In the summer of 1928, Edwin Franko Goldman, leader of the Goldman Band; Victor Grabel, conductor of the Chicago Concert Band; and Captain William Stannard, Leader of the United States Army Band, met in Columbus, Ohio to discuss ways of easing the problems facing the leaders of America's professional and military bands. That August, Captain Stannard recorded his vision for the American Bandmasters Association in a letter to Albert Austin Harding, Director of Bands at the University of Illinois, "we conceived the idea of creating an ABA for the purpose of furthering the interests of outstanding American Band Masters, and of interesting composers, arrangers, and music publishers in Wind Band music."

The fledgling organization was able to secure the endorsement of America's most famous bandleader, and soon Commander John Philip Sousa agreed to serve as the first Honorary Life President of the ABA. On July 5, 1929 the charter members of the ABA met in New York. These earliest members included Edwin Franko Goldman; Charles Benter, Director of the United States Navy Band; J. J. Gagnier, Director of His Majesty's Grenadier Guards Band, of Montreal; Victor J. Grabel, Conductor of the Chicago Concert Band; Albert Austin Harding, Director of Bands at the University of Illinois; Richard B. Hayward, Director of the Toronto Concert Band; Charles O'Neill, Director of the Royal 22nd Regiment Band of Quebec; Arthur Pryor, Director of Arthur Pryo's Band; and Frank Simon, Director of the ARMCO Band in Middletown, Ohio. The first annual convention of the ABA was held in March of 1930 in Middletown. The Association has met annually since 1930, except for during World War II.

The ABA has championed the causes of American bands and bandmasters throughout its history. Its members' accomplishments include the election of John Philip Sousa to the Hall of Fame of Great Americans, the publication of the Journal of Band Research, and the establishment of several awards and prizes, including the Ostwald Band Composition Contest and the Edwin Franko Goldman Memorial Citation.

The American Bandmasters Association Archives (ABA) covers the period from 1929 to the present. The collection consists of publications, including the Journal of Band Research and the ABA Newsletter; correspondence; conference materials and programs; meeting minutes; committee reports; financial and administrative records; oral histories; directories and membership lists; photographs, memorabilia, and recordings. Specific documentation can be found on the ABA Research Center, the ABA Ostwald Award, the Board of Directors, officers, committees and annual conferences.

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