The Albert Rees Davis Endowment Fund, Inc. Historical Perspective
​The Albert Rees Davis Memorial Fund
The first meeting to organize the Albert Rees Davis Memorial Fund was held June 2, 1926, at the residence of Frederic H. Gates at eight P.M. “Present--Frederic H. Gates, Chas M. Buss and Chas W. Davis. Wm S. Cochran was present to act as secretary pro-tem. Mr. Gates was selected as temporary chairman of the meeting. On motion duly seconded Mr. Gates was elected permanent Chairman of the Trustees. After discussion of many names the Trustees elected as the two additional Trustees S. Livingston Mather and Lincoln G. Dickey. Wm H. West was elected permanent secretary. Mr. Gates was requested to see these three gentlemen and secure their consent to act in the capacity indicated.” (2)
Frederic H. Gates then presented “a plan of campaign for a building fund by means of circulars and letters to be sent to Singer Club members, ex-members and Patrons of the Club.” (3) The purpose of the campaign was to provide a permanent home for The Singers’ Club.
In subsequent meetings various properties were considered as a possible future home for the Club. Among them was the Telling property on East 87th Street at a purchase price of $30,000 and with improvements estimated at $10,000. At a Trustees’ meeting (4) on October 8, 1926, sketches and drawings of architect Robert Peal were presented to show reconstruction of the Telling property for the Club’s purposes. The original announced fund raising goal was $50,000.
On January 25, 1927, the first contributions to the Fund were recorded, and by April 30, 1927, they amounted to $3197.50. A meeting was held October 23, 1928, in the Club’s rehearsal room at the Al Koran Club after the death of Frederic Gates. Elected as Trustees were Charles M. Buss, Charles W. Davis, S. Livingston Mather, William H. West, and Benjamin B. Wickham. (5) The first investments in securities were made by the Trustees October 29, 1929.
Although there had been genuine enthusiasm at the prospect of obtaining a permanent home for The Singers’ Club, it was never to come to pass. On July 28, 1931, the first request for financial assistance (6) from The Singers’ Club was approved by the Memorial Fund Trustees. This was the first of many Singers’ Club requests for financial assistance over the next sixty-plus years from the Memorial Fund and, later, from The Albert Rees Davis Endowment Fund, Inc.
As the years went by, the net asset value of the Fund grew through contributions and appreciation of invested assets. Additionally, during the thirty-four year existence of the Albert Rees Davis Memorial Fund, governance was somewhat informal by today’s standards, and there was no separate legal charter. Throughout this period the minutes indicate that the Trustees were essentially self-perpetuating with the obvious assent and respect of the members of The Singers’ Club. Officers (Chairman and Secretary, later Secretary-Treasurer) were elected by the Trustees every two years beginning in 1928. As a practical matter, the men appeared to serve what amounted to permanent terms unless a vacancy occurred by death or resignation. By implication from this pattern, the members of The Singers’ Club obviously appreciated the dedication, knowledge, and experience of the Trustees.
In the late 1950’s attorney and long-time Singers’ Club member and past president Gerald E. Johnson (7) recognized the need to formalize the existence and organization of the Memorial Fund through incorporation and to bring its financial record keeping and reporting into compliance with applicable state and federal law. He personally lead the effort, including the drafting of documents, to bring formal organization to the Memorial Fund.
​The Albert Rees Davis Endowment Fund, Inc.
On September 26, 1960, the Albert Rees Davis Memorial Fund was incorporated as The Albert Rees Davis Endowment Fund, Inc. (ARD), a corporation not for profit under the laws of the State of Ohio. The incorporators were Gerald E. Johnson, Clarence H. Pae, and Norman M. Goldsword. Clare R. Metcalf and Dwight B. Buss joined Messers. Johnson, Pae, and Goldsword on the same day to become the original five Trustees of the ARD. (8)
Under the Article XI of the ARD Code of Regulations, the members of the ARD are all the voting members of The Singers’ Club.(9) The members elect a board of five Trustees who are not officers or directors of The Singers’ Club. Any vacancy on the board of Trustees is filled by the remaining Trustees for the balance of the unexpired term. (10) All responsibility for management of the ARD, including investment policy and disbursement of all finds, rests with the Trustees. (11)
Almost without exception, the ARD Trustees, as was the case with the Memorial Fund Trustees, are experienced, long-time members of The Singers’ Club, and by tradition most Trustees have previously held a major office or offices in the Club. Many have served as President of The Singers’ Club, and currently four of the five Trustees are past Presidents.
No capital stock has been issued. No compensation is paid or has ever been paid for the services of any of the Trustees or officers.
Although the ARD and The Singers’ Club memberships are comprised of the same men, the two organizations are separate and distinct from each other with separate and distinct boards independently responsible for the management and administration of each organization’s affairs. By long tradition and consistent past practice, and because of the legal importance of maintaining independent and separate management, no man may serve simultaneously on both boards. (12)
In a letter dated July 26, 1962, J. F. Worley, Chief, Exempt Organizations Branch of the IRS, wrote, “Based upon the evidence submitted, it is held that you are exempt from Federal income tax as an organization described in section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, as it is shown that you are organized and operated exclusively for the purpose shown above.” The purpose indicated was “Educational and Charitable.” Additionally, an IRS Rulings Section letter of January 15, 1973, classified the ARD as a non-profit educational organization that is not a private foundation because it is defined in IRC Sec 509(a) (3).
Therefore, as a result of these rulings, all contributions to the ARD are deductible from taxable income, to the extent allowed by law. In considering requests for funding and in administering and managing all the affairs of the ARD, the Trustees have worked diligently since 1962 to protect tax-free status of the ARD.
Long-term benefit of the Albert Rees Davis Memorial Fund and The Albert Rees Davis Endowment Fund, Inc., to The Singers’ Club
It is important to note that over these sixty-plus years the Albert Rees Davis Memorial Fund and The Albert Rees Davis Endowment Fund, Inc., have contributed more than $250,000 (with more than $68,000 of that total being contributed in the last seven fiscal years) to The Singers’ Club for ordinary operating expenses and extraordinary capital needs, (13) for special needs such as the 75th and 100th Anniversary celebrations, and for approximately 100 scholarship students. This significant, continuous support provided by the two Funds has made up many annual operating deficits of The Singers’ Club, thereby ensuring the continuation and financial health of the Club for more than 104 years.
An historical perspective and understanding of the purpose and function of the Albert Rees Davis Memorial Fund and The Albert Rees Davis Endowment Fund, Inc and their relationships to The Singers’ Club- The Trustees of The Albert Rees Davis Endowment Fund, Inc.
Footnote References
1 The name of Albert Rees Davis first appears in The Singers’ Club concert programs on November 14, 1895. However, prior to this date an Albert L. Davis appeared in the 11/22/94, 2/16/95, and 4/4/95 programs. It is likely that the difference is attributable’ to a typographical error and that the two names are one and the same individual.
2 Minutes of the Trustees’ meeting June 2, 1926. Recorded by William H. West, Secretary. The original six Trustees were Messers. Gates, Buss, Davis, Mather, Dickey, and West. William S. Cochran ‘19 was present at the original meeting to act as secretary pro tern but was not elected as a Trustee. Frederic H. Gates ‘07 was President of The Singers’ Club 1910-1919; Charles M. Buss ‘10 was President of The Singers’ Club 1919-1921; Charles W. Davis joined The Singers’ Club in 1904 and was Albert Rees Davis’ brother. Lincoln G. Dickey came to Cleveland during World War I, probably never sang with the Club but was listed as a Patron in Singers’ Club programs 1926-1928, and was the father of Lincoln Cutler Dickey ‘30, D.D.S., Honorary Member of The Singers’ Club. S. Livingston Mather, long-time genial host to The Singers’ Club’s Annual Outing at Mountain Glen Farm in Mentor, Ohio, joined the Club in 1912. He served as a Trustee continuously for 34 years, longer than any other man, until his death in 1960. William H. West also joined The Singers’ Club in 1912 and served as a Trustee and Secretary until 1947.
3 Minutes of the Trustees’ meeting June 2, 1926. Recorded by William H. West, Secretary.
4 This meeting also established the policy, which continues to the present, requiring the signature of two Trustees to expend any money from the Fund.
5 Benjamin B. Wickham ‘01 was President of The Singers’ Club 1921-1924.
6 “Six hundred dollars ($600.00) to assist in meeting the expenses of the Club.” Minutes of the Trustees’ meeting July 28, 1931. Recorded by William H. West, Secretary.
7 Gerald E. Johnson ‘36 had been appointed a Memorial Fund Trustee on April 17, 1953, by the remaining Trustees to fill the unexpired term left vacant by the death of Charles W. Davis. However, on May 19, 1953 the Trustees accepted his resignation since he had been elected to the board of The Singers’ Club in the interim. He subsequently was elected President of the Club.
8 Gerald E. Johnson ‘36 was President of The Singers’ Club 1953-1954; Clarence H. Pae
‘23 was the long-time Secretary-Treasurer of the Albert Rees Davis Memorial Fund and of the
Albert Rees Davis Endowment Fund, Inc., from the years 1948 to 1964; Norman M. Goldsword
‘34 was President of The Singers’ Club 1943-1947; CIare R. Metcalf’19 was President of The
Singers’ Club 1934-1937; and Dwight B. Buss ‘32, son of Charles M. Buss ‘10, was President of
The Singers’ Club 1950-1953.
9 Singers’ Club past president and former and current ARD Trustee Roland H. Strasshofer, Jr., stated on September 15, 1994, “Any member of The Singers’ Club who is in good standing and all honorary members of The Singers’ Club are members of the ARD and are entitled to vote. ‘Membership in good standing’ includes the requirement of being current in dues.” – Minutes of the Trustees’ meeting September 15, 1994, recorded by J. Gerard Sheehan ‘74, Secretary.
10 Article IV of the Code of Regulations. This has been the consistent policy from the beginning when, on October 3, 1928, the Memorial Fund minutes of a Trustees’ meeting read, “On a motion by Charles W. Davis, S. Livingston Mather was elected to fill the unexpired term of Frederic H. Gates, deceased.” recorded by William H. West, Secretary. See also the minutes of a special board of Trustees meeting on September 8, 1964, when--upon the death of Trustee Carl V. Weygandt ‘23--Lawrence L. Melick ‘42 was elected by the remaining Trustees to serve the balance of the term of Chief Justice Weygandt. – Recorded by Clare R. Metcalf, Secretary. See also footnote 7, supra.
11 Section three of the Amended Articles of Incorporation and Article IV of the Code of Regulations. The Trustees clearly are given the responsibility and authority to manage all the property and affairs of the ARD, subject only to the limitations on the Trustees’ powers contained in the General Corporation Act of Ohio. Also, see the minutes of the 1964 ARD annual meeting (May 12, 1964), which read in part “. ... the Chairman (Gerald E. Johnson--CHK) stated to the membership that the administration of the corporation on the expenditure of its funds was solely under the control of the Trustees and that the resolutions adopted by the membership were advisory only.” – Recorded by Clarence H. Pae, Secretary.
12 See footnote 7, supra.
13 Examples of contributions for capital needs have included funds for the purchase of a piano (prior to 1966) and for risers (January 8, 1969).