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50 SOCIETY OF OF HOLLAND DAMES MODERN RERINTS 51

by Mrs.by Lee Mrs. Crandall Lee Crandall Park, Park,Immediate Immediate Past Directress Past Directress General General and Archival and Archival Historian Historian by Mrs.by Mrs. Lee Lee Crandall Crandall Park, Park, Immediate Immediateand Mrs.Pastand Past Peter DirectressMrs. Directress PeterKimmelman, GeneralKimmelman, General Directress and and ArchivalDirectress Archival General Historian General Historian andand Mrs. Mrs. Peter Peter Kimmelman, Kimmelman, Directress Directress General General

IntroductionIntroduction and and History History history,history, a group a group of descendants of descendants of the of theearly early Dutch Dutch families formed formed to settleto settle and and do business.do business. Landing Landing first first on onwhat what is now is now Governo GovernoSs Ss ManhattanManhattan 1660. 1660. Painting Painting by Len by LenTantillo, Tantillo, www.lftantillo.com. www.lftantillo.com. the the“Society “Society of Daughtersof Daughters of Hollandof Holland Dames, Dames, Descendants Descendants of theof the Island,Island, they they moved moved on onto ato better a better position position at theat thesouthern southern tip tipof of IntroductionIntroduction and andHistory History history,history, a group a group of descendants of descendants of the of early the Dutchearly Dutch families families formed formed to settleto settleand do and business. do business. Landing Landing first on first what on iswhat now is Governonow GovernoSs SManhattans 1660. Painting 1660. Painting by Len byTantillo, Len Tantillo, www.lftantillo.com. www.lftantillo.com. n Septembern September 1609 1609 Henry Hudson stood stood on the on thedeck deck of his of ship,his ship, AncientAncient and and Honorable Honorable Families Families of New of .” Netherland.” Mannahatta.Mannahatta. By 1628By 1628 the thesettlers, settlers, led ledby Peterby Peter Minuit, Minuit, had had struck struck a a the thecolonists’ colonists’ hard hard work, work, mercantile mercantile pragmatism pragmatism and and secular secular broad- broad- the “Societythe “Society of Daughters of Daughters of Holland of Holland Dames, Dames, Descendants Descendants of the of the Island,Island, they movedthey moved on to ona betterto a better position position at the at southern the southern tip of tip of the theHalve Halve Maen Maen (Half (Half Moon Moon), as), itas glided it glided into into the thesparkling sparkling HenryHenry Hudson, Hudson, an anEnglish English sea sea captain, captain, was was searching searching for for a a bargainbargain with with the theLenape Lenape tribe, tribe, purchasing purchasing the theland land (approximately (approximately mindedminded attitudes attitudes that that reflected reflected the the ideas ideas of theirof their homeland, homeland, and and the colonists’the colonists’ hard work,hard work, mercantile mercantile pragmatism pragmatism and secular and secular broad- broad- watersnwaters September surroundingn Septembersurrounding 1609 Henry an1609 islandan Henry Hudsonisland that Hudson that stoodthe theLenape stoodon Lenape the on Indiansdeck the Indians of deck his called ship,of called his ship, northwestAncient northwestAncient and passage Honorablepassage and Honorableto Indiato Families under Families under of the New the flof ag Netherland.” Newfl ofag theofNetherland.” theDutch Dutch East East India India Mannahatta.22,00022,000Mannahatta. acres) acres) By for 1628 forgoods By goods the1628 worth settlers, theworth 60settlers, ledDutch 60 Dutchby led Peterguilders by guilders PeterMinuit, (about Minuit, (about had $500 struck $500had today). struck today).a a whichwhich not not only only encouraged encouraged trade trade but but deeply deeply influenced influenced developing developing MannahattatheMannahatta Halvethe Halve Maen (“island (“island Maen (Half of many (HalfofMoon many hills”).Moon), as hills”). it), Here,glided as Here, it inglided into 1624, in 1624, the into the sparkling theDutchthe Dutch sparkling Company. Company.HenryHenry SailingHudson, Sailing Hudson, up an upa Englishparticularly aan particularly English sea captain,wide sea wide captain, river wasriver as searching wasfar as far as searching he as forcouldhe could a for a bargainThisThis bargaintransaction, with transaction, the with Lenape whichthe which Lenape tribe,laid laid the tribe,purchasing thefoundation purchasingfoundation the for land the forthe (approximately land thecity city (approximatelyof New of , York, minded AmericanmindedAmerican attitudes attitudes values. values.that The reflected that The $ reflectedolony’s $ theolony’s ideas sovereignty, the sovereignty, ideas of their of however, theirhomeland, however, homeland, was and was short- and short- wouldIwouldI foundwaters found thewaters surrounding thecapital capital surrounding of their of an their island New an New island Netherlandthat Netherland the that Lenape the Colony. Lenape Colony. Indians In Indians In1895,called 1895, called go,northwest go, he northwest claimedhe claimed passage thepassage theto entire India entire to Hudson Indiaunder Hudson under the River fl River agthe Valleyof fl agthe Valley of Dutch for the for the Dutch East the Dutch. Dutch. IndiaEast A India A 22,000waswas 22,000to acres) change to change acres) for thegoods for thecourse goods worthcourse of worth 60 world of Dutch world 60 history. Dutch guilders history. guilders (about (about $500 today).$500 today). which lived.which lived.not Preferring only not Preferring encouragedonly trade encouraged trade to trade fighting, to fighting, tradebut deeply the but the Dutch deeply influenced Dutch under influenced under Governordeveloping Governor developing Petr us Petr us to perpetuateto perpetuateMannahatta theMannahatta the memory memory (“island of(“island oftheir of many their ancestorsof manyhills”). hills”). Here, and and theirHere,in 1624, their remarkable in 1624,the remarkable Dutch the Dutch fewCompany. few yearsCompany. years later Sailing later Dutch Sailing Dutch up atraders particularlyup traders a particularly returned returned wide with wideriver with Huguenot riveras Huguenot far as as far Walloonshe as Walloonscould he could COURTESY OF LEN TANTILLO ThisCOURTESY OF LEN TANTILLO Thtransaction,This eTh Dutch transaction, Dutch named which named whichtheir laid their the capital laid foundationcapital the New foundation New . for Amsterdam. the for city the Itof citythrived New It thrived of York,New due dueYork, to toAmerican StuyvesantAmericanStuyvesant values. ceded values. cededThe their $The theirolony’s rule $ olony’srule to sovereignty, theto thesovereignty,British British however, in 1664, in however, 1664, wasonly only short- was40 years40 short- years wouldIwouldI found found the capital the capital of their of Newtheir NetherlandNew Netherland Colony. Colony. In 1895, In 1895,go, hego, claimed he claimed the entire the entire Hudson River Valley Valley for the for Dutch. the Dutch. A A was towas change to change the course the course of world of world history. history. lived. lived. Preferring Preferring trade trade to fighting, to fighting, the Dutch the Dutch under under Governor Governor Petrus Petrus COURTESY OF LEN TANTILLO to perpetuateto perpetuate the memory the memory of their of ancestorstheir ancestors and their and remarkabletheir remarkable few yearsfew years later Dutch later Dutch traders traders returned returned with Huguenotwith Huguenot Walloons Walloons ThCOURTESY OF LEN TANTILLO e DutchTh e Dutch named named their capital their capital . New Amsterdam. It thrived It thrived due to due toStuyvesant Stuyvesant ceded ceded their theirrule to rule the to British the British in 1664, in 1664,only 40only years 40 years 1212 SOCIALSOCIAL REGISTER REGISTER OBSERVER OBSERVER • WINTER • WINTER 2013 2013 WINTERWINTER 2013 2013 • SOCIAL • SOCIAL REGISTER REGISTER OBSERVER OBSERVER 13 13

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plan was to write a history of the world, but as Society’s library reading room. The Arrival of the Halve Maen, that became too laborious he focused on the 1609, designed by the Gorham Company, was originally period of Dutch “domination” of New York, donated by the Holland Dames in 1909 and restored in 2011 “at that time almost a ‘terra incognita’ in under the leadership of then Directress General Mary Park, history.” “I was surprised,” he continued, “to with major funding from the foundation of former fi nd how few of my fellow-citizens were aware Directress General Anna Glen Butler Vietor. (Anna Glen that New York had even been called New Vietor was awarded the Order of the Orange-Nassau by Amsterdam, or had heard of the names of its Queen Beatrix of the , an honor conferred on few early Dutch governors, or cared a straw about foreigners.) their ancient Dutch .” By way of Before its restoration few people noticed the window. It was not apology for his work, in response to “deserved even considered a part of the Society’s historic collection. rebuke from men of soberer minds,” he W. Dunlap of The New York Times wrote in his article ”With a Bit observes “that if it has taken an unwarrantable of Bon Ami and Lots of Care The Half Moon Sails Back liberty with our early provincial history, it Into View” (http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/10/ has at least turned attention to that history with-a-bit-of-bon-ami-and-a-lot-of-care-the-half-moon-sails- and provoked research.” Washington Irving back-into-view) that the window has been brought to a also inspired the founding in 1835 of the luminous life after decades as an outside window exposed to the prestigious Saint Nicholas Society of the City elements and covered with soot. Now safely restored and installed, the Vietor family celebrating the rededication of The Arrival of the Halve Maen, 1609, at the New-York Historical of New York, named aft er the patron saint of window has been formally accessioned by the New-York Historical Society Museum and Library in 2011. Its restoration was made possible by the Vietor Family Foundation. the Netherlands. Members must prove their Society Museum and Library as a significant addition to its collection. It descent from an who lived in the speaks much about ’s early history before it was New after its founding. Despite the short-lived independence of the State of New York prior to 1785, which was about the time Irving’s York and even before it was New Amsterdam; in fact, while it was still �olony, its impact on the cultural development of our country was family had immigrated to New York. Saint Nicholas has become a wilderness. profound, bringing to American soil the concepts of individual symbol of generosity and good will to all. In November 2012, under the leadership of current Directress General liberty and enterprise, enlightened thought, religious freedom Another book, published nearly two centuries later, in 2005, has Elbrun Kimmelman, a second restored stained-glass window is to be and multicultural tolerance. Governor Stuyvesant and his Council contributed greatly to clarifying the importance of the Dutch in reinstalled at the historic landmark St. Mark’s Church in-the-, negotiated the rare privilege of religious freedom for the people of America. The Island at the Center of the World: The Epic Story of commemorating Petrus Stuyvesant (1612-1672), the colorful and New Amsterdam, who were allowed to “keep and enjoy the liberty Dutch Manhattan and the Forgotten Colony that Shaped America, influential last Director-General of New Netherland. A champagne of their consciences in religion.” The city was renamed New York by Russell Shorto in collaboration with Dr. Charles Gehring. It celebration will take place with members and friends of the Dutch, after James, Duke of York, of Charles II, and the combines the academic thoroughness and expertise of Mr. Shorto, genealogical, and neighborhood communities. In 1903 the Holland Treaty of Westminster in 1674 sealed the British rule of New York. a contributing writer to the New York Times, and now Director of Dames commissioned window designer Maitland Armstrong, While New York was no longer a Dutch colony, the Dutch the John Adams Institute in Amsterdam (dedicated to cultural a descendant of Stuyvesant, to create a memorial window bearing The Arrival of the Halve Maen, 1609. Stained-glass window restored and reinstalled at the New-York Historical Society Museum and Library in 2011. people remained and continued to immigrate, settle, do business exchange between the and the Netherlands), and Dr. Stuyvesant’s image to mark his final resting place. Funding for the and make their mark. Many of the names of the earliest settlers Gehring, Director of the New Netherland Institute in Albany and restoration was donated by Daughters of Holland Dames and friends are known today for their own and their descendants’ historic an expert translator of early colonial Dutch records, to create a from across the United States. The St. Mark’s property between Tenth and and preserve genealogical and historical documents relating to the achievements and prominence: Beekman, Bogardus, Brinckerhoff, readable and powerfully argued revisionist history that sheds new Eleventh Streets on Second Avenue is historically significant as it was part of Dutch in America, and encourage excellence in historical research. DeSille, Haring, Hermans, Hoorn, Loockermans, Melyn, Rapalje, light on the Dutch role in the development not only of New York, the original farm or “bouwerie” of Petrus Stuyvesant, with the As time passes, each generation of Dutch descendants may Riker, Schenck, Schuyler, Slodt, Steynmets, Stuyvesant, Ten but of the nascent United States. A New York Times bestseller and boundaries of the original farm now defined by 23rd Street to the north, find it more challenging to peel away the successive layers of Eyck, Updyke, Van Blarcom, Van Buren, Van Cortlandt, Van a featured selection of the Book of the Month Club, the book helped Sixth Street to the south, Fourth Avenue to the west and to the east. family and city history. The Society believes that prospective Kouwenhoven, Vanderbilt, Van Der Donk, Van Der Poel, Van Pelt, Van prepare the public for the important celebration of the 400th members will recognize that while the retrieval of information Rensselaer, Van Sweringen, Verveelen, Voorhees, Waldron, Wessels, anniversary of the arrival of Henry Hudson in 2009. Goals, Objectives and Membership Criteria of may seem rigorous, there is a rich reward in learning more about and Wyckoff , to name a few. As part of the goals of its founders, the Holland Dames take The Society Of Daughters Of Holland Dames this unique time and the important role our ancestors might have For a long time, the consensus among historians was that any role special pride in erecting and restoring Dutch monuments and played in the earliest years of the �olony. the Dutch had played in colonial history was minimal. Washington items of historic interest around New York. On September 11, 2011, The window restorations fulfill the goals spelled out in theSociety of Eligibility for membership may be determined through any one Daughters of Holland Dames’ By-Laws in 1895: To perpetuate the Irving brought the Dutch back to life in parodies published in 1809 the New-York Historical Society Museum and Library reopened its of three avenues—or more, if desired. Any woman shall be eligible memory of the Dutch ancestors of its members, and to establish in his famous Knickerbocker series . In the introduction to his 1860 doors after completing a long and costly restoration. Members of the commemorative and durable memorials in lasting tribute to the for membership who has reached the age of eighteen and is lineally Revised Edition of The History of New York, From the Beginning of the Holland Dames were there to celebrate the restoration and re- early Dutch settlers. In addition, the Society shall promote the descended from a person, male or female, who was born prior to the World to the End of the Dutch , he explained that his original dedication of the historic 13-foot-tall stained-glass window in the principles and virtues of the Dutch ancestors of its members, collect Treaty of Westminster in 1674, either in the Netherlands or in New

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about keeping vital records when they came to the New World. organization’s funds are invested under the direction of Pamela David M. Riker’s Genealogical and Biographical Directory to Meyjes. Persons in New Netherland, from 1613 to 1674, 4 vols. (Salem, Mass.: Th e immigrant Dutch ancestors of the Holland Dames probably Higginson Books, 1999), located in most large libraries in New York could not have imagined that, a dozen or so generations aft er they and available through the internet, provides on early set foot on the island, their descendants would work so diligently Dutch families and is an excellent starting point. It is also published to help keep alive their traditions and history. Th is has been done by Family Tree Maker on CD-ROM as New Netherland Vital Records, through documentaries, books, lectures, and parties, such as the (1999). The Society’s recently published “Researching Your Annual Meeting and Tea in the spring held at the Colony Club, the Dutch Ancestors: A Practical Guide” compiled by Maria Dering, Directress General’s Luncheon in the fall held in the Fift h Avenue the Verifying Genealogist for the Holland Dames, is available for home of Directress General Elbrun Kimmelman, and the Annual sale on the website: www.hollanddames.org. There are original print Christmas Party in honor of St. Nicholas. Th ere is the Annual documents and microfilmed records existing in libraries such as the Flag Day Parade in Lower Manhattan with Lisa Bird, Chairman of New-York Historical Society Museum and Library, the Museum of the Seal, Insignia and Color Guard, carrying the fl ag and leading the City of New York, the New York Genealogical & Biographical a group of Dames down the original streets of New Amsterdam. Holland Dames board members meet in 2012 at the New York Genealogical & Society, the New York Public Library, and the Holland Society of Each year, Kathryn Slattery, First Directress, profi les an important Biographical Society. New York, as well as in the New York State Archives in Albany, member in the newsletter, edited by Past Directress General Mary where linguists work tirelessly to translate the original documents. Park with Firth Fabend. Below: Map of Original Grants, New Amsterdam (1642) Important early books and documents are being digitized to provide easy access through the Internet. The Museum of the City of New York has a digitized map of the original grants of village lots from the to the inhabitants of New Amsterdam lying below the present line of Wall Street in 1642. For a fascinating view of this area, the New Amsterdam History Center Project is in the process of developing a virtual walk down Stone Street in 1660 at http://www.newamsterdamhistorycenter. org/vnap/index.html.

The Society of Daughters of Holland Dames Yesterday and Today

There is much vitality and camaraderie among today’s Holland Newly restored stained-glass window commemorating Petrus Stuyvesant, to be reinstalled in November 2012 at St. Mark’s Church in-the-Bowery. Dames, as most share by blood and a special bond created Funding for the restoration was donated by Daughters of Holland Dames by the knowledge that our ancestors walked the same streets almost and friends from across the United States. four hundred years ago. Many of those immigrant ancestors sailed on the same ships to New Amsterdam. Netherland of Dutch parentage; OR from those whose ancestor Members of the Board come from around the country. resided in New Netherland prior to the Treaty of Westminster, 1674; Shelley Svoren, Chairman of the Registration Committee, scrutinizes OR whose ancestor was one of the following: a Director General of member applications from her home in and flies to New Netherland, a member of the Council of the Director General board meetings and special activities on a regular basis. Other of New Netherland, a member of a governmental or religious body members of the Board—Kathryn Slattery, Firth Fabend, Karen of New Netherland, a patroon or freeholder of New Netherland, Elmasry, Ellan Thorson, Mary Park, Eugenie Devine, Kathryn Longo a commissioner in New Netherland either of Indian affairs, and Leslie Swanson—arrive on various train lines feeding into Boundaries, or Treaties, or a commissioned officer, soldier, or sailor New York. Following the tradition of holding meetings in their who served in defense of New Netherland. homes, established by former Directress Generals Jane Irwin, A prospective member of this esteemed society is required to Lucy Brennan, Eugenia McCrary and Anna Glen Vietor, meetings provide proof of birth, and death for each generation, are currently usually held in the New York homes of Elbrun going back to the immigrant ancestor, which can be ten or more Kimmelman, Lynn Manger and Polly Sheehan. Treasurer Pamela Fulweiler generations. Fortunately for applicants, the Dutch were fastidious works in the tradition of careful bookkeeping and business, and the THE MUSEUM OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK/ART RESOURCE, NY

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Kimmelman, and Polly Sheehan worked to create a Quadricentennial Dutch Heritage Scarf, which was presented by Directress General Mary Park to Princess Máxima. Over the years, the list of Honorary Members has included Her Queen Wilhelmina, Her Majesty Queen Juliana, Her Royal Princess Beatrix, and the Consuls General of the Netherlands in New York. Th e Holland Dames’ relationship with the Dutch goes back to the early founding Dedication ceremony at St. Mark’s Church in-the-Bowery, September of the Society and continues through contact with the Consul 11, 2009. (l-r) Mieke Armstrong, Polly Sheehan, Pamela Fulweiler, General of the Netherlands in New York. The Holland Dames’ Adriana Vink, Regine LaVerge, Pamela Meyjes, Kitty Slattery, Felicia Stidham (†), Mary Park, Lisa Beth MacKinlay (†), Eugenia McCrary († ) insignia features the blue and gold rampant lion of the Dutch Charlotte Squarcy, Marjorie Freeman. Royal House with an orange ribbon, the color of the Dutch Royal Family, the House of Orange-Nassau. The State and City flags of In addition to the restoration of the stained-glass windows, New York still reflect the original blue and gold flag of the House of special projects in recent years have included financial support Orange-Nassau. for the New Netherland Project in Albany, outfitting of the replica On September 11, 2009, the day before the Governors Island ship Halve Maen, restoration of the historic Wyckoff House, Garden Party, a dedication ceremony was organized by the Holland digitization of original Holland Dames applications since 1895, and Dames at St. Mark’s Church in-the-Bowery in cooperation with development of curriculum and educational materials. From 1996 St. Mark’s Historic Neighborhood Preservation Fund and the to 2001, as Directress General, Anna Glen Vietor brought much Dutch Province of Friesland, where Petrus Stuyvesant was born. vitality and made significant contributions to the Society and to This event drew many members of the Dutch community in the New York community through such activities as planting New York. tulip bulbs throughout New York’s public gardens, providing The Daughters of Holland Dames archives, going back to the funding for the South Street Seaport Museum and development early 1920s, record many other parties, luncheons and dinners. of a DVD, Under Two Flags, for use in schools throughout the Menus and seating arrangements reveal the growing and thriving state. Directress General Barbara Brinkley, who served from society life of New York during the Gilded Age and Roaring Twenties. 2002 through 2008, brought the Society into the digital age, In 1970, at the Holland Dames’ 75th anniversary luncheon at the broadened the pool of members, originated the popular Ballroom of the Colony Club, guests of honor on the dais included annual Directress General’s Luncheon, provided creative speaker Helen Hayes and presidents or governors of the St. George’s programs to engage members, and represented the Society by Society of New York, the New York State Society of the Cincinnati, participation in many community endeavors. Second the Saint Nicholas Society, the of the Revolution, the Huguenot Directress Dr. Firth Fabend, a noted Dutch and Huguenot Society of America, the Holland Society of New York, the Colonial historian, has written numerous books and articles about Dutch Dames of America, the Society of Colonial Wars in the State of New culture and tradition and has provided invaluable genealogical York, the National Society of Colonial Dames in the State of New support and historical interpretation for the Society. York, the Daughters of Cincinnati, and the National Society of the In 2009, the Daughters of Holland Dames participated in the Descendants of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence. celebration of the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson’s discovery For 117 years, the Society of Daughters of Holland Dames has of the river that bears his name. This quadricentennial event dedicated time, resources and effort to making New York a better was funded and organized by the state and city of New York in place by fulfilling their original objectives—and by having a good collaboration with local, national and international businesses and time doing it. On March 15, 2013, the Holland Dames will join the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It was a wonderful celebration of the Saint Nicholas Society in the Paas Ball and presentation of New York’s early Dutch history. As participants in the celebration, debutantes as a salute to our past and future. the Holland Dames were invited by Hugo Gajus Scheltema, the Consul General of the Netherlands, to a Garden Party on Governors For more information about the Holland Dames go to Island, to celebrate and meet the wildly popular royal couple of www.hollanddames.org. For queries or comments go to the Netherlands, Crown Prince Willem Alexander and Princess [email protected]. Máxima. In anticipation of the event, Pamela Meyjes, Elbrun

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