General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen of the City of New York facts for kids
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General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen
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General Society's Library Building
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| Location | 20 W. 44th St., New York, New York |
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| NRHP reference No. | 08001048 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | November 12, 2008 |
The General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen of the City of New York is an old and important group in New York City. It's located at 20 West 44th Street in Midtown Manhattan. It was started on November 17, 1785, by 22 men. They met in a public-house near Wall Street.
The main goal of the General Society was to help families of skilled craftsmen. They offered educational, cultural, and social support. In its early days, the Society celebrated the importance of the craft community. Besides helping people, the group also took part in patriotic events. Their slogan was 'By hammer and hand all arts do stand'. This was similar to the motto of the Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths.
New York City became the capital of the Federal Government in 1789. This helped both the city and the Society grow. More people moved to the city, and business got better. By 1792, the Society had 413 members. They also received a special charter to become an official organization. Old papers show the Society was very active. They talked with other business groups. They also asked the state government for help with industrial progress.
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Education and Learning Programs
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In 1820, the General Society opened one of New York City's first free schools. At that time, New York had no public school system. There were only two other free schools in the whole city. One was in a poorhouse, and the other was only for children of formerly enslaved Black Americans.
The new school started with 70 students. Children of Society members could attend for free. Others paid a small fee. Later that year, the Society opened a separate school just for girls. This first school became the Mechanics Institute in 1858. It still offers free evening classes in trades-related subjects. It is the oldest privately funded technical school in New York City. Over 180,000 students have graduated from it.
The Society's Library
The General Society Library also started in 1820. It is the second oldest library in New York City. The main reading room is three stories tall. It has a beautiful skylight. This library, called the Apprentices' Library, was a big step in social reform.
In 1820, the idea of public libraries was new. The Apprentices' Library was one of the first in the city. Its goal was to give good books to young apprentice boys. These boys worked all day. They had no other way to get books. So, the library stayed open in the evenings.
In 1833, the Society was allowed to use some of its money for "promoting and spreading literary and scientific knowledge." They decided to do this through lectures. The lecture series began in 1837 and still happens today. Famous speakers like Ralph Waldo Emerson and Horace Greeley gave talks. Today, it's called the Labor, Landmarks and Literature Lecture Series. It continues the Society's tradition of public talks.
College Scholarships
The Society also offered college scholarships in the 1840s. Each year, two students from Mechanics Institute could go to the University of the City of New York for free. The Society also paid for some students to attend other schools.
The library remained popular. In 1845, Benjamin DeMilt, a watchmaker and former president, gave his entire personal library to the Society. This added 1,800 books to their collection.
Helping with Social Change
The Society continued to be a leader in social change. They offered separate classes for women. In 1887, these classes for young women included stenography and typewriting. This was a very new idea. Few women worked in offices at that time.
When the Civil War started in 1861, the Society strongly supported the government. They bought about $8,000 in government bonds. Many Society members joined the New York Volunteer Corps of Engineers.
Where the Society Has Been
In 1802, the Society bought a building at 239 Broadway. They opened Mechanics Hall there. In 1831, they moved to 30–36 Crosby Street. Then in 1843, they moved again to 472 Broadway. In 1877, they moved once more to 18 Sixteenth Street. They bought land there and built a new building.
In 1885, the Society celebrated its 100th birthday. They had a big dinner at Delmonico's Restaurant. Many members and public officials attended. The Society kept growing. In 1899, the organization moved to its fifth home at 20 West 44th Street.
Between 1899 and 1908, Andrew Carnegie, a Society member, gave over half a million dollars to the Society. Other members also gave generous gifts. By 1913, 2,300 students attended Mechanics Institute. The classes then included "mechanical age" subjects. These included automobile drafting and industrial electricity.
The current home at 20 West 44th Street is a New York City designated landmark. It is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The building was first designed by Lamb and Rich. It was built as the Berkeley School for Boys. The General Society bought it in 1899. Andrew Carnegie, who was a steel boss and member, paid to make the building much bigger in 1903. Two new sections were added to the back. Three new upper floors replaced an old gym. The new parts were designed by Ralph S. Townsend. They mix grand Beaux Arts style with Renaissance features.
The Museum
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The Society also has the John M. Mossman Lock Museum. This museum has one of the most complete collections of bank and vault locks in the world. It has over 370 locks, keys, and tools. They date from 4000 BC to the 1900s. The museum is open for everyone to visit.
Famous Members
Many famous people have been members of the General Society. These include:
- Duncan Phyfe (a furniture maker)
- James Harper (a publisher and former mayor of NYC)
- Peter Cooper (an inventor and industrialist)
- Nathaniel Currier (a lithographer, who made prints)
- John Bishop Putnam (a printer and publisher)
- Andrew Carnegie (a famous industrialist and giver of money to good causes)
- Abram S. Hewitt (a glue maker and former mayor of NYC)
Also, some former presidents of the Society became mayors of NYC:
- Stephen Allen (a sailmaker and former mayor)
- Gideon Lee (a shoemaker and former mayor)
- Jacob Aaron Westervelt (a shipbuilder and former mayor)
See also
In Spanish: Sociedad General de Mecánica y Comerciantes de la Ciudad de Nueva York para niños
