Table of Contents


Collection Summary

History of the Century Association

Scope and Contents

Restrictions

Administrative Information

Related Material

Other Finding Aids

Bibliography

Arrangement

Detailed Description of the Collection

Series I: Historical Materials undated, 1826-present

Building Records undated, 1847-present

Predecessor Clubs 1826-1997

Series II: Club Administration
undated, 1847-present

Board of Management Files undated, 1851-1987

General Managers' Files 1965-present

Presidents' Files 1931-1990

Secretaries' Files 1944-1970

Treasurers' Files 1847-present

Minutes 1847-1982

Daily Registers 1912-2006

Miscellaneous undated-1975

Series III: Committees undated, 1847-present

Admissions undated, 1847-present

Archives undated, 1929-present

Art 1847-present

Distinguished Guests and Visitors
1946-present

Film undated-present

House undated-present

Literature
undated, 1959-present

Music 1960-present

Nominating 1944-present

Publications 1947-present

Reciprocity undated-present

Stimulation 1937-present

Miscellanous Committees
1940-1994

Series IV: Membership undated, 1851-present

Member files undated, 1899

Memorials and other Printed and Bound Materials concerning Centurions
undated, 1851-1988

Miscellaneous undated

Series V: Events1857-present

Recurring Events 1857-present

Unique Events undated, 1930-present

Series VI: Publications
1856-present

Bulletin
1928-present

Yearbooks
1890-present

Publications
1856-1997

Series VII: Photograph Collections
1893-1999

General Photograph Collections
1893-1999

Member Photograph Albums
undated, 1946

Series VIII: Audio and Audio-Visual Materials
undated, 1954-1985

Audio Recordings
undated, 1954-present

Video Recordings
undated

Series IX: Miscellaneous
undated, 1894-present

Activities
undated, 1938-present

Book Plate Collection
undated, circa 1940-2003

Bryant Monument circa
1878-circa 1911

Philatelic Collection
undated-circa 1960

Scrapbooks
undated, circa 1891-1991

Guests
circa 1950-circa 1970

Miscellaneous
undated, 1918-present


Appendix I: Pre-existing indexes to collection


Access Points

Corporate Names

Personal Names

Geographic Places

Subjects

Form/Genre Terms

Functions

Finding Aid to the Century Association records


Collection Summary

Repository: Century Association Archives Foundation
7 West 43rd Street
New York, NY 10036
Phone: 212.391.8054 | Fax: 212.840.3609
www.centuryarchives.org | archives@thecentury.org
Creator: Century Association
Title: Century Association records
Inclusive Dates: circa 1829-present
Bulk Dates: circa 1930-present
Quantity: approximately 500 cubic feet
Abstract: The Century Association records consist of administrative, committee, and member files created by the Century Association from its inception, as well as other materials that relate to the history of the Association and its role in the cultural life of New York City and the United States.
Identification: CAAF Century Association records
Location: All materials are located in the Century Association Archives Foundation. A detailed shelf list provides specific locations.
Language: Materials in English unless otherwise noted.

History of the Century Association

The Century Association, a club designed to promote the fine arts and literature in New York City, was formed in 1847 at a meeting of the Sketch Club, which had been in existence since 1829. The Century Association’s first Constitution was adopted on January 13, 1847. One hundred gentlemen engaged or interested in letters and the fine arts had been invited to join in forming the Association. Forty-two accepted the invitation and became founders; forty-six others joined during the first year. In 1857 the Association was incorporated by an act of the Legislature of the State of New York, which was amended in 1883. Membership has always been made up of writers, artists, and amateurs of the fine arts. The Century Association has been prominent in the community of creative artists in New York since its inception.



Scope and Contents

The Century Association Records consist of correspondence, reports, minutes, photographs of the members and other materials relating to the history of the Association from the inception of the Organization until today. The records of the Century Association were loaned to the Century Association Archives Foundation for a period of fifteen years in 1997. The Foundation is charged with organizing and preserving these materials, and is responsible for materials generated by the Century Association that are ten years old or older. Processing of the collection is still in progress.



Restrictions

Conditions of Access

The collection is open to researchers by appointment only. Living members' files are restricted. Unprocessed materials are restricted.

Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use

The collection is subject to all applicable copyright restrictions. Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce materials must be obtained in writing from the Century Association.


Administrative Information

Custodial History

The records of the Century Association were created, housed, and administered by the Century Association from the inception of the organization until 1997. The records of the Bread & Cheese Club, the Column, and the Sketch Club were administered by the Century Association until 1997; the details of acquisition by the Century Association are unclear.

Acquisition Information

In 1997, the Century Association records were loaned for a period of fifteen years to the Century Association Archives Foundation.

Processing Information

Processing of the collection is still in progress.

Finding aid written by Julie Shin in May 2003; expanded and revised to conform with DACS by Carolyn Vega in November 2007; encoded in EAD by Carolyn Vega in March 2008.

Preferred Citation

Identification of specific item, Date (if known). The Century Association records: Box and Folder Titles; The Century Association Archives Foundation.


Related Material in the collection

See: Charles A. Platt book collection

Other Finding Aids in the collection

Rodman Gilder's Card File. Subject-based index card file. Contents have been transcribed in Microsoft Word.

Charles A. Platt book collection. Finding aid in process; shelf list available in a Microsoft Access database.

CAAF Reel to Reel collection. Detailed container list available in a Microsoft Access database.

Guides to the History of the Club. 1 box of miscellaneous lists. Note: Unprocessed

Pre-existing Indexes. 1 box of miscellaneous lists compiled by Theodore Bolton and Rodman Gilder. See Appendix I for container list.

Recurring Issues. 1 binder of reference copies of frequently consulted materials.


Bibliography

James T. Callow. Kindred Spirits: Knickerbocker Writers and American Artists, 1807-1855. Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina Press, 1967.

Century Association. The Century, 1847-1947. New York: Century Association, 1947.

A. Hyatt Mayor and Mark Davis. American Art at the Century. New York: Century Association, 1977.

Linda Henefield Skalet. "The Market for American Painting in New York, 1870-1915." PhD. diss., Johns Hopkins University, 1980.


Arrangement

This collection is arranged into the following series:

Series I: Historical Materials
Series II: Club Administration
Series III: Committees
Series IV: Membership
Series V: Events
Series VI: Publications
Series VII: Photograph Collection
Series VIII: Audio and Audio-Visual Materials
Series IX: Miscellaneous
Appendix I

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Series I: Historical Materials (undated, 1826-present)

Box : Folder
Building Records (undated, 1847-present)
1 Homes of the Century 1847-1890
2 7 West 43rd Street 1891-present
3 Building Records: By Contractor circa 1889-present
4 Building Records: Miscellaneous circa 1889-present
5 Platt / Bedrooms undated
OS Building Records: Oversize undated, 1883 March 1-1940
OS : 1 McKim, Mead and White drawings for 50th anniversary of clubhouse circa 1889-present
OS : 2 McKim, Mead and White drawings for original elevator cab undated
OS : 3 Miscellaneous oversize building records undated
OS : 4 Miscellaneous oversize building records undated
OS : 5 Proposed removal of the Century 1883 March 1
Predecessor Clubs (1826-1997)
Bread and Cheese Club (undated, 1826-1827)
Bound Minutes of the Bread and Cheese Club 1826-1827
1 Photocopies of minutes and records undated
The Column (1826-1835)
1 Original documents and records 1826-1835
1 : 1 Anniversary addresses 1826-1832
1 : 2 Anniversary poem 1835
1 : 3 Edict number 1 undated
1 : 4 Edicts undated
1 : 5 History of the XKƮ 1826-1832
1 : 6 Menus undated
1 : 7 Report of the committee appointed for the purpose of preparing a register 1833 February 19
OS Oversize historical documents undated
Sketch Club (1829-1997)
Minutes (1829-1869)
Bound Minutes of the Sketch Club 1829
Bound Minutes of the Sketch Club 1829
Note: Preservation photocopy
Bound Minutes of the Sketch Club 1830 December-1833 April
Bound Minutes of the Sketch Club 1830 December-1833 April
Note: Preservation photocopy
Bound Minutes of the Sketch Club 1844 January-1969 April
Bound Minutes of the Sketch Club 1844 January-1869 April
Note: Preservation photocopy
Photograph Albums (1847)
Bound "The Sketch Club 1830-1847 / Founders of the Century / 1847" 1847
Note: Three copies, each unique
Miscellaneous (circa 1847-circa 1997)
1 Documents and records circa 1844-circa 1997
Note: Unprocessed
Miscellaneous (undated)
Bound An Anthology of extracts from the Archives of the Century Association comprising a transcription of most of the documents of the Bread and Cheese Club and the Sketch Club as well as excerpts from the diary of James Herbert Morse -- Being a subjective cut trhough Century documents ranging from 1826 to 1923 undated

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Series II: Club Administration (undated, 1847-present)
Box : Folder
Board of Management Files (undated, 1851-1987)
1 Constitution, reports and other printed material 1851-1965
2 Revision of the Constitution 1971
3 Correspondence, memorandum undated-1987
4 Trustees reports 1918-1971
5 Reports 1987-1988
5 : 1 Bundy report undated
5 : 2 Greenough committee undated
5 : 3 Mount issue undated
6 Constitution, reports and other printed material 1851-1965
General Managers' Files (1965-present)
1 General managers' files 1965-present
Presidents' Files (1931-1990)
1 Presidents' files 1931-1979
2 Presidents' files 1980-1990
Secretaries' Files (1944-1970)
1 Secretaries' files 1944-1970
Treasurers' Files (1847-present)
1 Treasurers' files 1847-1959
2 Treasurers' files 1960-1975
3 Treasurers' files 1976-present
4 Treasurers' files: Miscellaneous early financial documents undated-1911
OS Century endowment 1929 May
Minutes (1847-1982)
Vol. I Board of Managers and Monthly Meeting minutes 1847-1861
Vol. II Board of Managers and Monthly Meeting minutes 1862-1872
Vol. III Board of Managers and Monthly Meeting minutes 1873-1882
Vol. IV Board of Managers and Monthly Meeting minutes 1883-1887
Vol. V Board of Managers and Monthly Meeting minutes 1888-February 1893
Vol. VI Monthly Meeting minutes 1888-1892
Vol. VII Board of Managers minutes 1893-1902
Vol. VIII Monthly Meeting minutes 1893-1897
Vol. IX Monthly Meeting minutes 1898-1901
Vol. X Monthly Meeting minutes 1902-1907
Vol. XI Board of Managers minutes 1903-1914
Vol. XII Monthly Meeting minutes 1908-1911
Vol. XIII Monthly Meeting minutes 1912-1914
Vol. XIV Board of Managers minutes 1914-1919
Vol. XV Board of Managers minutes 1919-1930
Vol. XVI Monthly Meeting minutes 1919-1930
Vol. XVII Board of Managers minutes 1931-1940
Vol. XVIII Monthly Meeting minutes 1931-1940
Vol. XIX Board of Managers minutes 1941-1946
Vol. XX Monthly Meeting minutes 1941-1946
Vol. XXI Board of Managers minutes 1947-1948
Vol. XXII Monthly Meeting minutes 1947-1948
Vol. XXI Board of Managers minutes 1949
Vol. XXIV Monthly Meeting minutes 1949-1950
Vol. XXV Board of Managers minutes 1950
Vol. XXVI Board of Managers minutes 1951-1953
Vol. XXVII Board of Managers minutes 1954-1955
Vol. XXVIII Monthly Meeting minutes 1954-1957
Note: No spine label
Vol. XXVIIIb Board of Managers minutes 1956-1957
Vol. XXIX Board of Managers minutes 1958-1959
Vol. XXX Monthly Meeting minutes 1958-1962
Vol. XXXI Board of Managers minutes 1960-1961
Vol. XXXII Board of Managers minutes 1962-1963
Vol. XXXIII Monthly Meeting minutes 1963-1966
Vol. XXXIV Board of Managers minutes 1964-1966
Vol. XXXV Monthly Meeting minutes 1967-1969
Vol. XXXVI Board of Managers minutes 1966-1967
Vol. XXXVII Board of Management minutes 1968-1969
Vol. XXXVIII Board of Management minutes 1970-1972
Vol. XXXIX Monthly Meeting minutes 1970-1972
Note: Labeled IL.
Vol. XL Board of Management minutes 1973-1975
Note: Labeled L
Vol. XLI Monthly Meeting minutes 1973-1975
Note: Labeled LI
Vol. XLII Board of Management minutes 1976-1982
Note: Labeled LII
Vol. XLIII Monthly Meeting minutes 1976-1982
Note: Labeled LIII
1 Miscellaneous Monthly Meeting minutes 1938-1962
Binder Monthly Meeting minutes 1987-1991
Binder Cumulative index to the minutes of the Monthly Meeting and the Board of Management minutes (covering Volumes I-XXV) 1847-1950
Binder Index to the minutes of the Monthly Meetings 1954-1955
Daily Registers (1912-2006)
Member Registers (1968-2006)
Bound Member register 1968 January 2-1970 July 23
Bound Member register 1980 November 29-1983 February 16
Bound Member register 1983 February 16-1985 November 6
Bound Member register 1985 October 7-1988 October 9
Bound Member register 1988 October 6-1992 November 30
Bound Member register 1991 December 12-1996 October 2
Note: Also contains Guest register for 1998 February 17-2001 October 28
Bound Member register 2001 October 1-2006 March 9
Note: Also contains Guest register for 2002 October 22-2004 November 15
Guest registers (1912-present)
Bound Guest register 1912 January 25-1915 January 2
Bound Guest register 1914 January 14-1922 October 23
Bound Guest register 1915 January 5-1918 July 31
Bound Guest register 1922 August 1-1922 January 23
Bound Guest register 1922 January 23-1924 January 1
Bound Guest register 1922 October 24-1930 November 11
Bound Guest register 1925 January 1-1927 January 18
Bound Guest register 1928 January 18-1931 January 2
Bound Guest register 1930 November 15-1946 May 25
Bound Guest register 1931 January 3-1934 March 22
Bound Guest register 1933 March 24-1937 January 20
Bound Guest register 1937 January 20-1939 December 4
Bound Guest register 1939 December 4-1942 August 26
Bound Guest register 1942 August 27-1944 December 22
Bound Guest register 1944 December 23-1946 November 6
Bound Guest register 1946 November 7-1948 September 11
Bound Guest register 1948 September 12-1950 September 20
Bound Guest register 1950 September 20-1952 October 22
Bound Guest register 1952 October 22-1954 September 2
Bound Guest register 1956 September 21-1958 September 11
Bound Guest register 1958 August 12-1960 July 22
Bound Guest register 1960 July 22-1962 July 16
Bound Guest register 1962 July 16-1964 September 25
Bound Guest register 1964 September 25-1966 November 22
Bound Guest register 1977 April 26-1980 May 28
Bound Guest register 1980 May 28-1984 April 14
Bound Guest register 1984 April 13-1989 March 11
Bound Guest register 1989 March 8-1991 March 8
Bound Guest register 1991 March 8-1991 December 12
Bound Guest register 1992 January 4-1992 November 6
Bound Guest register 1992 November 6-1993 October 26
Bound Guest register 1993 October 27-1994 July 18
Bound Guest register 1994 July 19-1995 May 17
Bound Guest register 1995 May 7-1996 March 27
Bound Guest register 1996 October 3-1997 June 5
Bound Guest register 1997 June 6-1998 March 26
Bound Guest register 1998 March 27-1999 November 28
Bound Guest register 1999 February 19-2000 November 5
Bound Guest register 2000 December 4-2001 November 8
Bound Guest register 2000 January 6-2000 December 4
Bound Guest register 2001 November 9-2002 October 21
Bound Guest register 2002 October 4-2003 October 22
Bound Guest register 2003 October 22-2004 November 4
Bound Guest register 2004 November 30-2006 January 6
Bound Guest register 2006 January 6-2007 January 27
Miscellaneous (undated-1975)
1 Employees union undated-1975

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Series III: Committees (undated, 1847-present)
Box : Folder
Admissions (undated, 1847-present)
General files (undated-present)
1 Committee on Admissions undated-1872
2 Committee on Admissions 1873-1964
3 Committee on Admissions 1965-1980
4 Committee on Admissions 1981-present
Candidates for admission (undated-present)
Bound Candidates for admission, 1892 to 1903 1892-1903
Bound Candidates for admission, 1903-1916 1903-1916
Bound Candidates for admission, 1916-1928 1916-1928
Bound Candidates for admission, 1928-1940 1928-1940
Bound Candidates for admission, 1941-1947 1941-1947
Bound Candidates for admission, 1970-1981 1970 February 13-1981 February 8
1 Proposing, seconding, and other letters of support for members elected 1994-1995
2 Proposing, seconding, and other letters of support for members elected 1996
3 Proposing, seconding, and other letters of support for members elected (A-L) 1997
4 Proposing, seconding, and other letters of support for members elected (M-Z) 1997
5 Proposing, seconding, and other letters of support for members elected 1998
6 Proposing, seconding, and other letters of support for members elected 1999
7 Proposing, seconding, and other letters of support for members elected 2000
8 Proposing, seconding, and other letters of support for members elected 2001
9 Proposing, seconding, and other letters of support for members elected 2002
10 Proposing, seconding, and other letters of support for members elected 2004
11 Proposing, seconding, and other letters of support for members elected 2005
12 Proposing, seconding, and other letters of support for members elected 2006
OS Candidates for membership rosters circa 1890
Minutes (1854-1986)
Bound Minutes of the Committee on Admissions, 1854 to 1874 1854-1874
Bound Minutes of the Committee on Admissions, 1875 to 1897 1875-1897
Bound Rough minutes of the Committee on Admissions, 1876 to 1884 1876-1884
Bound Minutes of the Committee on Admissions, 1898 to 1913 1898-1913
Bound Minutes of the Committee on Admissions, 1913 to 1928 1913-1928
Bound Minutes of the Committee on Admissions, 1928 to 1944 1928-1944
Bound Minutes of the Committee on Admissions, 1944 to 1951 1944-1951
Bound Minutes of the Committee on Admissions, 1952 to 1958 1952-1958
Bound Minutes of the Committee on Admissions, 1958 to 1965 1958-1965
Bound Minutes of the Committee on Admissions, 1965 to 1969 1965-1969
Bound Minutes of the Committee on Admissions, 1970 to 1974 1970-1974
Bound Minutes of the Committee on Admissions, 1974 to 1979 1974-1979
Bound Minutes of the Committee on Admissions, 1979 to 1986 1979-1986
Miscellaneous (1847-present)
Bound List of members, compiled 1907 1907
Bound Members elected 1847 to 1946 1847-1946
Note: Three copies.
1 Bound materials 1847-1976
1 : 1 Admissions Committee / The Century / Proposals for membership, 1847-1856 1847-1856
1 : 2 Members elected from 1847 to 1976 1847-1976
1 : 3 Minutes of the Committee on Admissions 1854-1857
1 : 4 By-laws of the Committee on Admissions 1879 February 25
OS Committee on Admissions oversize 1898-present
Archives (undated, 1929-present)
1 Committee on Archives 1929-1996
2 Committee on Archives 1997-present
3 Committee on Archives: Exhibitions undated-2005
Art (1847-present)
Note: In 1946, the Committee on Art was divided into the Committee on Exhibitions and the Committee on House Art.
General files (undated, 1909-2004)
1 Committee on Art undated-1909
2 Committee on Art 1910-1919
3 Committee on Art 1920-1929
4 Committee on Art 1930-1934
5 Committee on Art 1935-1939
6 Committee on Art 1940-1945
7 Committee on Exhibitions 1946-1947
8 Committee on House Art 1946-1947
Note: Placeholder. Materials not yet transfered from Century's Art Collection.
9 Committee on Exhibitions 1948-1949
10 Committee on House Art 1948-1949
Note: Placeholder. Materials not yet transfered from Century's Art Collection.
11 Committee on Exhibitions 1950-1951
12 Committee on House Art 1950-1951
Note: Placeholder. Materials not yet transfered from Century's Art Collection.
13 Committee on Exhibitions 1952-1953
14 Committee on House Art 1952-1953
Note: Placeholder. Materials not yet transfered from Century's Art Collection.
15 Committee on Exhibitions 1954-1955
16 Committee on House Art 1954-1955
Note: Placeholder. Materials not yet transfered from Century's Art Collection.
17 Committee on Exhibitions 1956-1959
Note: Placeholder. Materials not yet transfered from Century's Art Collection.
18 Committee on House Art 1956-1959
19 Committee on Exhibitions 1960-1964
20 Committee on House Art 1960-1964
21 Committee on Exhibitions 1965-1969
22 Committee on House Art 1965-1969
23 Committee on Exhibitions 1970-1974
24 Committee on House Art 1970-1974
25 Committee on Exhibitions 1975-1979
26 Committee on House Art 1975-1979
27 Committee on Exhibitions 1980-1984
28 Committee on House Art 1980-1984
29 Committee on Exhibitions 1985-1989
30 Committee on House Art 1985-1989
31 Committee on Exhibitions 1990-1994
32 Committee on House Art 1990-1994
33 Committee on Exhibitions 1995-2000
34 Committee on Exhibitions: 150th Anniversary exhibit 1997
35 Committee on House Art 1995-2000
Note: Placeholder. Materials not yet transfered from Century's Art Collection.
36 Committee on Exhibitions 2000-2004
Exhibition records (1847-1988)
Bound Catalog of Exhibitions at the Century 1847-1880
Bound Catalog of Exhibitions at the Century 1881-1885
Bound Catalog of Exhibitions at the Century 1885-1900
Bound Catalog of Exhibitions at the Century 1901-1913
Bound Catalog of Exhibitions at the Century 1914-1924
Bound Exhibition Records 1869 November 6-1917 December 30
Bound Exhibition Records 1942-1947
Bound Exhibition Records 1948-1950
Bound Exhibition Records 1951-1958
Bound Exhibition Records 1958-1964
Bound Exhibition Records 1965-1973
Bound Exhibition Records 1974-1982
Bound Exhibition Records 1983-1988
Miscellaneous (1885-1998)
Binder Member architects, member artists, chronology of member artists, exhibition records (1869-1909) 1998
1 Diagrams of the gallery: monthly exhibitions 1885-1890
Distinguished Guests and Visitors (1946-present)
1 Committee on Distinguished Guests and Visitors 1946-1985
2 Committee on Distinguished Guests and Visitors 1986-present
Film (undated-present)
1