Note: Not playable. (in this location)
2005-11-29 - Identified through information adapted from *E. M. Skinner/Aeolian-Skinner Opus List*, by Sand Lawn and Allen Kinzey (Organ Historical Society, 1997), and included here through the kind permission of Sand Lawn: Extant. -Database Manager
2016-04-02 - Updated through online information from Scot Huntington: The organ was installed new in the second-floor chapel, concurrent with the construction of the Divinity School edifice. It was in very poor condition when it was superceded by an 11-rank, 2-manual and pedal mechanical-action organ built in 1984 by D. Jacques Way & Zuckermann Harpsichords of Stonington, Connecticut. The organ narrowly escaped being scrapped at that time, when a number of organists and organbuilders, including myself, wrote to University Organist John Ferris asking that the organ be left in place even if unused. The organ is contained in a small and shallow chamber on the front right side of the rectangular room. A facade of lacquered, natural finish zinc basses with gilded mouths, is composed of both dummy pipes and the speaking basses of the leathered Great Open Diapason 8'. The Swell and Choir are duplexed and contained in a single expression box. The chapel is the site of the famed "sermon competitions", and at the time of the organ's last regular use, the chapel was used weekly for Wednesday noon chapel services accompanied by the Harvard University organist. With the retirement of Harvard University organist John Ferris, that duty was transferred to the Divinity School Chaplain's office. Neither organ has been in use since 2004, when services became more non-denominational in nature and the use of an organ during worship services became considered anachronistic. The Zuckermann organ has recently been offered for sale, but hope remains for the eventual restoration of the Skinner. In the intervening decades, occasional malfunctioning of a very antiquated steam-heating system has damaged both instruments, completely silencing the once marginally-functional Skinner. -Database Manager
2016-04-02 - Updated through online information from Scot Huntington. -Database Manager
2024-09-21 - Updated through online information from Joshua (September 19, 2024): I visited the organ and heard from others in the Harvard Organ Society. This organ is no longer playable, though it is still there. -Jim Stettner
Typed specification Source: Scot Huntington Date not recorded
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Andover Theological Seminary / Harvard Divinity School
The Ernest M. Skinner Co. Opus 184 1911 3 manuals, 15 stops, 15 ranks
________________________________________________________________________________
GREAT ORGAN SWELL ORGAN
16' Bourdon (ext. PD) 19 16' Bourdon 61
8' Diapason 61 8' Diapason 61
8' Concert Flute 61 8' Gedackt 61
8' Erzähler 61 8' Salicional 61
4' Flute 61 8' Voix Celeste (TC) 49
8' Dulciana 61
CHOIR ORGAN 4' Flute 61
8' Gedackt SW 8' Oboe 61
8' Salicional SW Tremolo
8' Voix Celeste (TC) SW
8' Dulciana SW PEDAL ORGAN
4' Flute SW 16' Violone (wood) 30
8' Oboe SW 16' First Bourdon 42
8' Clarinet 61 16' Second Bourdon SW
10 2/3' Quinte (fr. 1st Bdn) --
COUPLERS 8' First Gedackt (fr. 16') --
Swell to Great 16 8 4 8' Second Gedackt SW
Choir to Great 16 8 4
Swell to Choir 8 ADJUSTABLE COMBINATIONS
Swell to Swell 16 4 Great Organ 1-2-3 (thumb)
Great to Pedal 8 Swell Organ 1-2-3 (thumb)
Swell to Pedal 8 4 Choir Organ 1-2-3 (thumb)
Choir to Pedal 8 Pedal Organ 1-2 (thumb)
General Cancel (thumb)
PEDAL MOVEMENTS Setter (thumb)
Balanced Swell Pedal
Crescendo Pedal
Great to Pedal Reversible (toe)
Sforzando Reversible (toe spoon)
[Received from Steven E. Lawson 2017-02-01]
Stoplist from console, May, 1984 Source: Source not recorded Date not recorded
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Andover Hall (Chapel), Harvard Divinity School
Harvard University
E.M. Skinner, 1911, Opus 184
GREAT (unenclosed)
16' Bourdon (Pedal)
8' Diapason leathered, basses in the facade
8' Concert Flute
8' Erzahler
4' Flute
SWELL (enclosed)
16' Bourdon
8' Diapason
8' Gedackt
8' Salicional
8' Vox Celeste t.c.
8' Dulciana
4' Flute
8' Cornopean
8' Oboe
Tremolo
CHOIR (duplexed from Swell)
8' Gedackt
8' Salicional
8' Vox Celeste t.c.
8' Dulciana
4' Flute
8' Oboe
8' Clarinet independent
PEDAL
16' Violone wood
16' First Bourdon
16' Second Bourdon (Swell)
10 2/3' Quinte extension
8' First Gedackt extension
8' Second Gedackt extension (Swell)
COUPLERS
Swell to Great
Choir to Great
Swell to Great 16'
Swell to Great 4'
Choir to Great 16'
Choir to Great 4'
Swell 16'
Swell 4'
Swell to Choir
Great to Pedal
Swell to Pedal
Swell to Pedal 4'
Choir to Pedal
MECHANICALS
Great 1-3
Swell 1-4
Choir 1-3
Pedal 1,2 toestuds
0 (General cancel)
Setter (unlabeled piston)
Gr. to Ped. reversible (toestud)
Sforzando (toe spoon)
Swell expression pedal
Crescendo pedal
Drawknob disposition: top down
[Received from Scot Huntington 2016-03-12.]Regrettably, it is not possible to display the information about the sponsor of this pipeorgandatabase entry or if there is a sponsor. Please see About Sponsors on Pipe Organ Database.