About the Chapter

Who We Are

Illinois Chapter has more than 3,367 individual members, making ours the 5th largest Chapter in the nation. We have members in 82 of 102 counties across the state. Click on the map to enlarge and see where our greatest numbers are and how many AMTA members there are in your county. We plan to develop a more detailed map for Cook County in the future.

AMTA-Illinois Chapter History

The American Massage Therapy Association was founded in 1943 by a graduate class at the College of Swedish Massage in Chicago.  Its original name was the American Association of Masseurs and Masseuses. In 1949, the Illinois Chapter of the AAMM was organized to serve members locally. The first Chapter meeting of seven charter members was held at Melson’s Health Center in Joliet. Founding officers included A.F. Reidel of Chicago, President; George Merideth, Vice-President; and Arthur D. Melson of Joliet, Secretary-Treasurer. The Chapter newsletter began as “The Masseur: Illinois Chapter” in the early 1950s. The Chapter has been active both locally and nationally through the years promoting the interests of massage therapists in Illinois.

AMTA-Illinois Mission

To serve AMTA-Illinois Chapter members while advancing the art, science and practice of massage therapy in the State of Illinois.

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