Historical/Biographical Note
On December 20th, l907, a group of college instructors and undergraduates met before an open fire and planned two institutions: the Andiron Club and the Colonnade. They came together with the purpose of proliferating the old European philosophical assemblies where learning and erudition mixed with good fellowship. Such a club was in keeping with all the values associated with the belle époque of the l9th century. It seems as if the club operated with one mind, one final cause as it were, but in reality there were several dedicated young men who constituted the core of the group for several years. Among these individuals were M. G. Bishop, John W. Draper, George B. Hotchkiss, Arthur H. Nason, S. M. Tucker, and Henry Melville Love. These men exemplified the role of scholar and friend through the early days of the club, establishing an Andiron tradition, which has kept this club alive up to the present day (1988). In the early days, club rules and goals were well defined. A l9l4 statement of policy (see Club Manual) affirmed the tradition of "Romantic Idealism over Naturalism and Realism," and proceeded to publish accordingly, in The Colonnade (l907 to l922), pieces most appropriate to their doctrine.
In the days before the war and before faculty constituted the majority of members, the club flaunted a youthful fraternity-like atmosphere. Some of there rules of the Club were as follows:
No.3: That the Andiron Club strive to keep its roll of members free from the name of any man not literary in his sympathies and an enthusiastic supporter of literary work.
No.11: Have no relations save the most casual and informal kind with the downtown schools.
No.l2: Let the fraudulent contributor be ostracized.
No.l5: Maintain an enticing secrecy about the affairs of the Andiron Club.
No.l7: Have nothing to do with the Eucleian. (The Eucleian Society was a rival student literary society established in the early nineteenth century at New York University).
The early history of the Andiron Club falls roughly into four distinct periods: (1) the years between its birth in l907 to the beginning of the Draper administration, l9l3-17; (2) l925-26, with the interregnum, during World War I, of Carey C.D. Briggs; (3) the dictatorship of Royal J. Davis, from l926 to l934; and (4) Frederick S. Boas, Professor of English at Columbia University, who became the dictator following the death of Davis.
The Bronx University Heights campus was all-male and as a consequence, Andiron was not open to women until l968. Original members frequently donned tuxedos and puffed on cigars during meetings, but institutional chauvinism gradually died. In the l950s Andiron rapidly lost its members and membership was principally elderly alumni, and although excellent speakers occasionally appeared, the club was on the verge of collapse. Then, Coleman Parsons, a professor of English with no affiliation with NYU, was named dictator. He enthusiastically extended membership so that it included any studious man or woman, regardless of professional status or educational background. He used his academic connections to insure programs of consequence and once again literary scholars of note tried out their theories on an active body of perceptive generalists.
Dr. Parsons' four years as dictator (now called "president") was followed by a succession of distinguished men and the club's first woman president: Edmond Volpe, now President of the College of Staten Island; Arthur Waldhorn, first and third Director of the Davis Center of the Performing Arts; James Tuttleton, Chairman of English at New York University; Frederick Goldin; John Maynard, current Chairman of English at New York University; and Michael Joan Peyser, current President of the Andiron Club of New York City.
These dictators who succeeded Coleman Parsons, although they continued to emphasize the literary and scholarly traditions of Andiron, extended its scope. In addition to literary scholars and biographer-scholars, such as Martin Duberman, Leon Edel, Robert Gutman, Edgar Johnson, Aileen Ward, we heard working critics such as Leslie Fiedler, Helen Vendler, Denis Donoghue, Pauline Kael, John Simon, and Diana Trilling; and novelists such as Joseph Heller, Anthony Burgess, Malcom Bosse, E. L. Doctorow, and Toni Morrison; art historians, Sir John Pope-Hennessy and Robert Rosenblum; poets, John Hollander and Galway Kinnell; musicians and musicologists who included Charles Rosen, Sir Rudolf Bing, Steven Sondheim, Judith Raskin and Alan Rich; cultural historians including Paul Fussell and Joseph Murphy, the recently appointed Chancellor of the University.
For a list of Andiron Club members see Appendix 1 (1908-1934, 1975)
For a partial list of topics discussed at Andiron Club meetings see Appendix 2
Return to topScope and Content Note
The collection is very complete from l907 to l943, but afterwards sporadic. Still, much less material was generated after the 1940s, so, in that context, we cannot be sure of the magnitude of outstanding material. It is fairly certain that the Andiron private library (the titles of which may be found in the club bibliography and club manual) has been broken up over the years.
The production of "The Colonnade," or any facsimile thereof, ended in l922. The complete set of "Colonnades" are bound and housed in this collection.
These records and publications of the Andiron Club extend themselves to diverse areas of academic pursuit. Apart from the obvious biographical and literary values of the records, one might investigate sociological and economic problems using these records. Or, one might wish to examine what makes a club successful.
In brief, the collection contains a literary journal, club newsletters, annals, minutes, council minutes, scrapbooks, memorabilia, photographs, ledgers, notices, correspondence, some original manuscripts, a book by Prof. Nason and a book by Prof. Draper, membership lists, address books, lecture notes, and transcripts of speeches.
Series Descriptions
Series I: Correspondence l940s and l970s
The first series contains the correspondence from the 1940s and 1970s. The letters are of both the dictators of these periods and of outside scholars responding to letters. Generally literary topics are not discussed here, rather, the letters treat club business. (See boxes 1-2)
Series II: Minutes l907-43
"Minutes" correspond to "Annals," "General Minutes," "Council Minutes," "Club Manual," and "The Book of the Poker."
The Annals (l907-12) were an early version of the general minutes and it contains treasury reports, a l912 statement of policy, minutes of the meetings etc. The Annals also contains a poem sent to the club by "The New Yorker" (an NYU literary club), which pokes fun at the Andiron journal's ("Colonnade") obfuscations of the founding fathers. Judging from the dates, this volume represents the first volume of the general minutes which hereafter begin "Volume II, Volume III etc..." (See Box 3)
The General Minutes, l912-43 are volumes containing meticulous records of club meetings: what was discussed, news about members, treasury reports, (although the Council Minutes would be the best place to investigate financial matters), news about poetry readings, recitals, lectures, summations of lectures, and rebuttals, announcements concerning dinners (such as "Ladies' Night), annual events, reunions, letters from members and non-members from abroad; and general club business such as the creation of new rules, the voting in of new members, credentials of potential members, and the bestowal of membership upon professors of foreign Universities. (Boxes l, 5-10)
The Council Minutes l926-43 contains membership tables and comparative financial statements. Of special interest, the last page of volume IV contains a page-long reference to the War Powers Act of l938 and its subsequent interpretation by the club. (Boxes 3-4)
The Club Manual l9l4 contains the club constitution, by-laws, club rooster, and a statement of purpose (i.e. to publish the "Colonnade" and to affirm Romantic Idealism). Also there are two lists of Andiron Club members, plus a list of club publications (that is, articles published by club members). This kind of list is crucial for a researcher trying to trace literary sentiments. (Box 10)
The Book of the Poker l9l3 is a handwritten document (probably written by Henry Melville Love) that, in part, notes attitudes of members toward each other and toward literary criticism in general. Written in high prose and verse by the mysterious "Poker," it underpins the intimacy of the Andiron Club. Among other things, the "Poker" contains a defense of Romantic Idealism, while refusing to acknowledge the so-called "decadent" art movement as valid or pure. (Box 10)
The club Bibliography l907-40 lists some of the publications of its members. (Box 10)
Series III: Vitae l907-43
The vitae series contains the resumes of all members (whenever possible with updates over the years). Within that, extensive data on members: birthdays, marriage, current employers, publications, cross-references to Who's Who in America, and descriptions of military service. Updates of vitae were made in l9l7, l920, l923, l930, l933, and l943. The early members who may be found in Who's Who are as follows: M.G. Bishop, George B. Hotchkiss, Arthur H. Nason, S. M. Tucker, and Henry Melville Love. (Boxes 11-15)
Series IV: Ledgers l930's and 40's
These four large ledgers record all monetary transactions only for the above period beginning late in the 30's and ending early in the 40's. (Box 16)
V: Photographs
The majority of the photographs of portraits of Andiron Club members.
VI: Congressman Steven B. Ayers 1910-1922
Contains primarily articles about the Congressman, as well as some excerpts from scrapbooks. The materials general refer to political matters, of which, Congressman Steven B. Ayers acted upon.
VII: Printed Materials and Publications
With the exception of l935 the Newsletters are unbound a somewhat sporadic. Our last issue is in l955 but we do not know when the last Newsletter was published. The years touched on by the Newsletter are: l935, l936, l943, l944, l942, l954, and l955. The unbound Summons, each duplicated in the collection at least once, run from l924 to l932 (Boxes 20-22). The Publications and Reprints are of a miscellaneous nature in the way of pamphlets-bound and unbound books, programs (1910-1980). The pamphlets and re-prints run from l910 to l922, with a gap between l9l6 and l920 (Boxes 23-24). The "Colonnade," literary publication of the Andiron Club, is housed in this collection as well. The publication runs from 1907-1922. (Boxes 25-27).
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Arrangement |
||
| Folders are generally arranged chronologically | ||
| The files are grouped into seven series: | ||
| I, Correspondence | ||
| II, Minutes | ||
| III, Vitae | ||
| IV, Ledgers | ||
| V, Photographs | ||
| VI, Congressman Steven B. Ayers | ||
| VII, Printed Materials and Publications | ||
Related Material at the New York University Archives
Records of the Eucleian Society 1832-1909
Records of the Philomathean Society 1832-1888
Return to topSeparated Material
There is no information about materials that are associated by provenance to the described materials that have been physically separated or removed.
Return to topRestrictions
Access Restrictions
Open for research without restrictions.
Use Restrictions
Permission to publish materials must be obtained in writing from the:
New York University Archives
Elmer Holmes Bobst Library
70 Washington Square South
New York, NY 10012
Phone: (212) 998-2646
Fax: (212) 995-4070
E-mail: university.archives@library.nyu.edu
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Administrative Information
Provenance
The New York University Archives acquired the Andiron Club collection (l907-l980)in several installments. Professor James Tuttleton made the first donation (l979) of 5 linear inches, which consisted of club newsletters and photographs. Then, on June 22, l983, he donated twenty-eight volumes (58") to the Fales Library. Soon afterwards, Fales transferred the materials to the NYU Archives. The materials were donated by Prof. James Tuttleton on behalf of the club council. The transfer from Fales special collection was made by Patricia McGuire, assistant curator. The approximate dates of the materials range from l907-1943. The second installment came in December l984 directly from the club to the Archives. Prof. John Maynard donated a few pages of notes documenting the people with whom he had correspondence during his term. Joan Pyser, president in 1985, also donated her correspondence, as well as one linear inch of the correspondence of other dictators (mostly of Micheal Schgrue). In October of l984 it was decided that these materials should forever remain in the Archives. Shortly thereafter additional material was donated by Joan Pyser and James Tuttleton on behalf of the club; another 22" was donated directly to the Archives. These materials consisted of correspondence (l939-43), the scrapbook of Congressman Steven B. Ayers (1912-1918), club ledgers, reprinted pamphlets, a set of the "Colonnade," and other printed materials.
Preferred Citation
Published citations should take the following form:
Identification of item, date (if known); The Andiron Club of New York City; MC 19; box number; folder number;
New York University Archives
Elmer Holmes Bobst Library
70 Washington Square South
New York, NY 10012, New York University Libraries.
Container List
[The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.]
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