The American Recorder Society was founded in 1939 to enable recorder players to meet, improve their playing skills, and publish editions of recorder music.  In 2005 ARS inaugurated the Recorder Music Center at Regis University in Denver.

Today there are ARS members throughout the U.S., Canada, and 30 countries around the world, representing professional and amateur players, consorts and recorder orchestras, teachers, students, composers, workshop organizers, and those who make, repair, or sell recorders.  Active ARS chapters exist all over North America.