
St. John’s Lutheran Church, 511 – 523 Race Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Photo — 1924)
J.H. & C.S. Odell (1877)
Historic Organ Awards
Since 1975, OHS has identified specific pipe organs as having historical, cultural, and musical significance by presenting certificates of recognition. Until 2011, these certificates were called Historic Organ Citations, and at that time 409 instruments had been so recognized.
In 2013, the citations program was revised and named Historic Pipe Organ Awards. The new program continues to place highest value on pipe organs that remain unaltered in their original locations. Further, pipe organs must in general have been maintained in their historic state for at least fifty years before they are considered for an award, although exceptions may be allowed if circumstances warrant. Framed certificates are prepared and presented by an OHS official or designate, usually during a special recital or program or, if appropriate, during a special worship service. The certificates remain the property of OHS and are retained by the owner and displayed publicly so long as the pipe organ retains its historic characteristics.
The Historic Pipe Organ Awards program is designed in accord with the OHS Guidelines for Conservation and Preservation and includes different types of awards, each one distinct in the way it recognizes the historic significance of a pipe organ.
General requirements for any Historic Organ Award
Awards are presented to organs of any period or style of organbuilding, so long as they are installed in a manner appropriate for their style. Instruments in storage or erected temporarily in locations for demonstration purposes are therefore not elegible to receive awards.
An organ must be an example of excellence in organbuilding to receive an award. The specific way excellence is determined in an instrument is up to the collective judgment of the Historic Organ Awards Committee as it considers both mechanical and tonal properties of the organ in question.
An organ must be in an unaltered state for a period of at least 50 years in order to receive an award. An organ not in its original home may be eligible, but must retain its original mechanical and tonal properties. Similarly, neither restorative repairs nor full restorations prevent an organ from receiving an award, so long as the organ’s tonal and mechanical properties are intact and unaltered. Recent restorations should be made in accordance with the OHS Guidelines for Conservation and Preservation.
On the other hand, organs that have been modified in a significant way may be considered for an award when those modifications have been in use for a period of 50 years or more.
Specific Historic Organ Awards
An organ may be designated a National Heritage Pipe Organ when it meets all general requirements for OHS Historic Organ Awards and is of demonstrated and documented artistic, musical, social or historic value.
An organ may be designated a Landmark of American Organbuilding when it meets all general requirements for OHS Historic Organ Awards, is of demonstrated and documented artistic, musical, social or historic value, and when it also has some distinctive or unique feature that indicates a place of importance in the historical development of organbuilding in the USA.
Nominations
Anyone can nominate an organ for a Historic Pipe Organ Award: membership in the Society is not required. (Of course, we are always happy to welcome new members, too!) Further details are included in the two links below. The first is to a one-page Awards Application form, which must be submitted as part of the nomination or application for either of the awards listed above.
The second is to a detailed description of the information and supporting documents that must accompany any nomination.
We welcome nominations for both the awards. Please address any questions you may have to the Chair of the Historic Organ Awards Committee, Steuart Goodwin.
Nominate a Pipe Organ
Download | Description |
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![]() | Historic Pipe Organ Awards Application FormPDF FormatMay be printed out |
![]() | Historic Pipe Organ Required Support MaterialsPDF FormatMay be printed out |