Chicago, Illinois, Sept. 8–9, 1990
This page is part of the online exhibition, The United Sacred Harp Musical Association.
The United Sacred Harp Musical Association convened in Chicago, Illinois, on September 8–9, 1990. This was the only time that the convention has met outside the southeast, but plenty of Southern singers were on hand—the report noted fifty-eight singers from Alabama and Georgia, including a large contingent who came on the bus trip organized by Ruth Brown, of Jacksonville, Alabama. More than just a tremendously successful singing, the 87th United Convention was an important demonstration that singers everywhere are all part of the same Sacred Harp community.
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- Poster for the 87th United Convention.
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- Ted Mercer, chairman, leading the business session.
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- 190 singers packed into Ida Noyes Hall at the University of Chicago.
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- Marie Aldridge asked for the singing for the next year on behalf of County Line Church, Corner, AL.
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- Joyce Walton leads the class.
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- Singers from around the country represented on the lead and treble front benches.
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- Photo Collage for the Sixth Anniversary Singing. Photo #7 shows the moment at the 1989 United Convention in Huntsville, AL, when Chicago’s bid was accepted. As Ted Mercer notes, “Hugh McGraw is telling the class to vote however they want to, but he can’t guarantee taking the United to Chicago will be successful.”
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- A report on the 87th United Convention, printed in the Chicago newsletter.
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- A recording of the 1990 United Convention was released on CD as “Sounding Joy”