Series I. 2nd Avenue Building, 1848-1860, 1906-1912

The book includes the minutes for Building Committee meetings from February 22, 1848, to December 9, 1851, and the minutes for the Committee on Subscriptions to the Building Fund meetings from January 26, 1852, to its final meeting on February 2, 1857, with its final report of February 3, 1857, written by Chairman Luther Bradish. Loose sheets found in the book were separated to the following folder.

Includes two sheets, including a list of individuals associated with an unnamed committee.

The minutes book includes a copy of the appeal of October 30, 1848, for funds for a fireproof building, with the trustees' meeting minutes from January 29, 1850, to June 2, 1855. Loose sheets found in the book were separated to the following folder.

Includes lists of trustees, trustee donations, a copy of the 1856 appeal for building donations, draft minutes of the January 31, 1855, meeting, and some Building Fund financial records (1855-57).

The minutes book includes an opening note recounting the authorization of the committee from its creation on January 29, 1850, to the beginning of its minutes in this book on December 9, 1853. The note states that proceedings for pre-1853 meetings are recorded in the reports of the committee found in the minutes book of the Trustees of the Building Fund (see above). The minutes end on May 9, 1857, though later dated loose sheets found in the book were separated to the following folder.

Includes notes from committee meetings held in May and June 1857, and a letter from Andrew Warner to B.R. Winthrop of September 29, 1857, commenting on the construction and financial matters.

Includes two reports from 1850 regarding the effort to raise subscriptions for the proposed building and one report from 1850 regarding N-YHS and the New York Society Library's consideration of jointly purchasing and occupying a site, with the results of their review of available properties. Includes notes and correspondence (1853-1854) concerning meetings of the Buildings Committee and negotiations with neighboring Tabernacle Baptist Church for acquisition of a strip of land. Includes miscellaneous subscription materials (circa 1854).

Includes notes or draft minutes of building trustee meetings, with financial data and reports from the trustees' Buildings Committee.

Includes draft reports of the Buildings Committee and the Subscription Committee; Luther Bradish's remarks at the dedication of the building; an admission ticket to the dedication; financial and other notes, at least some of which were supplied to Bradish by Librarian George Moore; and an agreement for mason work on 4th Avenue to which N-YHS was not a party (this is possibly a form of agreement referenced by Bradish).

Includes one oversize pencil drawing on tracing paper of a building. The drawing is undated and unattributed and was found with the Building Committee reports. It does not appear to be the N-YHS building as built.

Includes one booklet and loose sheets (correspondence and a subscriber list) from the booklet.

Appears to be two summary lists of subscribers from 1848-1854.

This folder and the next include booklets recording subscriptions for the 1856 appeal to complete the building, especially the galleries for art.

Offers from Francis B. Cutting (Lafayette Place), Samuel B. Ruggles (4th Ave between 17th and 18th), and Edward Ludlow (5th Ave between 17th and 18th).

This folder and the next include presentation drawings for the 2nd Avenue building, including floor plans, elevations, interior and exterior views, and longitudinal and transverse views. Several of the drawings are signed or stamped as created by Carstensen & Gildemeister. An appointment is required for access to these architectural drawings. Please contact the Print Room at printroom@nyhistory.org.

Includes the printed specifications from architects Mettam & Burke for: carpenter's work, iron work, marble work, mason's work, and stone work. The folder also includes the mason and carpenter specifications for the New York Society Library to be built in University Place.

This folder and the next two include correspondence with estimates from contractors, a progress report (December 1856) and other correspondence from architects Mettam & Burke, and other documents related to work on the building.

Includes contracts with J.B. and W.W. Cornell (iron work) and Masterton, Smith, and Sinclair (stonecutting).

Includes contracts with Benjamin F. Camp (mason work and coal vault) and draft contract with John Galier (carpenter).

This folder and the next hold records related to the costs of the building project. This first folder holds records concerning the history of payments over the course of the project and notes on contracted payments, extras, and other financial matters. The next folder holds some bills and some miscellaneous notes about subscriptions.

Includes six undated and unattributed designs for what appear to be table top reading lamps. It is believed that these designs relate to N-YHS's 2nd Avenue building, though there is no clear basis for that. A notation with the drawings indicates that they were a gift of Phyllis Lucas of the Old Print Gallery in 1976.