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1785	1914
HISTORICAL SKETCH
AND
GOVERNMENT
OF THE
GENERAL SOCIETY
OF MECHANICS
AND TRADESMEN
OF
THE CITY OF NEW YORKMECHANICS INSTITUTE
16-24 West 44th StreetGeneral Society of Mechanics
and Tradesmen
OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK.
ISjiBtoriral
THE condition of affairs in the city of
New York at the close of the Revo-
lutionary War was one of depres-
sion and embarrassment, in the midst of
which a company of mechanics conceived
the idea that by an organized fraternity the
burdens of the day could best be borne, and
for that purpose a meeting was held on the
17th of November, 1785, at Walter Heyer’s
tavern, in King (now Pine) Street, near
Broadway.
Twenty-two persons were present at the
meeting, and a “General Committee of
Mechanics ” was formed, with Robert Boyd
as its chairman, composed of representative
delegates elected by the several trades
having separate organizations, which were
considered branches of the General Commit-
tee, the committee designating the delegates
for trades not organized. The object of theorganization thus formed was to provide for
worthy artisans in case of sickness and dis-
tress, and to promote and encourage by
mutual aid the mechanic interests of the
city, being a modification of the “ guilds ”
of Europe. In 1788, friendly relations were
formed with a kindred body, then existing
under the name of the “ Manufacturing
Society,” by a joint committee of confer-
ence, composed of one-half from each, which
continued for four years, when the Manufac-
turing Society gave up its distinctive organi-
zation, and many of the members joined the
Mechanics, the name then being changed to
its present title, “ The General Society of
Mechanics and Tradesmen of the City of
New York,” under which it was incorpor-
ated for charitable purposes by charter
passed by the Legislature, March 14, 1792,
which has since been extended and amended
by supplemental acts as circumstances re-
quired.
Taverns being the only places for meetings
in those days the question of owning its
own hall for meetings agitated the Society
soon after its incorporation; but the matter
was not finally and satisfactorily disposeduntil May, 1802, by the purchase from
ex-Mayor Richard Varick, of the plot of land
at the northwest corner of Broadway and
Robinson Street (now Park Place), and the
Society at once set about the erection of a
Mechanics’ Hall, which was completed and
dedicated on January 4, 1803, with appro-
priate ceremonies, Hon. Edward Living-
ston, then Mayor of the city, being present
and a large assemblage of other distin-
guished citizens.
This building remained until 1870, when
the present commercial building was erected
on its site, now known as the “ Varick
Building.”
The Society has never lost sight of its
primary object—benevolence—but as its
income became sufficient has appropriated a
portion of its funds for the establishment of
a school and an apprentices’ library. In
May, 1821, a lease was obtained from the
city for plots of ground, 10-14 Chambers
Street. A building was erected, the corner-
stone of which was laid on the 13th of June,
and on the 26th of November of the same
year it was dedicated with suitable exercises
as the “ Mechanics’ Institution.” Theschool and library, both of which had been
commenced about a year previously in rooms
hired at the corner of Tryon Row and Chat-
ham Street, were moved to this building.
The Mechanics’ School was intended for the
gratuitous education of the children of indi-
gent or deceased members only, but soon
grew in such favor, that upon application,
other children were admitted upon the pay-
ment of a moderate sum for tuition. It was
successfully continued until the increasing
merits of the public free schools rendered it
no longer necessary, and in December, 1858,
it was discontinued, and in January fol-
lowing the Society established the present
evening classes, enabling those engaged dur-
ing the day to acquire gratuitous tuition
in free-hand, mechanical and architectural
drawing, modeling in clay, or elementary
mathematics. Technical lectures on studies
pursued in the class-rooms were also main-
tained.
The Apprentices’ Library opened in con-
junction with the school in 1820, with a
nucleus of less than four hundred volumes,
increased in usefulness. It was no longer in
any sense an apprentices’ library, but a freelibrary, to all persons who were entitled to
the gratuitous use of books under its rules.
The Chambers Street building becoming
inadequate for the needs of the library and
school, the Society in February, 1832, pur-
chased the High School building, on Crosby
Street near Grand, with its furniture, but
before the building could be made ready for
occupancy the cholera scourge broke out in
the city and the Society tendered the use
of the building to the city authorities as a
temporary hospital, which was accepted.
In the following October, after the build-
ing had been prepared for occupancy, the
library, the school and meeting rooms of the
Society were removed from the Chambers
Street building. The Society, to obtain an
entrance from Broadway to its Crosby Street
building purchased in November, 1845, ^ie
connecting house and lot (No. 472) on that
thoroughfare.
The need of a more suitable building for
the use of the Society being apparent, in
June, 1877, it purchased the Suydam man-
sion, at 18 East Sixteenth Street. After
necessary alterations and furnishing, the
library, school, reading-rooms and- its busi-ness offices were removed from the Broad-
way and Crosby Street buildings, which
were leased for business purposes. The new
building was dedicated with appropriate
exercises on January 22, 1878.
The continual progress northward of
the residential portion of the city, as well
as the requirements of enlarged accommo-
dations for the several educational features
of the Society, compelled thoughtful con-
sideration of the need of another building,
but before plans for the erection of a suitable
one were matured, the substantial structure,
16-24 West Forty-fourth Street, was found
to be well adapted to the requirements
of the Society, and after negotiation with
the officials of Columbia University (its
owner), it became the property of the
Society. After but few alterations this
building was dedicated to its new uses with
appropriate exercises, January 3, 1900.
In 1833, by amendment to its charter, the.
Society was authorized to increase its useful-
ness by reserving a portion of its income for
the purposes of “ promoting and dissemi-
nating literary and scientific knowledge,”
which was determined could best be doneby means of lectures, and more recently a
still further feature has been added to the
work of the Society—that of maintaining
scholarships in the New York Trade School.
These latter are annually awarded to such
deserving applicants, as, by their position
in life, would be materially benefited by
acquiring a knowledge of a skilled trade.
The founding of the Mechanics’ Bank by
this Society, in 1810, was an enlightened
movement and created no little excitement,
for up to that period only three banks had
been organized in New York, it not being
easy to obtain charters from the Legislature
unless for the best of reasons. The motive
was to benefit mechanical interests, the
charter providing that a portion of the
stock should be offered to mechanics of the
State of New York in preference to anyone
else. For many years seven (a majority)
of the bank directors were, by the terms of
the charter, chosen from the members of
this Society, whose president was an ex-
officio member of the board; and of that
number four must actually follow a mechan-
ical profession.
The career of this Society from itsfoundation has been one of continued
activity, prosperity and success; its field of
usefulness extending as its means increased,
and with a record of honest devotion to its
primary object of which it is justly proud;
to-day it has the gratification of seeing
its income expended entirely for benevolent
and educational purposes, having completed
more than a century and a quarter of active
existence of inestimable value to the city.GOVERNMENT
lExerutioe (Unmmtttee
THIS Society is unique in that it has no
governing board, all legislation being
carried on and enacted by the entire
body, and prior to 1892 there was no way
whereby the representatives of the various
committees could, under its constitution, be
brought together to consider the general poli-
cies of the Society, and the tendency was to
an administration of the affairs by each of
the several committees without regard to
the necessities of other departments. At this
time the Executive Committee was formed,
and consists of the chairmen of the several
standing committees. This executive body
has no actual authority to legislate, its
function being to consider generally the
well-being of the Society, and to recommend
to the same such legislation as may be of
interest to or for the benefit of the parent
body. There is abundant evidence that by
bringing together representatives of the sev-
eral departments there has developed a broad
view and administration of the Society’saffairs that could not have been accomplished
in any other way.
This committee ascertains the probable
income for each year, and, based upon
careful estimates of their requirements pre-
sented by representatives of each of the
standing committees, recommends to the
Society such amount as should be appro-
priated to each department for its proper
conduct during the year.
This committee also procures and dis-
tributes all of the supplies necessary for
carrying on the work of the organization.
Jffntmtre Committee
THIS committee is the constituted cus-
todian of all the Society’s real estate
and personal property. Under its
supervision taxes and other expenses are
approved and paid, its properties insured
and all expenses of betterment or main-
tenance directed. A capable and energetic
superintendent, who is also assistant to the
Treasurer-Secretary, is daily on duty to
carry out their policies and to report neces-
sary repairs or improvements. One of the
properties under its care, viz., No. 239Broadway, known as the Varick Building,
was purchased in 1802 from Mayor Richard
Varick. Mechanics Institute (16-24 West
Forty-fourth Street) was acquired in 1899.
It also cares for the spacious plot in
Cypress Hills Cemetery, with its beautiful
monument.
•Pension (Eommittee
FROM the year 1790, this feature of the
Society’s work has been carefully and
discreetly managed by what was first
known as “The Board of Overseers of
the Indigent,” then as “Almoners of the
Society,” and now as the Committee on
Pensions, whose duty it was and is, to
exercise a fatherly care over the beneficiaries.
From an Act to incorporate the Society
of Mechanics and Tradesmen of the City of
New York for Charitable Purposes; passed
the fourteenth day of March, 1792, we quote
the following:
“For the laudable purposes of protecting
and supporting such of their brethren as
by sickness or accident may stand in need
of assistance, and for the relief of the
widows and orphans of those who maydie, leaving little or no property for their
support, by their petition, presented to the
Legislature, have prayed to be incor-
porated, to enable them more beneficently
to carry into effect their charitable' inten-
tions.”
As early as 1789 this resolution appears
upon its records, as its fundamental object:
“To raise a fund by subscription within
themselves for the relief of such 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
mourning widow and helpless orphan.”
The records show that the Society’s chief
aim and purpose in the beginning, is still the
special feature of its many interests to-day.
Whenever an application for relief or
assistance is received by the committee,
it is first referred to the sub-committee
in whose district the applicant resides, who
immediately investigates the necessity, and
determines the amount which in its
judgment, the circumstances and conditions
require, reporting same to the General Com-mittee at its next meeting (advanced age
or physical infirmities receiving special con-
sideration) ; then the same is reported to the
Society with such recommendations as the
committee think proper.
The pensioners on the rolls receive pen-
sions quarterly in such amounts as have been
sanctioned by the Society, and as provided
by the rules and regulations.
Daniel D. Wright Pension Fund supple-
ments this very important branch of our
work; the sum of $10,000 was bequeathed
in trust to invest and to pay the interest
arising therefrom equally among such wid-
ows as are pensioners of the Society, in
November and February of each year.
(£Qtnmittn
OMMENCING its educational work by
the establishment of a school for the
children of its members, at a time
when there was no adequate system in the
community; extending its benefit to others
when it was proven a success, it maintained
the good work until it was no longer neces-
sary, as the city discovered its need, and
established the Public School System, pat-terned largely after ours. It then changed
from a day school for general education to
a night school for special education or
training of apprentices and those employed
through the day in different trades or arts,
instructing them as to the technical side of
same, and thereby giving them the oppor-
tunity to improve their positions and become
more valuable to the community. This was
accomplished by the teaching of drawing
(free-hand, mechanical and architectural).
At one time it maintained a Department
of Typewriting and Stenography which was
successfully operated for a number of years.
The architectural course covers three
consecutive years, the first consisting of
elementary work in projections, detail draw-
ings of windows and doors, cornice details,
timber construction and masonry details.
Second year course—plans and elevations
of frame houses, exterior and interior details
in various materials, preference being given
to suburban conditions.
Third year course—general plans and
elevations with details of construction, in-
struction in the building laws of the city
of New York, plan reading and estimating.In order to secure a diploma the student
must have a working knowledge of arith-
metic through square root, or pass an exami-
nation in workshop mathematics, consisting
of arithmetic, the simple equations of algebra
and the principles of geometry, as applied to
shop practice.
The mechanical drafting course consists
of an elementary one for beginners, work
in projections, principles applied to simple
working drawings, isometric drawing, trac-
ings, talks on shop methods and blue
printing. Then it is sub-divided into drafting
for cornice and sheet-metal workers; for
electrical industries, yacht, ship and topo-
graphical drafting, mechanism, drafting of
gears, screws and cams as well as Patent
Office drafting. To graduate and receive a
diploma it is necessary that the student shall
have acquired a suitable proficiency in either
of these subjects, and also have the same
mathematical qualifications as for the archi-
tectural courses.
Free-hand drawing consists of an elemen-
tary course for beginners, drawing from
the antique, and from the draped or nude.
Also the study of decorative design and thelaws and principles of ornament, original
elementary and advanced applied design.
There is a special class in carriage and
automobile drafting, members of which are
restricted to those actually employed in the
carriage, automobile or allied trades.
Modeling consists of a three-year course.
The first year, an elementary one, introduc-
ing the study of foliage, fruits and flowers;
second year-—modeling for purposes related
to the pupil's occupation. The characteristics
of the various styles used in ornamental
design and modeling from plaster casts.
Third year—a continuation of second year
work along more advanced lines.
Mathematics:	In mathematics we have
an elementary class in arithmetic for begin-
ners and those desiring to review the subject.
Courses in elementary algebra and geometry,
and in applied mechanics. The course in
mathematics is one of the valuable adjuncts.
The class in industrial electricity is
restricted to those actually employed in it
or in allied trade, or to students who have
finished their course in physics. It teaches
the underlying principles of electricity, mag-
netism and machine design, used in theconstruction of the various machines and
apparatus in daily use, with a working
knowledge of how to use the measuring
and other instruments necessary to successful
operation.
The class in physics teaches the principles
of mechanics, light, heat, electricity and
magnetism, including the properties of mat-
ter, laws of work, motion and energy, deter-
mination of specific gravity, pressure and
densities of fluids, and the laws of electric
currents and their measurements; the effec-
tiveness of this class is greatly restricted by
lack of sufficient apparatus.
The school department is working to the
fullest capacity permitted by the funds appor-
tioned. There are on the rolls over 2,000
students, divided into two classes of two
nights each, some of the students taking
double time, or four nights per week.
Sitbranj (Eontmittw
THIS department was organized and
put into active operation ninety-four
(94) years ago, viz., in 1820, and on
Evacuation Day, and was considered so
important an event that the Mayor of thecity, members of the Legislature and of the
Common Council were present and as a
feature books were for the first time loaned,
and the circulating library system was in-
augurated, although at that time books were
only loaned to apprentices; ten years later
the privilege was extended to members of
the Society at an annual fee of one dollar;
in 1863 the use of the library and reading-
rooms was extended free to wounded soldiers
and sailors. In 1872 the circulating and
reference sections were established as distinct
departments. In 1897 high-water mark
was reached both in the number of volumes
contained in the combined libraries, viz.,
114,820 and in the number of books cir-
culated, viz., 275,362. For several years and
prior to 1903 the city of New York, under
a “permissive” law, made appropriations
based on circulation towards the mainte-
nance, but since that year, and also by reason
of the extension of the library system of the
city, none has been made and the entire
expense is borne by the Society. Applica-
tions for the privilege of the circulating
section may be signed as guarantor by mem-
bers of the Society or by the librarian undercertain conditions. Students in our school
are a privileged class.
The Reference section is singularly rich in
Architectural Works and those on Science
and Art, and may be consulted at all
proper times in comfortable reading-rooms.
Especial attention is invited to two rare
works on view in the Executive rooms, viz:
“Description de l’Egypte” being Napoleon’s
observations of Egypt compiled for the
French Government in 1809. This collec-
tion was presented by Brother William H,
Webb and is one of a very limited edition
and is very beautiful and of great value.
“Ancient Roman Architecture,” by Giovanni
Battista Piranesi, a collection of 1,180 re-
markable etchings, many of the plates from
100 to 250 years old, also two volumes 100
plates on Pompeii, these being the gift of
Brother John Malcolm Mossman.
SHtmtrg (Eommittre
THE charter of the Society was early
amended permitting it to provide
literary and scientific knowledge by
means of lectures and otherwise and for
eighty years it has maintained lecturecourses, at one time of remarkable scope,
such distinguished men as Bayard Taylor,
Wendell Phillips, George William Curtis,
Revs. Beecher, Talmage, Deems, etc., having
appeared before our audiences. These lec-
tures were and are always free to our guests.
Hutlfttttg atti» linking 3fatri> (Hmttttttttrc
IN 1872 the Sinking Fund was established
and the Building and Sinking Fund
Committee appointed, and for forty-one
years the Society has, without interruption,
appropriated a portion of its income to this
fund, and as the result of this policy many
emergencies have been met and to-day the
Society is free from debt and the fund, while
small, is steadily growing.
Sirato	(Emranttft*
TWENTY years or more ago the Society
realized that the old-time apprentice-
ship system would ultimately be
brushed aside by modernism. Those active
in its educational work also realized- that if
the building industries were to flourish and
keep pace with the march of progress, the
education of the young mechanic could notbe neglected, and as the trade-school offered
the only substitute for instruction heretofore
received in the shop under the guidance of
the master,, scholarships- were provided at
the New York Trade School for deserving
young men, and have since been continued.
These scholarships are open to young
men working at a trade and to those having
a mechanical bent seeking development.
Instruction is given in the following classes
for the different trades:	bricklaying,
plastering, plumbing, electrical work, wood
pattern making,, house painting and plain
decorating, blacksmith’s work, printing, sign
painting, cornice and skylight work, steam
and hot water fitting.
The lack of sufficient means to carry on
this work in true proportion to the necessities
of the time has limited the number of scholar-
ships at our disposal; there is, however, a sat-
isfaction in knowing that while the scholar-
ships were limited, the young men were and
are of high character and persevering spirit,
and the letters received from many who
availed themselves of the opportunity thus
presented, afford abundant reason for further
development of our educational work alonghandicraft or trade school lines. We wel-
come the application of any young man;
endorsement by a member of the Society,
while desirable, is not necessary, as the
interest of any employer in the welfare and
future of the young mechanic is not only
our interest, but a .co-operation on the part
of the employer that is most necessary if
the dignity of labor is to be perpetuated.
Appreciating the desirability of technical
higher education, we endeavor to recruit
from the rolls of our technical classes where
possible.
ilemberatjtp (Exrotmtttw
THIS committee receives all applications
for membership, carefully investigat-
ing and reporting upon all names to
the Society.
Attintittuj GItfmmxttn
THE books and accounts of the Treasurer
are carefully examined quarterly, as
well as all documents of value,
and each month all bills for purchases as
approved by the several standing committees,
are examined, for payment; all evidence ofindebtedness to be paid by the Treasurer
must have the approval of the originating
and the auditing committees.
QLommtitw
A STEADILY growing and most inter-
esting collection is on exhibition in
the library gallery on the main floor
and has for its chief attraction the unique
collection of locks, known as the John M.
Mossman Foundation. A cordial invitation
is extended to all to visit and examine the
collection and other articles of interest, and
gifts or loans of historical value are solicited.