Brooklyn clubs collection
Call Number
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Language of Materials
Abstract
The Brooklyn clubs collection spans the dates 1843 to 2005, with bulk dates of 1860 to 1960, and measures 3.3 linear feet. Clubs represented in the collection are varied, with interests ranging from political, to professional, to social. Materials represented in the collection include yearbooks, event programs, constitutions and bylaws, newsletters, bulletins, membership lists, calendars, annual reports, and printed ephemera.
Historical note
Political clubs were among the earliest clubs to be organized in New York City. In the 1760s, along with pre-revolutionary rumblings in America, political clubs formed in support of the colonists or the loyalists. Following the American Revolutionary War, political clubs were established to support newly formed political parties, chiefly the Democratic Republicans and the Federalists. During the 19th century, as the idea of civic responsibility grew among citizens, so did the establishment of political clubs. Political clubs could be small and localized such as those that were organized within wards (small political units in New York City representing a geographic area within the city) or large city-wide political clubs. By the 1850s, political clubs had much influence over the city; the outcome of elections was often decided by strong voter turn out from political club members.
Following the American Civil War, political clubs began to loose clout, and by the end of the 19th century, many citizens had turned to social clubs to affect civic reform. Social clubs were also being established solely for pleasure, camaraderie, and personal growth. In the 1830s, New York City had only three social clubs (the Union Club; the Hone Club; and the Kent Club). In the last quarter of the 19th century, New York City had more social clubs than any other city the world, with the exception of London. This period also saw the formation of university clubs, athletic clubs, women's clubs, and professional clubs, among others.
Several factors led to the demise of many social clubs, chiefly the invention of the automobile and its effect on how and where people lived (for example, the growth of suburbs), the financial fallout following a series of economic depressions in the United States in the 1890s through the 1930s, and the establishment of anti-discrimination laws that, in part, addressed the exclusionary practices so many social clubs held. In the 1950s and 1960s, neighborhood social clubs flourished within local immigrant populations in New York City, many of which are still active today.
Sources:
- Gronowicz, Anthony. "Political clubs." In The Encyclopedia of New York City, edited by Kenneth T. Jackson, 1011-1012. New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Press; New York: New-York Historical Society, 2010.
- Mooney, James E. "Social clubs." In The Encyclopedia of New York City, edited by Kenneth T. Jackson, 1197. New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Press; New York: New-York Historical Society, 2010.
- Blair, Karen J. "Women's clubs." In The Encyclopedia of New York City, edited by Kenneth T. Jackson, 1407-1408. New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Press; New York: New-York Historical Society, 2010.
- Mooney, James E. and Kenneth T. Jackson. "University clubs." In The Encyclopedia of New York City, edited by Kenneth T. Jackson, 1351. New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Press; New York: New-York Historical Society, 2010.
Scope and Contents
The Brooklyn clubs collection spans the dates 1843 to 2005, with bulk dates of 1860 to 1960, and measures 3.3 linear feet. Clubs represented in the collection are varied, with interests ranging from political, to professional, to social. Materials represented in the collection include yearbooks, event programs, constitutions and bylaws, certificates of membership, newsletters, bulletins, membership lists, calendars, annual reports, and printed ephemera.
The yearbooks are of particular interest as they often include membership lists, names of officers and committee members, constitutions and bylaws, articles of incorporation, and historical information pertaining to the club.
Box 1 contains:
A Cappella Singers - Concert program, December 18, 1940
Alcyone Boat Club of Brooklyn - Constitution and bylaws, 1869 to 1890 (the 1869 issue includes signatures of members)
American Institute of Architects, Brooklyn Chapter – Yearbooks, 1908 and 1910; Newsletter, Pylon, 1974 to 1975
American Institute of Bank Clerks, Brooklyn Chapter – Fundraising event publication, 1904
Arion Ladies Chorus – Anniversary programs, 1943, 1953, and 1958
Arion Singing Society (German-American singing society) – Concert programs, 1935, 1937, and 1965
Asacog Club of Brooklyn – Yearbooks, 1901 and 1902
Booth Dramatic Society – Event program, 1893
Boy Scouts of America, Brooklyn Council - Publications, certificate, and printed ephemera, 1929 to 1949
Brooklyn Aquarium Society – The Aquarium Bulletin, 1893
Brooklyn Athletic Association – First annual winter meeting program, 1886
Brooklyn Barnard Club – Yearbooks, 1897, 1898, 1901, and 1903
Brooklyn Catholic Oratorio Society - Dvorak's Stabat Mater program (Brooklyn Academy of Music), 1910
Box 2 contains:
Brooklyn Chautauqua Union – Yearbook, 1897
The Brooklyn Chorus – Concert program, 1910
The Brooklyn Club – Membership list, 1895; newsletter, Brooklyn Club News, 1944 and 1959; dinner program and menu, 1892; yearbooks, 1866 to 1959 (incomplete)
Brooklyn Conchological Club – Bulletin, 1907
Brooklyn Concord Club – Newsletter, Brooklyn Concord Democrat, 1956
Brooklyn Co-Operative Colonization Society - Constitution, circa 1878; memorandum, 1880
Brooklyn Horticultural Society – Annual report, 1857; constitution and bylaws, 1858; news clippings, printed ephemera, and exhibition programs, circa 1860
Brooklyn Photographic Society – Constitution, bylaws, and membership list, 1864
Brooklyn Republican Club – Yearbook, 1893
Brooklyn Saengerbund (later, Brooklyn Sängerbund; a German-American singing society) – Annual reports, 1911 to 1912 and 1917 to 1918; membership lists, 1901 to 1930; and travel itinerary for a trip to Germany, 1912
Brooklyn Women's Bar Association - A History of the Brooklyn Women's Bar Association, 1918-1993, by Barbara H. Grcevic; A History of the Brooklyn Women's Bar Association: 1993-2005, by Barbara H. Grcevic; A History of the Women's Bar Association of the State of New York (circa 1997), by Barbara H. Grcevic; A History of the Brooklyn Women's Bar Assocation: 2005-2018, by Barbara H. Grcevic; and Brooklyn Women's Bar Assocation Centennial Overview, by Barbara H. Grcevic
Brooklyn Yacht Club - Regatta program, 1872
Cambridge Club – Yearbooks and club calendars, 1891 to 1943; program, 1915; A History of the Cambridge Club, 1911
Box 3 contains:
Colonial Daughters of the Seventeenth Century – Luncheon program, 1927; Membership lists, 1933 to 1934, and 1936; and addenda, 1936 to 1937
Daughters of the American Revolution, Fort Greene Chapter – Charter, constitution and bylaws; and officer and membership lists, 1921, 1925 and 1928
Democratic Union General Committee of the City of Brooklyn – Constitution and bylaws, 1861
Democratic Union Party of the City of Brooklyn – Constitution, 1861
Entre Nous Dramatic and Literary Association of Brooklyn – Constitution and bylaws, 1871
Dramatic Readers – Constitution and bylaws; and yearbooks, 1945 to 1948
Franklin Literary Society – Constitution and bylaws, 1843; and two yearbooks (manuals), 1878 and 1884.
Friendly Tourists' Club – Constitution and bylaws, 1925 and 1941; yearly calendars of programs, 1914 to 1944 (includes membership lists)
Hanover Club – Yearbooks, 1900 and 1913
Box 4 contains:
Heights Casino – Yearbooks, 1905 to 1963; newsletter, Heights Casino Monthly, 1953; Heights Casino, 1904-2004
Indian Amateur League of Brooklyn (athletic clubs) - Annual Spring Games program, 1903; Seminole Athletic Club reception program, 1904
Invincible Club of Brooklyn (political club, Republican Party) – Constitution and bylaws, 1901
Italian Historical Society - 18th Annual Columbus Day Observance booklet, 1971
Junior League of Brooklyn - Sanitary Fair of 1864 program, reproduction gala flyers and clippings, 1930; Golden Anniversary Ball program and invitation, 1960; Brooklyn Junior League News, 1960; Hemisphere Ball programs and seating list, 1962
Kings County Civil Employees Benevolent Association - Bulletin, 1922 to 1923
Kings County Republican County Committee - Lincoln Dinner programs and seating arrangements, 1960 to 1965
Kosmos Club – Constitution and bylaws, 1927 and 1928; yearbooks, 1932 to 1941
The Lawyers' Club of Brooklyn – Yearbooks, 1922 to 1923 and 1953 to 1954
The Lincoln Club – Yearbook, 1900
The Long Island Automobile Club – Yearbook, 1912
Box 5 contains:
Long Island Bottlers' Union – Bylaws, 1900
Long Island Library Club – Constitution, officers, and membership list, 1904 and 1912
The Marine and Field Club – Annual Reception and Law Tennis Tournament program and menu, 1887; Club House memoranda, 1895; Yearbooks, 1894, 1897, and 1903
Merchants' Association – Newsletter, Greater New York, 1928 to 1929
Midwood Club – Scrapbook, circa 1890
The Monday Club of Brooklyn – Yearbook, 1914
Montauk Club – Yearbooks, 1889 to 1924 (incomplete); brochures, circa 2005
Municipal Club of Brooklyn – Yearbooks, 1918 to 1935 (except for 1926); bulletin, 1899
Box 6 contains:
Musaeola Association – Constitution, bylaws, and membership list, 1864
National Association of Negro Business and Professional Womens Clubs. Brooklyn Club - 7th Annual Founders' Day Luncheon, 1975
Neurological Society – Officers and membership list, 1920
New Utrecht Liberty Pole Association - Membership application, circa 1940s to 1950s
New York State Association Opposed to Woman Suffrage, Brooklyn Auxiliary – publications, 1908
Oxford Club of Brooklyn – Yearbooks, 1887, 1888, and 1889
Philharmonic Society of Brooklyn – Annual reports, 1857 to 1864; constitution and bylaws, 1857; concert programs, circa 1850 to circa 1890; and printed ephemera
Prospect Club – Yearbook, 1900; Constitution and bylaws, 1916
Rembrandt Club – Yearbooks, 1885 to 1980 (incomplete); membership lists
Box 7 contains:
Ridgewood Household Club- First annual report, 1901 to 1902
The Riding and Driving Club of Brooklyn – Yearbooks, 1896, 1900, 1906, 1910, 1915, and 1927; Horse Show Programs 1893, 1894, 1895
Society of Old Brooklynites – Proceedings of the Society of Old Brooklynites in relation to the Bartholdi Statue of "Liberty Enlightening the World," Address to the French Delegation on that Subject and Report of the Committee Theron, 1886; Yearbooks, 1880, 1887, and 1924; Golden Jubilee program, 1930 (photocopy); 51st Annual Dinner program, 1931; Brooklyn Centennial Banquet programs and guest list, 1934; Annual Christmas Party program, 1957; Meeting program, 1969; Washington A. Roebling Brooklyn Bridge memorial invitation, 1973
Tenth Ward Democratic Buchanan Keystone Club of the City of Brooklyn- Constitution and bylaws, 1856
Tree Planting and Fountain Society of Brooklyn – Yearbook, 1890; annual reports, 1896 to 1898; bulletins, 1894 and 1895; miscellaneous printed material
Turn-Verein Vorwaerts (also spelled Vorwärts) – Bulletins, 1937; and yearbook, 1939
12:15 Club of South Brooklyn – Bound bulletins, Spotlight, 1934 to 1950; loose issues, 1961
Box 8 contains:
12:15 Club of South Brooklyn – Bound bulletins, Spotlight, 1934 to 1950; loose issues, 1961 (continued)
12:30 Club of Bay Ridge - High Noon newsletter, 1957
Twentieth Century Club (later, Twentieth Century Club of New York City) – Yearbooks, 1896 to 1927 (incomplete)
Twenty-first Ward Republican Association – Bylaws, 1887
United War Veterans of Kings County - Memorial Day Parade programs, 1948 to 1967
Winter's Night Club – Yearbooks, 1918 and 1927; membership list; miscellaneous materials
Women's Christian Temperance Union on the Hill, Brooklyn – First annual report, 1881
Yacht Racing Association of Gravesend Bay – Bylaws and racing rules, 1913; and yearbook and racing rules, 1914
Subjects
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Conditions Governing Access
Open to researchers without restriction.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright restrictions may apply. Please consult library staff for more information.
Preferred Citation
Identification of item, date (if known); Brooklyn clubs collection, ARC.172, Box and Folder number; Brooklyn Historical Society.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Source and date of acquisition for this collection are unknown.
About this Guide
Processing Information note
Minimally processed to the collection level.
Additional material added to the collection by John Zarrillo, 2014-2015.
Material found in repository added to collection by Lena Evers-Hillstrom in October 2018.
