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New York Caledonian Club records

Call Number

MS 2923

Date

1856-2007, inclusive

Creator

New York Caledonian Club

Extent

7.5 Linear feet 38 bound volumes, 4 boxes (3 oversize folders)

Language of Materials

English

Language of Materials

The documents in this collection are in English.

Abstract

The Records of the New York Caledonian Club document the work, activities, and membership of this society dedicated to the preservation of Scottish heritage, from its founding in 1856 through 2007. The collection contains administrative records, award citations, monographs, newsletters, photographs, Scottish Studies Program documents, scrapbooks, and ephemera.

Biographical / Historical

The New York Caledonian Club was founded in 1856 to provide a social community for Scottish immigrants and their descendents and to support the preservation of Scottish history, language, and culture. The club's activities were as varied as its membership. Laborers and skilled tradesmen gathered with wealthy individuals to promote Scottish heritage through literary evenings, athletic events, traditional Scottish celebrations, education, and philanthropy.

The club's direct antecedent was an early Caledonian Club founded in 1830 by members of the Highland Guard after the war of 1812. In 1857, the New York Caledonian Club inaugurated the annual "Highland Games" (also known as the "Scotch Games").The games were a major amateur athletic competition in traditional Scottish sporting events, such as curling and hammer throwing. The games took place in Jones Wood, a stretch of farmland along the East River that predated urban Manhattan's Upper East Side.

The New York Caledonian Club was officially chartered and incorporated in the City of New York in 1861. The club's purpose, as expressed in its founding charter, included establishing a library. Club member and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie donated three thousand volumes. (The library was later given to the Second Presbyterian Church, where many New York Caledonian Club members worshipped.)

In 1861, the club formed the 79th New York Highland Regiment in response to President Abraham Lincoln's urgent appeal for volunteers for the Union Army. The "Seventy-Ninth" was the only kilted Civil War regiment. The Regiment fought in numerous battles, including the first battle of Bull Run, served under General Ulysses S. Grant at Vicksburg, and assisted Admiral Dupont in capturing Port Royal.

In 1873, the club formed a committee to erect a statue of the legendary Scottish poet Robert Burns on Central Park's "literary walk." A Scottish sculptor, Mr. John Steell, R.S.A., was commissioned to create the artwork, which was officially unveiled on October 1, 1880.

The New York Caledonian Club became inactive after World War II. It was revived on June 24, 1981 on Bannockburn Night, which commemorates the 1314 battle in which Robert the Bruce led the Scots to victory over the English forces. On July 1, 1982, the New York Caledonian Club won recognition for Scottish culture with the official proclamation of "Tartan Day" by New York Governor Hugh Carey and New York City Mayor Edward Koch. Tartan Day commemorated the 200th anniversary of the repeal of the 1747 Act of Proscription, a law that forbade Scots to wear the tartan, the national Scottish highland dress.

The New York Caledonian Club continues to promote the study of Scottish literature and practice of cultural traditions. Their signature event is the annual Robert Burns supper. The club's Scottish Studies Program focuses on the writings of Robert Burns, as well as Scottish Gaelic language studies, musical instruction in playing the bagpipes, and Highland dancing.

Arrangement

The collection is organized in twelve series. The arrangement within each series is chronological.

Series I: Minutes, 1856 - 2003
Series II. Photographs, 1857 - 1918
Series III: Membership Records, 1856 - 1947
Series IV: Financial Records, 1919 - 1994
Series V: Charter, By-Laws, and Rules and Regulations, 1861 - 2002
Series VI: Award Citations and Proclamations, 1982 - 2007
Series VII: Library Records, 1888 - 1942
Series VIII: Newsletters, 1985 - 1990
Series IX: Scottish Studies Program, 2000 - 2002
Series X: Monographs
Series XI: Ephemera
Series XII: Flag

Scope and Contents

The New York Caledonian Club Records (1856 - 2007) document the membership, internal meetings, administrative and financial functions, social events, Scottish Studies Program, public issuances of the organization, and circulation of the club's lending library. The bulk of the collection consists of handwritten minutes from 1856-2003. Documents, such as the New York Caledonian Club's Constitution, are glued onto pages in early bound volumes of minutes. Minutes from 1981-2002 were typewritten and interfiled chronologically by the club secretary with correspondence, financial records, and public issuances. Membership books (1856-1947) record names and the diverse occupations of club members, as well as their birthplaces, birth dates, death dates, and years of membership. The club's library function is documented in the lending library logbook. The collection includes the New York Caledonian Club flag, flown during the Highland Games (Scotch Games).

The general highlights of this collection are the photographs (1859-1918) and the register of the 79th New York Highland Regiment (volume 20). Twenty-two silver gelatin and albumen photographs (many are oversized) include portraits of club officers in Highland dress, veterans of the kilted Civil War regiment, and photographs of the Scotch Games. The register of the 79th Regiment includes two notable letters. A Special Order dated June 28, 1865, names New York Caledonian Club Chief George Mitchell (1832-1884) as Quartermaster of the 79th Regiment. The order is signed by Lieutenant Colonel Samuel M. Elliott (1811-1875), a Caledonian Club member who was later promoted to Brigadier General by President Abraham Lincoln. An October 31, 1881 letter by U.S. Secretary of State James Blaine expresses gratitude to the club for their condolences upon the assassination of President James Garfield.

Conditions Governing Access

Materials in this collection may be stored offsite. For more information on making arrangements to consult them, please visit www.nyhistory.org/library/visit.

Conditions Governing Use

Taking images of documents from the library collections for reference purposes by using hand-held cameras and in accordance with the library's photography guidelines is encouraged. As an alternative, patrons may request up to 20 images per day from staff.

Application to use images from this collection for publication should be made in writing to: Department of Rights and Reproductions, The New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024-5194, rightsandrepro@nyhistory.org. Phone: (212) 873-3400 ext. 282.

Copyrights and other proprietary rights may subsist in individuals and entities other than the New-York Historical Society, in which case the patron is responsible for securing permission from those parties. For fuller information about rights and reproductions from N-YHS visit: https://www.nyhistory.org/about/rights-reproductions

Preferred Citation

This collection should be cited as the New York Caledonian Collection, MS 2923, The New-York Historical Society.

Location of Materials

Materials in this collection may be stored offsite. For more information on making arrangements to consult them, please visit www.nyhistory.org/library/visit.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The collection consists of three donations:

1. The photograph collection was a Gift of the New York Caledonian Club in 1934.

2. Two volumes received at an unknown date.

3. The membership registers, minutes, and related documents were a Gift of the New York Caledonian Club in 2012.

Related Materials

Additional materials related to the New York Caledonian Club can be located by searching the library's online catalog. These include "The Caledonian," a monthly magazine published by the club from 1901-1923, pamphlets, event programs and other materials.

Other items pertaining to the New York Caledonian Club may be located by searching the museum's online catalog.

Collection processed by

Alison Dundy

About this Guide

This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2023-08-21 15:47:29 -0400.
Using Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language: English

Repository

New-York Historical Society
New-York Historical Society
170 Central Park West
New York, NY 10024