American Bell Association International

The American Bell Association International, Inc. is a nonprofit organization devoted to the collection, preservation, restoration, and research of bells in which members can attend regional chapter events and an annual national convention.[1] Twenty-two U.S. chapters and an additional five international chapters are recognized by the American Bell Association International; global membership is 1,200 persons.[2] The organization is often referred to as the ABA; it is one of over 100 names that applies this acronym.[3][4]

History

The American Bell Association International started in 1940 as The National Bell Collector's Club by several women staying at the Chautauqua Institution in New York State, and the organization initiated a monthly printed publication, The Bell Tower, named in honor of the Miller Bell Tower at the institution.[5] In 1989 The Bell Tower became a bi-monthly printed publication and has remained so since.[6] Content of The Bell Tower is varied, ranging from miniature collectible bells to huge tower bells.[7]

Events

The first American Bell Association International annual convention took place in Chicago, Illinois in 1946. The fifth annual convention was held in New York, New York and featured in The New Yorker, which covered one of the American Bell Association International's founders, Mary A. Collins, and Bells of Sarna by the founder of present day company S.S. Sarna.[8] The most recent (2015) annual convention will be held in Kansas City, MO.[9] The annual convention is held in a different state each year. Chapters of the American Bell Association International have various meeting schedules and convene two or more times per year.[10] Chapter meetings generally include five main components. A social phase allows members to meet and converse. Presentations allow members and/or experts to disseminate information about a focus or discipline regarding bells and may take such forms as digital and/or oral lectures. A business discussion phase addresses chapter goals and achievements. A display period allows members to provide viewings of items from their bell collections, and an exchange period presents members the opportunity to buy, sell, and/or trade items.[11]

See also

Notes

American Bell Association International members include(d) authors of books on travel to find bells,[12] collecting bells as a hobby,[1][13] bells as culturally significant instruments,[14] and campanology.[15] The American Bell Association International is recommended by the Smithsonian Institution as the source from which public inquiries may obtain information about bells.[16] The symbol of The American Bell Association International is a bell reported by the donor (the organization’s 14th president) to have belonged to Ulysses S. Grant.[17]

References
  1. Springer, L.E. (1972). "The Collector’s Book of Bells", Crown Publishers Inc., New York, NY, USA. ISBN 0517506351.
  2. Association of Collecting Clubs. "Collecting Club Directory: American Bell Association International" Archived 2010-11-21 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved on 13 September 2013.
  3. TheFreeDictionary.com "ABA". Retrieved on 13 October 2013.
  4. AcronymFinder.com "American Bell Association International, Inc". Retrieved on 13 October 2013.
  5. Mellecker, J. The Talk of the Town, "Bells," The New Yorker, June 29, 1987. p. 21.
  6. Rama, Jean-Pierre (1993). "Cloches de France et d’ailleurs", Le Temps Apprivoisé, Paris, France. ISBN 2283581583.
  7. TowerBells.org. "Tower Bells - Introduction.". Retrieved on 13 October 2013.
  8. Hellman, J.T. The Talk of the Town, "Ting-a-Ling," The New Yorker, July 8, 1950. p. 18.
  9. http://klnl.org. "American Bell Association Convention.". Retrieved on 1 May 2015.
  10. Shoreham Bell Museum. "What is the American Bell Association International, Inc.?". Retrieved on 13 October 2013.
  11. Publishers Clearing House. "Antique Bells - Collectible Bells - Vintage Bells.". Retrieved on 13 October 2013.
  12. Meyer, A.C. (1944). "Travel Search for Bells", Lightner Publishing, Chicago, IL, USA.
  13. Additional publications on hobby and collection of bells:
    • Baker, D.S. (1999). "More Collectible Bells: Classic to Contemporary", Schiffer Publishing, Ltd., Atglen, PA, USA.
    • Baker, D.S. (1998). "Collectible Bells: Treasures of Sight and Sound", Schiffer Publishing, Ltd., Atglen, PA, USA.
    • Trinidad, A.A. (2001). "Glass Bells", Schiffer Publishing, Ltd., Atglen, PA, USA.
    • Trinidad, A.A. (2003). "Collectible Glass Bells of the World", Schiffer Publishing, Ltd., Atglen, PA, USA.
    • Trinidad, A.A. (2010). "American Glass Bells", Schiffer Publishing, Ltd., Atglen, PA, USA.
    • Trinidad, A.A. (2010). "Glass Bells from Around the World", Schiffer Publishing, Ltd., Atglen, PA, USA.
  14. Springer, L.E. (1976). "That Vanishing Sound", Crown Publishers Inc., New York, NY, USA.
  15. Spear, Nathaniel Jr. (1978). "A Treasury of Archaeological Bells", Hastings House Publishers, New York, USA. ISBN 0803871821.
  16. Smithsonian Institution. "Bells, Selected References." Archived 2013-10-16 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved on 13 October 2013.
  17. Bell Collectors of the ABA (1970). "Bells of the World", The American Bell Association, Natrona Heights, PA, USA.
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