Brooklyn clubs collection

Call Number

ARC.172

Dates

1843-2016, inclusive

; 1860-1950, bulk

Creator

Extent

4.25 Linear Feet

in nine manuscript boxes and two oversize folders.

Language of Materials

Materials in English except for the Brooklyn Saengerbund materials which are in German.

Abstract

The Brooklyn clubs collection includes varied organizations 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.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged alphabetically by club name.

Scope and Contents

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.

Subjects

Organizations

Genres

Bylaws (administrative records); Articles of incorporation; Newsletters; Clippings (information artifacts); Membership lists; Constitutions; Yearbooks; Annual reports

Topics

Places

Brooklyn (New York, N.Y.) -- Politics and government -- 20th century; Brooklyn (New York, N.Y.) -- Politics and government -- 19th century; Brooklyn (New York, N.Y.) -- Social life and customs -- 20th century; Brooklyn (New York, N.Y.) -- Intellectual life -- 19th century; Brooklyn (New York, N.Y.) -- Intellectual life -- 20th century; Brooklyn (New York, N.Y.) -- Social life and customs -- 19th century; Brooklyn (New York, N.Y.); Gravesend (New York, N.Y.); Midwood (New York, N.Y.); Ridgewood (New York, N.Y.); Brooklyn Heights (New York, N.Y.); Park Slope (New York, N.Y.); New Utrecht (New York, N.Y.)

Conditions Governing Access

Open to researchers without restriction.

Conditions Governing Use

While many items at the Center for Brooklyn History are unrestricted, we do not own reproduction rights to all materials. Be aware of the several kinds of rights that might apply: copyright, licensing and trademarks. The researcher assumes all responsibility for copyright questions.

Preferred Citation

Identification of item, date (if known); Brooklyn clubs collection, ARC.172, Box and Folder number; Brooklyn Public Library, Center for Brooklyn History.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Source and date of acquisition for the majority of the collection are unknown. When known, the information is noted at the folder level.

Related Materials

Apollo Club of Brooklyn programs, 1886 – 1967 (ARC.144)

Atlantic Yacht Club publications, 1866 – 1891 (ARC.140)

Brooklyn animal welfare organizations collection, 1868 – 1903 (ARC.151)

Brooklyn Arts and Culture Association publications, 1969 – 1997 (ARC.149)

Brooklyn Engineers' Club publications, 1897 – 1973 (ARC.156)

Brooklyn Heights Association collection, 1929 – 1998 (ARC.148)

Brooklyn hospitals and health services organizations collection, 1829 – 1998 (ARC.141)

Brooklyn League annual reports and publications, 1902 – 1912 (ARC.159)

Brooklyn newsletter collection, 1869 - 2004 (ARC.174)

Brooklyn Woman's Club yearbooks, 1903 – 1943 (ARC.158)

Brooklyn YMCA Central Branch publications, 1884 – 1967 (ARC.169)

Chiropean yearbooks, 1911 – 1965 (ARC.164)

Crescent Athletic Club yearbooks and bulletins, 1891 – 1940 (ARC.178)

Fraternal organizations of Brooklyn collection, 1845 – 1997 (ARC.147)

Kings County Chapter of the New York State Society of Professional Engineers publications, 1940 – 1966 (ARC.146)

Rotary Club of Brooklyn publications, 1919 – 1977 (ARC.143)

Third Kings Masonic Camp Fund publications, 1937 – 1987 (ARC.162)

Union League Club of Brooklyn yearbooks, 1890 – 1912 (ARC.157)

Collection processed by

Patricia Glowinski

About this Guide

This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2025-02-24 20:45:49 +0000.

Using Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Language: Description is written in: English, Latin script.

Processing Information

Originally minimally processed to the collection level, this collection was reprocessed to the folder level by Dee Bowers in 2024, at which time additional materials were also added.

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.

Revisions to this Guide

November 2018: Materials found in repository added to the collection by Lena Evers-Hillstrom.

June 2024: Reprocessed by Dee Bowers.