Organ Historical Society

Organ Historical Society The OHS enriches public knowledge, understanding and appreciation of the pipe organ, and its history!

The OHS celebrates, preserves, and studies the pipe organ in the USA; in all its historical styles, through research, education, advocacy and music.

The OHS Oral History Project continues with the late Ralph Kneeream!Ralph Kneeream’s long career as an organist brought ...
09/02/2026

The OHS Oral History Project continues with the late Ralph Kneeream!

Ralph Kneeream’s long career as an organist brought him in contact with some of the most accomplished perfomers, composers, and pedagogues of the twentieth century. He was assistant to Searle Wright and a protégé of Claire Coci. He studied in France with Marcel Dupré, Jeanne Demessieux, Maurice and Marie-Madeleine Duruflé, André Marchal, and Nadia Boulanger. Then he turned to translation, producing English versions of works by Marcel Dupré and Charles Tournemire. In this interview, Kneeream gives fascinating insight into these pipe organ titans as performers, as teachers, and as people.

Check out the full video interview for yourself by hitting the link below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVpI3hSEEl8

Thank you once again to everyone who attended and supported the OHS Platinum Jubilee in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania! We w...
08/31/2026

Thank you once again to everyone who attended and supported the OHS Platinum Jubilee in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania! We welcomed more than 400 people and celebrated wonderful instruments, artists, repertoire, and commissions.

We are already eagerly looking ahead and planning all things Boston 2027, so please save the dates of August 1-5, 2027, and plan to join us for another memorable gathering with friends and colleagues!

This past June, a posting appeared on Facebook Marketplace in North Reading, Massachusetts for a substantial collection ...
08/26/2026

This past June, a posting appeared on Facebook Marketplace in North Reading, Massachusetts for a substantial collection of business papers attributed to the Samuel Pierce Organ Pipe Company. The posted description estimated approximately 2,500 loose sheets of business papers including orders, bills, receipts, and correspondence. Fortunately, an OHS member spotted this offer online and acted quickly to secure the entire collection for our library and archives.

The apparent span of the communications runs from 1898 to 1903. The quantity and variety of material and documentation truly is mind-boggling and, in the aggregate, presents a very detailed snapshot of both the organ building industry and general business practices in that era. In addition to obvious organ building correspondence, the collection includes Western Union messages; bills to Pierce from the Reading Water Department, New England Telephone & Telegraph, and numerous suppliers; and manuscript papers showing ornate letterheads and autograph signatures by well-known names. As such, the nature and sources of a lot of organ building materials and pipework found in the field are documented now in new depth, beyond the Pierce firm itself.

This recent acquisition will be a nice complement to the Samuel Pierce Organ Pipe Company Collection that the OHS already holds in its special collections, and we look forward to making this new addition of materials available for research!

08/24/2026

We'd like to extend a heartfelt thanks to the American Guild of Organists for their attendance and support of the OHS Platinum Jubilee in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania this past month! To catch a glimpse of some of the featured pipe organs, organists, and performances, be sure to head over to their page for a bevy of exclusive videos and snapshots!

Looking for something new to read? Consider supporting the OHS by making a purchase from our store during our book sale ...
08/24/2026

Looking for something new to read? Consider supporting the OHS by making a purchase from our store during our book sale through the end of August! All purchases made before September 1, 2026 are being sold at 10% off!

Enjoy browsing our selection and perhaps finding something you have had your eye on. Use the coupon code A87F85D41523228 and take advantage of our special offer by hitting the link below:

https://ohscatalog.org/

The staff of the OHS Library and Archives would like to extend its sincere gratitude to all Jubilee attendees! We met vo...
08/18/2026

The staff of the OHS Library and Archives would like to extend its sincere gratitude to all Jubilee attendees! We met volunteers from decades past and heard about personal and familial connections reaching back deep into pipe organ history. And we premiered a special exhibit on the recently unveiled Jacob Hilbus Chamber Organ built circa 1824 and shared the satisfaction of hearing it brought to life by the talented Paolo Bordignon.

It was a joy to share Philadelphia with you all, and we hope to see you in Boston next year!

We hope that everyone who attended the OHS Platinum Jubilee in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania this past week enjoyed their t...
08/17/2026

We hope that everyone who attended the OHS Platinum Jubilee in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania this past week enjoyed their time with us as we celebrated the 70th anniversary of the organization and the many pipe organs that took center stage for the week's events!

And we hope to see you all again next summer when our convention heads back to Boston, Massachusetts!

Photos by William T. Van Pelt
08/17/2026

Photos by William T. Van Pelt

The OHS Platinum Jubilee in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is finally here! For those of you joining us this week, we look f...
08/10/2026

The OHS Platinum Jubilee in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is finally here! For those of you joining us this week, we look forward to sharing in celebration together! Along with the United States Semiquincentennial, 2026 also marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Organ Historical Society! A Septuagennial or Platinum Jubilee represents a significant milestone in the life of this totally unique institution. And what better way to celebrate than with a party!

To keep up to date with any last minute updates regarding the celebration this week, please consider joining the Jubilee mailing list by hitting the link below:

https://vr2.verticalresponse.com/s/websitesignupform07132026115944am

If you're joining us this summer in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to celebrate the 70th Anniversary - or the Platinum Jubil...
08/05/2026

If you're joining us this summer in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to celebrate the 70th Anniversary - or the Platinum Jubilee - of the OHS, you can look forward to taking the opportunity to see pipe organs in the area including Aeolian Company Opus 1726 built circa 1930 at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania!

If you are attending our Platinum Jubilee next week but feel you haven't received an email from the OHS recently, please consider joining the Jubilee mailing list by hitting the link below:

https://vr2.verticalresponse.com/s/websitesignupform07132026115944am

Address

330 N Spring Mill Road
Villanova, PA
19085

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+14844887473

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