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ART Meeting: General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen



ALL WELCOME--PLEASE JOIN THE ARCHIVISTS ROUND TABLE OF METROPOLITAN NEW YORK

MARCH 2001 MEETING NOTICE

The General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen: Facing Challenges in its
Fourth Century

The General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen of the City of New York was instituted in 1785, chartered in 1792, and continues to this day to be of service to the citizens of New York City.  Some of its earliest members served on the original Common Council under Mayor Richard Varick, an aide to Lieutenant General George Washington.  The original goal of the General Society was:  "To raise a fund by subscription within themselves for the relief of their fellow citizens who may through the various vicissitudes of fortune claim a share of their munificence to rescue from the cold hand of poverty and distress the widow and helpless orphan."

In 1799, The Society attended as a group the funeral procession of George Washington.  Noted members of The Society include the architect, master stonecutter, master masons, master carpenter and clerk for the construction of City Hall in 1802 and such luminarties as Robert Fulton, Peter Cooper, Abram Hewitt, Andrew Carnegie and George E. Hoe.  In 1820 both the Mechanics Institute School and the Apprentices' library opened; the latter is now known simply as The General Society Library.

The General Society resides at 20 West Forty Fourth Street in a landmark building which houses the Mechanics Institute, the Library, the Mossman Lock Collection and various other articles of Americana.  Full collections of "L 'Egypt" and The Piranisi are also available for careful inspection, as is the original 1785 register containing all of the signatures of the members since the founding.  

Society President RAY MARTIN will speak on the history of The Society, the  various archival challenges that exist within the unique collections and fundraising efforts that face The Society as it enters its fourth century.

JOHN ERROL, who is currently writing a book on locks, will speak about the Mossman Lock Collection which will be on display during the meeting.

General Society Librarian ERIC GRAEBER  will give brief tours of the library and stack areas of the historic building during the refreshment period.


        Date:           Wednesday March 21, 2001
Place:          The General  Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen.  20 West Forty Fourth Street (just west of 5th 
Avenue), New York, NY

Time:           Social: 5:30-6:15 Program: 6:30-7:30
Directions:     By Subway. Take the 4,5, 6, 7, B, D, F, Q to 42nd Street.    Walk to 44th St., just west of 5th  Ave.

        Fee:            ART Members $3.  Non-members $5.

RSVP:           To Rich Wandel at: wandelr@nyphil.org (preferred) or 212.875 .5932.  Please remember 
hosting a meeting represents a financial and meeting space commitment on the part of our hosts.  Please be reasonably sure you can attend before responding. 


NOTICE TO THE MEMBERSHIP

Update to the Virtual Exhibit

NYART is pleased to announce the addition of an essay to our Virtual Exhibit on technology in New York. Thorin Tritter, PhD has contributed this fine overview of technology and its impact on the development of New York.  Please visit the exhibition at:  http://www.nycarchivists.org/exhibit/exhome.html



ART Board Elections

In an effort to offer a competitive slate of candidates, we are actively seeking nominations for three ART Board positions to be voted on by the membership in June 2001.  The positions -- Vice President, Treasurer and Education Coordinator -- are two-year terms.  Detailed descriptions of the positions can be found in the ART Bylaws (Articles 4 & 5), located in the back of the membership directory.  

For more information, if you would like to nominate someone or want to run yourself, please contact Rich Wandel at (212) 875-5930 or by e-mail at Wandelr@nyphil.org.

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