Saint Andrew's Society of the State of New York records

The Saint Andrew's Society of the State of New York was founded in 1756 to provide charitable relief and promote social ties within the growing Scottish-American community. It followed the founding of Saint Andrew's Societies in Charleston (1729), Philadelphia (1747), and Savannah (1750), as well as the Scots Society of New-York (1744-1753). In 1775, meetings were suspended due to the Revolutionary War. At that time the Society's membership included both British officers and American revolutionaries. Three members—Philip Lawrence, Lewis Morris, and John Witherspoon—were signers of the Declaration of Independence. In 1784 the Society reorganized and resumed its original mission. There are few records from this early period, however, because in 1835, most documents, including the original constitution signed by the founding members, were lost in a fire.

The Society's membership was initially open only to Scottish men and their sons and grandsons. In 1897, membership was opened to men of any Scottish lineal descent. The membership of the society involved many political, commercial, and cultural leaders. During the Civil War, a number of members served in the 79th New York Volunteer Infantry, nicknamed the Highland Guard. Other prominent members include: Philip Livingston, William Livingston, Robert R. Livingston, Alexander Hamilton, John Loudon McAdam, Washington Irving, Andrew Carnegie, James Gordon Bennett, Alexander Graham Bell, John Lindsay, and Thomas J. Watson Jr.