-1965
Box   10 Folder   6	Church musician salary guidelines, 1982-1997
Box   10 Folder   7	Convention program and miscellaneous pamphlets, 1960-1973
Box   10 Folder   8	Information from national, 1961-1998
Box   10 Folder   9	Miscellaneous Protocol Information, 1967-1969
Box   10 Folder   10-13	National convention program, 1962-1976
Box   10 Folder   14	Pamphlets
Box   10 Folder   15	Procedure and protocol information, 1982-1992
Box   10 Folder   16	Professional concerns, 1982-1983
Box   10 Folder   17	Protocol information, 1958-1968
	Series: Publications	⇧
Box   11 Folder   1	The AGO Newsletter, 1959-1960
Box   11 Folder   2-6	The AGO Drawknob, 1964-1984
	Church Music Notes
Box   11 Folder   7-8	1984-1989
Box   12 Folder   1-4	1989-2003
Box   12 Folder   5-6	New Organ Issues vols. I-VIII, 1989-1996
Box   12 Folder   7	New Organ Issues, general file, 1962-1992
Box   12 Folder   8	Articles for reprint, 1989-1990