Current structure at
218 Tremont St in Boston
First Officers Appointed There
December 28, 1905

“New” Old South Church
First Chapter Organ Recital
February 27, 1907
Hutchings Organ, 1875

Emmanuel Church
First Chapter Service
November 20, 1906
James Cole Organ, 1901

Following the grant of a charter to the American Guild of Organists in 1896, nine years of deliberations ensued before local organization took shape in New England. The New England Chapter of the Guild formally began in December of 1905. It was the second chapter to be organized, preceded by Pennsylvania three years earlier. 

Boston was a national center of musical culture, and its organists were credited with an enviable ability to set high standards. Boston’s Music Hall had its famed, imported Walcker organ, a proud possession. The city’s accredited symphony orchestra had come into existence and was exerting its influence. Music schools and churches were ardent advocates of musical values. The choral field was solidly represented by the Handel and Haydn Society and the Cecilia Society.

Two members of the Guild’s Council visited Boston on December 27th, 1905. A meeting of the twenty-six members of the Guild residing in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and Maine was held on December 28th at Mr. Everett E. Truett’s studio at 218 Tremont Street in Boston. Twenty-two members and invited organists attended, and nine members wrote letters to indicate their interest but stated they would unavoidably be absent. The officers of the chapter appointed at that meeting and subsequently elected at a meeting in New York on January 1, 1906 were 

George A. Burdett, Dean
Everett E. Truette, Secretary
Warren A. Locke, Treasurer

The following individuals were elected to serve with the three officers on the Executive Committee by the members of the Guild in Boston:

Walter J. Clemson, Taunton
Henry M. Dunham, Boston
Arthur Foote, Dedham
William C. Hammond, Holyoke
Benjamin J. Lang, Boston
Hamilton C. MacDougall, Wellesley Hills
Samuel B. Whitney, Boston

The Chapter’s early roster included organists Arthur Foote, George W. Chadwick, Horatio Parker, John D. Buckingham and George E. Whiting.  In addition, Hamilton C. Macdougall was at Wellesley, Sumner Salter at Williams, William Churchill Hammond at Mount Holyoke, and Charles H. Morse at Dartmouth.

The first public service of the New England Chapter was held at Emmanuel Church in Boston on November 20, 1906, with a choir of about fifty men and boys under the direction of Arthur S. Hyde, organist and choirmaster. The first organ recital was given by William Churchill Hammond, A.G.O., at New Old South Church in Boston, on February 27, 1907.

Dean Burdett’s annual report on the 1907-1908 season summarizes the activities of a chapter already in full flower: “There are seventy-five active members, including fourteen Fellows and Associates, one hundred and thirty-five subscribers, and nineteen Honorary Associates. Since November 1907 there have been given eight Guild services under the auspices of this Chapter, viz: two in Boston, and one at each of the following cities: Taunton, New Bedford, Holyoke, Springfield, Portland, Maine; and Providence, Rhode Island. Also, two organ recitals in Boston churches and three receptions were tendered the members at residences having concert organs.”

The New England Chapter grew exponentially in stature, accomplishments, and membership over the years. In April of 1933 a letter was received from Homer Whitford of Dartmouth College about the desirability of creating more chapters in New England. In May of that year a discussion about the best way to make the Guild useful to organists not located near Boston was held. A proposal to divide the New England territory into several smaller groups, either as new chapters or as branch chapters, was developed. By September the change was being championed by Headquarters.

Now begins the story of how one chapter became a family of chapters, the parent group being the Massachusetts Chapter. Eventually all of New England would be within the Guild. The Rhode Island Chapter came into existence in December 1933, with a second branch at Westerly. The Vermont-New Hampshire Chapter was organized May 28, 1934 under the leadership of Mr. Whitford. In 1935 a Portland branch became the Maine Chapter. Bangor soon after established a branch chapter of its own. In 1938 Connecticut established a chapter at New Haven, followed by a second chapter at Hartford.

The question of changing the name of the New England Chapter came under discussion in September of 1937 and at a board meeting in October full authority to change the name of the chapter was received. At the annual dinner held at the Myles Standish Hotel in January of 1938, a motion to change the name to the Massachusetts Chapter was approved. 

In March of 1939 a petition was received from several organists in Worcester asking for permission to form a branch in that city. This transpired, but was met with some resistance. The possibility of a branch in Springfield was also discussed.

On September 28, 1948, past-Dean Harris S. Shaw of the Massachusetts Chapter (1944-1947) was appointed Regional Chairman for the lower half of New England, with authority to promote new Guild groups in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. An amazing growth of Guild chapters was made under his leadership. In addition to the “mother chapter” in Boston, five chapters were started in other communities in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts:

Springfield Chapter, organized November 6, 1946

Berkshire Chapter (Pittsfield), organized May 15, 1947

Worcester Chapter, organized March 14, 1949

Brockton Chapter, organized September 25, 1949

Cape Cod Chapter (Hyannis), organized September 22, 1951

Because many new chapters had been formed in the state since 1938, the subject of changing the chapter name again was brought to the Executive Committee on April 13, 1951. At the annual meeting on May 7, 1951, several alternative names (Greater Boston Chapter, Old Colony Chapter, Hub Chapter, and Boston Chapter) were all defeated in the voting. At the Executive Committee meeting on April 21, 1952 a name change was discussed. Finally, at the annual meeting held May 19, 1952, a vote to change the name to the Boston Chapter was approved.

The chapter has a hallowed history of distinguished leaderships and glowing chapter life. Many talented and selfless individuals sowed and planted so that others to follow might be better equipped. That is a tradition the chapter attempts to honor to this day.