Hammond, William Churchill, 1860-1949

Organist, choir director, professor. Born in Rockville, Conn. Nov. 25, 1860, son of Joseph Churchill Hammond, Jr. and Katharine Isham Burr. Organist Second Congregational Church in Rockville, 1876-84; Second Congregational Church in Holyoke, Massachusetts, 1885-1949 and formed the choir at that church. Founder of the American Guild of Organists. On music faculty at Smith College, 1889-99; Mount Holyoke College 1899-1937. Married Fanny Bliss Reed in 1898; had two sons, William Churchill Hammond, Jr. and Lansing Van der Heyden Hammond. In 1924 took over direction of the Mount Holyoke Glee Club. Given an honorary Doctor of Music degree by Mount Holyoke. Died on April 16, 1949, in Holyoke, Mass.

From the description of Papers 1868-1964 1885-1949. (Lewis & Clark Library). WorldCat record id: 42850834

William Churchill Hammond was born November 25, 1860, in Rockville, Connecticut, to Joseph Churchill Hammond, Jr. and Katharine Isham Burr Hammond. He began his career as an organist in 1876 at the Second Congregational Church in Rockville and served in that position until 1884. Hammond also studied music with B.F. Leavens, N.H. Allen, and S.P. Warren in Hartford, Connecticut and New York City in 1876. In 1884, he played organ at the Pearl Street Congregational Church in Hartford, Connecticut. He went to Holyoke, Massachusetts, in 1885 to play organ for the Second Congregational Church. He was there from 1885-1949 and also formed the choir at that church. In 1896, Hammond was a founder of the American Guild of Organists. He married Fanny Bliss Reed in 1898 and they had two sons, William Churchill Hammond, Jr. and Lansing Van der Heyden Hammond. Hammond was a music teacher in Holyoke and taught organ at Smith College from 1889-1899. He joined the faculty of Mount Holyoke College as a music professor in 1899. In 1924 Hammond took over direction of the Mount Holyoke Glee Club. He was also given an honorary degree of Doctor of Music by Mount Holyoke in that year. He remained at Mount Holyoke College until 1937. Hammond died on April 16, 1949, in Holyoke, Massachusetts, at the age of eighty-eight.

From the guide to the Hammond papers MS 0724., 1868-1964, 1885-1949, (Mount Holyoke College Archives and Special Collections)