Figure 1.--This looks to be a Catholic church choir. We are nor sure when it was taken, probably in the 1920s, perhaps the early 30s. We do know that the chiurch was located in the Pullman neighborhood of Chicago. One observer described the grrop as altar boys (acolytes). There are group portraits of altar boys, but our experience is that large bows were normally worn by choristers and ad not altar boys. Note the younger boys in front are not wearing bows. We believe that these are new boys to the choir and have not yet reached a certain level of proficency. And there are older boys in the back with out bows.

The groups sponsoring choirs of course affected the nature and music on which the choirs worked. Choirs have been organized by a variety of groups including the Boy Scouts, charity groups, church groups, municipalities, performance choirs, schools, and various private groups. The greatest number of choirs is of course church choirs. Quite a number of individual churches sponsor choirs. Here both Catholic and Protestant churches sponsored choirs. The most accomplished choirs are some of the other choirs with deeper funding and larger recruitment areas. Some local church and school groups probably do not reach a level of accomplishmenr beyond singing in local services or performances. Other more accomplished choirs are in demand and perform widely, sometimes even international venues.

Churches

The greatest number of choirs is of course church choirs. Given the number of churches in America, the number of church choirs is very large. Only schools existed in larger numbers and not all schools had choirs. Quite a number of individual churches did and continue to sponsor choirs. Here both Catholic and Protestant churches sponsored choirs. These choirs varied widely. Some were all adult choirs without children. Some were choirs with adults and children. Others were children choirs. These were often mixed choirs with both boys and girls. We are not yet sure how the various denominations approached choirs. We think in many cases the choices about choirs may often been made at the individual church level. Of course the undividual capabilities of the choir masters were also very important. Many of these choirs had costumes, normally robes. The choristers wore their regular clothes under the robes. Some denominations require women and girls to cover their heads inside the church so we see some wearing mortar boards caps or other headwear in some choirs.

Municipalities

Performance Groups

Some local church and school groups probably do not reach a level of accomplishmenr beyond singing in local services or performances. Other more accomplished choirs are in demand and perform widely, sometimes even international venues.

Schools

Many schools organized choirs. We do not yet know much about these choirs.

Youth Groups

We note some Boy Scouts choirs. We are unsure about other Americam youth groups.