[1] John Sullivan Dwight created the Journal, and published it in Boston, Massachusetts.

Among the early writers was Alexander Wheelock Thayer, who would become one of the first major music historians in the country.

Other contributors have included John Knowles Paine, William F. Apthorp, W. S. B. Mathews and C. H.

[3] The Journal was published weekly beginning on Saturday, April 10, 1852, with each volume consisting of 26 numbers.

In 1865 the journal was published biweekly and each volume ran for one complete year.