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Welcome to the Saint Nicholas Society’s web site.
It is designed to inform you about the purpose, history and activities
of our venerable organization. We welcome the public's interest in our
affairs as we believe it helps us to further our mission.
The Society was founded in 1835 by a group of
prominent New York City gentlemen, including Washington Irving, as a
membership organization the purpose of which is to preserve knowledge of
the history and customs of New York City’s Dutch forebears. It is one
of the oldest societies in the United States. Membership is by
invitation only and limited to those men who can demonstrate descent
from a resident of New York State before 1785. By virtue of
its membership require- |
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ments, many members are
descended from the city’s first settlers, who included several
nationalities and faiths as well as Dutch people and descendants of
Native Americans. |
The Society
celebrates New York and the people that make it dynamic and exciting. It
achieves this in several ways:
1) Honoring artists and scholars who have distinguished themselves through
their work with the Washington Irving Medal for Literary Excellence, an
award established in 1985. Recipients include: Louis Auchincloss, Simon
Schama, David McCullough. Christopher Buckley, Russell Shorto and Charles
Gehring (jointly), and Ron Chernow.
2) Recognizing
individuals for their work to make New York a better place with the Saint
Nicholas Society Medal of Merit, an award first presented in 1937. Among
the many notable recipients are Fiorello La Guardia, Alfred P. Sloan, Jeremiah Milbank, Reginald
T. Townsend, John V. Lindsay, Horace B.B. Donegan, Thomas P. Hoving, Norman
Vincent Peale, Thomas J. Watson, Henry Luce III, and Marion S. Heiskell.
3) Making
grants, through the Saint Nicholas Fund, to projects aiming to preserve or
restore the Dutch fabric of New York. Most recently the Fund contributed
toward the replacement of the roof of St. Mark’s Church-in-the-Bowery, which
is built on land that was originally part of Peter Stuyvesant’s bouwerie,
or farm.
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The Saint Nicholas
Society of the City of New York is governed by a Constitution and
By-laws which call for three stated meetings each year, and a
dinner honoring Saint Nicholas, the Patron Saint of the
Netherlands, on the Sixth of December. In addition the Society
sponsors a formal dinner dance called the Paas, or Easter Festival
each year. All Saint Nicholas events are noted for both for their
decorum (almost always black tie with the President in white tie
and tails) and camaraderie.
The Society’s
membership is eclectic
with the pleasant result that one can join almost can
join almost any table |
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at a dinner and have an
enjoyable and interesting conversation with the other members
seated there. Politics are never discussed. Instead
the focus is on the Dutch settlers of Old New Amsterdam. |
To be chosen by ones' fellow members to serve as the Society's President is a tremendous honor, indeed; one of which I am proud. But it is also a responsibility. Member recruitment, office management, budget attention, honorees to be identified, as well as various events to organize will keep me busy. Fortunately, I have support from the officers, directors, stewards and committees; as well as from the Executive Director upon whom we all depend. Together we shall ensure that the Society prospers and carries on for many more decades.
I hope you find this site informative.
John McC. Shannon |
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