Knickerbocker Club facts for kids
In 2008
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| Formation | 1871 |
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| Type | Private social club |
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The Knickerbocker Club (known informally as The Knick) is a private social club in New York City. It was founded in 1871. Many people think it is one of the most exclusive clubs in the United States. It is also considered one of the most aristocratic private clubs in the world.
The word "Knickerbocker" became a way to describe an old, important New York family. This was partly because of writer Washington Irving, who used the pen name Diedrich Knickerbocker. It's like saying "Boston Brahmin" for an old Boston family.
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How the Knickerbocker Club Started
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The Knickerbocker Club was started in 1871. Some members of another club, the Union Club of the City of New York, felt that the rules for joining their club were not strict enough. So, they decided to create a new, more exclusive club.
By the 1950s, fewer people were joining social clubs in cities. This was because many wealthy families were moving to the suburbs. In 1959, the Knickerbocker Club thought about joining the Union Club again. The plan was to combine its 550 members with the Union Club's 900 members. However, this idea never happened.
The Knick's current building is at 2 East 62nd Street. It looks like a grand old house, built in a style called neo-Georgian. It was built between 1913 and 1915. Before that, a wealthy widow named Josephine Schmid had a mansion on the same spot. The famous architects William Adams Delano and Chester Holmes Aldrich designed the building. Today, it is recognized as a city landmark.
Who Can Join the Knickerbocker Club?
Most members of the Knickerbocker Club come from very old and important families. These are often descendants of British and Dutch aristocratic families. These families either ruled the early American Colonies in the 1600s or came from Europe for political reasons. For example, some were supporters of the King against Oliver Cromwell in England. Others are current members of international noble families.
However, by the mid-1900s, the club started to accept a few descendants of important families from the Gilded Age. These were families who became very rich later, like the Rockefellers and Stillmans.
It's interesting to see how new wealthy families slowly became part of the "upper class" over time. For example, John D. Rockefeller, who was one of the richest people ever, joined a respectable but not top-level club. His son, John D. Rockefeller Jr., joined a slightly more exclusive club. Finally, his grandson, John D. Rockefeller III, was accepted into the Knickerbocker Club. This shows how "old money" (families with wealth for generations) often prefers to keep things traditional. But over time, "new money" (newly rich families) can also gain entry into these exclusive groups.
Famous Members of the Knickerbocker Club
Many well-known people have been members of the Knickerbocker Club. They include leaders, diplomats, and important figures from history. Here are a few examples:
- Charles Francis Adams III (1866–1954), an Ambassador. He was the great-grandson of U.S. President John Quincy Adams.
- Waldorf Astor, 2nd Viscount Astor (1879–1952), a British politician. He was a member of the House of Lords.
- Arthur Balfour, 1st Earl of Balfour (1848–1930), a former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
- Calvin Coolidge (1872–1933), the 30th President of the United States.
- T. S. Eliot (1888–1965), a Nobel Prize-winning poet and writer.
- J. P. Morgan (1837–1913), a famous banker and financier. He left the club and started the Metropolitan Club of New York after a friend was not accepted.
- Laurence Rockefeller (1910–2004), a financier and philanthropist. He was the grandson of John D. Rockefeller, one of the richest people in history.
- David Rockefeller (1915–2017), a banker and chairman of Chase Manhattan Corporation. He was also a grandson of John D. Rockefeller.
- Theodore Roosevelt Sr. (1831–1878), the father of U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt. He was a founding member of the club.
- Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882–1945), a President of the United States. He joined the club after graduating from Harvard University.
Clubs Around the World
The Knickerbocker Club has special agreements with other private clubs in different cities. This means members can often visit these other clubs when they travel. Here are some of them:
- Jockey Club in Paris, France
- Circolo della Caccia in Rome, Italy
- Cercle Royal du Parc in Brussels, Belgium
- Metropolitan Club in Washington D.C., USA
- Boodle's in London, England
- Brooks's in London, England
- Nya Sällskapet in Stockholm, Sweden
- Jockey Club für Österreich in Vienna, Austria
- Turf Club in Lisbon, Portugal
- New Club in Edinburgh, Scotland
- Nuevo Club in Madrid, Spain
- Haagsche Club in The Hague, Netherlands
- Norske Selskab in Oslo, Norway
- Nouveau Cercle de l'Union in Paris, France
- Círculo de Armas in Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Australian Club in Sydney, Australia
- Kildare Street & University Club in Dublin, Ireland
- Società del Whist – Accademia Filarmonica in Turin, Italy
- Somerset Club in Boston, USA
See also
- List of gentlemen's clubs in the United States
- List of New York City Designated Landmarks in Manhattan from 59th to 110th Streets
- Metropolitan Club (Washington, D.C.)
- Cercle Royal du Parc
- Jockey Club
- Circolo della Caccia
- Nya Sällskapet
- Boodle's
- Brooks's
- Haagsche Club
- Somerset Club
- Società del Whist
