Grolier Club facts for kids
The Grolier Club's home at 47 East 60th Street
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| Formation | 1884 |
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President
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Nancy K. Boehm |
The Grolier Club is a special club in New York City for people who really love books! It's also known as a private club and a "society of bibliophiles." This means its members are passionate about books, their history, and how they are made.
Founded in January 1884, the Grolier Club is the oldest club of its kind in North America. It's named after Jean Grolier de Servières, a French treasurer from long ago. Jean Grolier was famous for his amazing library. His motto, "Io. Grolierii et amicorum" (which means "of or belonging to Jean Grolier and his friends"), showed how much he enjoyed sharing his books with others.
The club's main goal is to study everything about how books are created. This includes publishing special books to show off these arts. They also have a building to keep their collections safe. In this building, they hold meetings, give talks, and put on exhibitions.
Contents
What the Grolier Club Does
The Grolier Club has a fantastic research library. It focuses on books, the study of books (called bibliography), and the love of books (bibliophily). They also collect items about printing history, bookbinding, illustrations, and bookselling.
Amazing Collections
The Grolier Club has one of the biggest collections of book auction and bookseller catalogs in North America. These catalogs are like old shopping lists for books! The library also keeps important papers from famous book lovers. This includes archives from groups like the Hroswitha Club, which was a club for women who collected books.
Public Exhibitions
The Grolier Club also hosts public exhibitions. These shows treat books and prints like valuable art, just like paintings and sculptures. The items on display come from the club's own collection, its members, and other libraries. For example, in 2013, they had an exhibition about women in science.
The Grolier Club is also part of a larger group called the Fellowship of American Bibliophilic Societies. This group connects many clubs that share a love for books.
Club History
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The Grolier Club officially started on January 23, 1884, with 50 members. It became a formal organization in 1888. The founders wanted to encourage perfection in the art of bookmaking. Many famous people have been honorary members of the club over the years. This includes Franklin D. Roosevelt, who was a U.S. President.
One interesting event happened from April to June 1971. A newly found ancient book from the Maya people, called a codex, was shown at the club. This book became known as the Grolier Codex. In 1973, the club even published a copy of this important ancient text.
Club Buildings
The Grolier Club has had three different homes since it began.
- Its first home was a rented space at 64 Madison Avenue.
- By 1888, the club needed more space. In 1890, it moved to a new building at 29 East 32nd Street. This building had a special design called Romanesque Revival.
- The club's third and current home is at 47 East 60th Street, in the Upper East Side neighborhood. This building was designed by a famous architect named Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue. The club opened its doors there in late 1917.
Club Leaders
The Grolier Club has had many presidents since it was founded. These leaders help guide the club and its activities. The first president was Robert Hoe III, who served from 1884 to 1888. Today, the president of the Grolier Club is Nancy K. Boehm.
See also
- List of American gentlemen's clubs
- Books in the United States
