Begun in 1975, the Collection is the project of Edmund Michael Frederick and his wife Patricia Humphrey Frederick of Ashburnham, Massachusetts. Its purpose is to provide musicians and music lovers a chance to hear works by major piano composers, played on pianos such as those the composers knew, and for which their music was conceived.

The Collection is housed in the former Stevens Library building and includes only grand pianos, by important makers whose instruments were highly regarded in their day, acquired in basically good condition, with most of their original materials intact (especially soundboards). It aims to match each instrument to a specific composer or generation of composers known to have used or preferred that make and vintage of piano. The period of pianos in the Collection extends from about 1790 to 1928, representing music from Haydn and Beethoven through the French Impressionists.

Since fall, 1985, the Fredericks have conducted the Historical Piano Concerts series, based on the Collection. At each concert a professional pianist, sometimes in solo recital, sometimes with a singer or small chamber group, plays music suited to the piano chosen for the program. The concerts, held at the Ashburnham Community Church in a space with superb acoustics, draw audiences from all over New England. Historical Piano Concerts, Inc. is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization supported by public donation and volunteer assistance.