Montauk Club collection
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Abstract
Records, photographs, and ephemera from the Montauk Club, a social club in Park Slope, Brooklyn founded in 1889 and still in operation today.
Historical note
The Montauk Club was founded in 1889 in Park Slope, an affluent neighborhood in what was then the independent city of Brooklyn. Though there were many other upper-class social clubs in Brooklyn at the time, the Montauk Club quickly became one of the most desirable memberships. Among the 25 charter members was Alfred Chapin, then mayor of Brooklyn, as well as future mayor David Boody and Lieutenant Governor Timothy Woodruff. Charles A. Moore was the club's first president.
Soon after incorporating, the club selected a site for their clubhouse and commissioned the architect Francis H. Kimball to build it. Kimball designed an opulent structure in Venetian Gothic style which still stands today on the corner of 8th Avenue and Lincoln Place. The building was completed in 1891. The Landmarks Commission designated it as an individual landmark in 1966.
The club has hosted many events and famous persons. In 1892, a dinner was held for former President Grover Cleveland. In 1895, an estimated 5,000 people attended a reception for Governor (soon to be President) McKinley. For 35 years starting in 1892, the club hosted annual birthday dinners for Chauncey Depew, an attorney and politician who was very well-known at the time. These celebrations became nearly as famous as the man himself, and were reported on nationally and internationally.
In 1934, during the Great Depression, the club's financial situation became so dire that the board voted to dissolve. Two dissenting votes, and opposition from the membership, reversed the decision and the club survived. Later in the twentieth century, membership and revenue once again declined as social clubs fell out of favor. In the mid-1990s, the club sold its upper floors for development into condominiums, while retaining the first and second floors. The sale allowed the Montauk Club to remain in its original building, and it is still open and functioning in that building today.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged in 5 series by type, one of which has subseries. The series and subseries are as follows: Series 1: Administration; Series 2: Publications; Series 3: Membership; Series 4: Photos and Prints; and Series 5: Events with Subseries 1: Menus, Invitations and Programs and Subseries 2: Chauncey Depew Dinners. Folders and items are arranged chronologically within the series and subseries.
Scope and Contents
While this collection does not constitute a comprehensive record of the Montauk Club's activities, it chronicles events spanning the club's entire history, including documents pertaining to the club's administration, membership, and events as well as a small number of photographs and bound volumes. The early event materials are particularly noteworthy; many of the event programs and menus are elaborately and lavishly decorated.
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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); Montauk Club collection, BCMS.0045, Box and Folder number; Brooklyn Public Library, Center for Brooklyn History.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The bulk of this collection was donated by the Montauk Club in April 2016. Additional materials were later donated by Mary Brennan and Dylan Yeats. Lisa Finstrom and Tim Sanford gave materials to the club in 2006 which the club later added to this collection.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
If digital surrogates exist, they should be used in place of the originals whenever possible.
About this Guide
Processing Information
This collection combines the accessions 2016.0011, 2018.0017, and 2019.0007.