The American Bell Association International, Inc. (ABA) is a nonprofit organization devoted to the collection, preservation, restoration, and research of

bell A bell /ˈbɛl/ () is a directly struck idiophone percussion instrument. Most bells have the shape of a hollow cup that when struck vibrates in a single strong strike tone, with its sides forming an efficient resonator. The strike may be m ...

s in which members can attend regional chapter events and an annual national convention.Springer, L.E. (1972). "The Collector’s Book of Bells", Crown Publishers Inc., New York, NY, USA. . 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. The organization is one of over 100 names that uses the acronym ''ABA''.

History

The American Bell Association International started in 1940 as the National Bell Collector's Club by several women staying at the

Chautauqua Institution The Chautauqua Institution ( ) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit education center and summer resort for adults and youth located on in Chautauqua, New York, northwest of Jamestown, New York, Jamestown in the western southern tier of New York (state), N ...

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. In 1989 ''The Bell Tower'' became a bi-monthly printed publication and has remained so since. Content of ''The Bell Tower'' is varied, ranging from miniature collectible bells to huge tower bells.

Events

The first American Bell Association International annual convention took place in

Chicago, Illinois Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

, in 1946. The fifth annual convention was held in

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

and featured in ''

The New Yorker ''The New Yorker'' is an American magazine featuring journalism, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons, and poetry. It was founded on February 21, 1925, by Harold Ross and his wife Jane Grant, a reporter for ''The New York T ...

'', 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. The most recent (2015) annual convention will be held in Kansas City, MO. 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. 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.

Notes

American Bell Association International members include(d) authors of books on travel to find bells, collecting bells as a hobby, bells as culturally significant instruments, and

campanology Campanology (/kæmpəˈnɒlədʒi/) is both the scientific and artistic study of bells, encompassing their design, tuning, and the methods by which they are rung. It delves into the technology behind bell casting and tuning, as well as the rich ...

. The American Bell Association International is recommended by the

Smithsonian Institution The Smithsonian Institution ( ), or simply the Smithsonian, is a group of museums, Education center, education and Research institute, research centers, created by the Federal government of the United States, U.S. government "for the increase a ...

as the source from which public inquiries may obtain information about bells. 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 Ulysses S. Grant (born Hiram Ulysses Grant; April 27, 1822July 23, 1885) was the 18th president of the United States, serving from 1869 to 1877. In 1865, as Commanding General of the United States Army, commanding general, Grant led the Uni ...

.Bell Collectors of the ABA (1970). "Bells of the World", The American Bell Association, Natrona Heights, PA, USA.

References

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External links

The American Bell Association International, Inc.

'Bell Talk'
Bells (percussion) Clubs and societies in the United States

History

Events

See also

Notes

References

External links