Percy Grainger Society

Our mission is to promote the work and legacy of Percy Grainger with a membership community that preserves his historic house, encourages appreciation and performance of his music, and promotes a deeper understanding of the cultural, social, and economic context of his life and work. 

History of the Society

After Percy Grainger’s death, Ella Grainger continued to live at White Plains. Helping musicians locate performing material was a frequent demand, as was the hosting of scholarly research and an ever-increasing number of people, mainly musicians, who wanted to tour the house because of its historic significance. Ella tackled and began organizing the piles of Grainger papers, recordings, and memorabilia that surrounded her.

One of Ella’s early efforts to preserve Percy's legacy resulted in a New York State Regent’s charter for the Percy Grainger Library Society, granted provisionally in 1964, and permanently on September 26, 1969. Initial incorporators were Ella, along with Charles W. Hughes (1900–1999, Professor, Lehman College, New York), Fannie Lippman Hughes (1994–1989, Charles’ wife), James Holden (1905–1991, Attorney, Holden Brothers Law Firm), Martha C. Holden (1916–2013, James’ wife), and “their associates and successors”. As a private foundation, activities were funded out of the proceeds of Percy Grainger’s royalties, administered and contributed to by Ella Grainger.

The purposes were to: maintain a musical research library, to foster knowledge and appreciation of the music of the late Percy Grainger and others; to encourage the performance of music; and to make financial grants to orchestras and musical institutions. Among the incorporators was James Holden, a partner in the law firm of Holden Brothers, who had prepared Percy’s final Will (dated September 29, 1959). The charter provided that the organization had the power to enact bylaws, and that it should have not less than 5 or more than 28 trustees. There was to be one annual meeting per year on May 14.  

The house was soon placed on the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places. Reflecting its broadening focus and membership, the organization changed its name to the International Percy Grainger Society on November 20, 1981. On May 22, 2022, following a strategic review in 2021, the International Percy Grainger Society merged with the UK-based Percy Grainger Society, to become one organization, simply named the Percy Grainger Society.