THE NEW-YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY Quarterly Bulletin VOLUME XXIII JULY, 1939 NUMBER THREE POOL IN THE SOCIETY'S GARDEN WITH ANNA HYATT HUNTINGTON'S "DIANA OF THE CHASE" Gift of a Member of the Society, 1939 UBLISHED BY THE SOCIETY AND ISSUED TO MEMBERS Mew York: iyo Central Park West HOURS 0 THE ART GALLERIES AND MUSEUM Open free to the public daily except Monday. Weekdays: from 10 A.M. to 5 P.M. Sundays and holidays from 1 to 5 P.M. THE LIBRARY Open daily except Sunday from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. Holidays: from 1 to 5 P.M. HOLIDAYS The Art Galleries, Museum, and Library are open on holidays from* 1 to 5 P.M., except on New Year's Day, July Fourth, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, when the building is closed. EGYPTIAN COLLECTIONS The Egyptian Collections of The New-York Historical Society are on exhibition daily in the Brooklyn Museum, Eastern Parkway and Washington Avenue, Brooklyn, N. Y. Open weekdays, from 10 to 5; Sundays, from 2 to 6. Free, except Mondays and Fridays. THE NEW-YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY, 170 CENTRAL PARK WEST John Jfted OJtekes 1856-1959 T is with profound sorrow that the Society records the death in New York City on May 4, 1939, of Mr. John I Abeel Weekes, President of the Society from 1913 to April, 1939. Mr. Weekes was born at Oyster Bay, Long Island, July 24, 1856, son of John Abeel Weekes and Alice Howland Delano, his wife, and grandson of Robert Doughty Weekes, first president of the New York Stock Exchange. A graduate of the Sheffield Scientific School of Yale University and of the law school of Columbia University, Mr. Weekes entered the law firm of his father, Weekes and de Forest, and at the time of his death was associated with Mr. Arthur Suth­ erland as the head of the firm of Weekes Brothers. Mr. Weekes was elected to the New York Assembly on the Citizens' Union ~ 67 I The New-York Historical Society JOHN ABEEL WEEKES (1856-1939) PRESIDENT OF THE SOCIETY, lOig-iggg By HERMANN HANATSCHEK PAINTED FOR THE SOCIETY, 1923 68 Quarterly Bulletin reform ticket, and served from 1898-1902, representing the 25th Assembly District in New York City. His father joined the Society in 1838, and served as First Vice-President, 1889-1895. Mr. Weekes became a member in 1883, and was appointed to the Executive Committee in 1902. In 1909, he was elected Domestic Corresponding Secretary, which office he held until 1913, when he was chosen President of the Society. During the next twenty-six years, Mr. Weekes guided the Society in his conservative manner without thought of personal benefit but with all attention for the best interests of the Society. His sound advice was a gratification to his fellow trustees. His genial personality and unassuming man­ ner will always be remembered, and the service he rendered the Society will ever be appreciated. Ill health and advanced age caused him to resign from the presidency of the Society on April 3, 1939, as though anticipating death which called him such a short time thereafter. MR. ZABRISKIE ELECTED PRESIDENT N APRIL, Mr. George A. Zabriskie was elected President I of the Society, to fill the unexpired term of the late John Abeel Weekes, ending in 1941. Mr. Zabriskie served as Treas­ urer of the Society from 1929 until his election to the presi­ dency. He is a well-known collector of books, manuscripts, and American paintings, and as an amateur in book-finishing, is recognized as outstanding in the country. A prominent flour merchant, he was until recently a director of many cor­ porations, including the Pillsbury Flour Company, and he is still associated with the Empire Biscuit Company and with the Columbia Baking Company, of which he is chairman of the board. During the World War, Mr. Zabriskie was a member of the Sugar Equalization Board, and served as Flour ~ 69 I The New-York Historical Society GEORGE A. ZABRISKIE PRESIDENT OF THE SOCIETY 70 Quarterly Bulletin Administrator. Foreign governments have honored him with several decorations, including the Knight Order of the Crown of Belgium, the Icelandic Falcon of Iceland, and the Order of Polonia Restituta of Poland. He is a past President of the Sons of the Revolution in the State of Ne\v York, has been chair­ man of their Flag Day ceremonies for fourteen years, and is a member of several other patriotic societies. HONOR TO THE DIRECTOR N TUESDAY, May 16, 1939, the Board of Trustees hon­ O ored Mr. Wall, the Director of the Society, by presenting him with a silver bowl in recognition of his work in planning and supervising the recent transformation of the Society's building into a modern institution. The bowl, six inches high and eleven inches in diameter, was copied by Robert Ensko from a privately-owned original made by Paul Revere in 1768. Engraved on it is the following inscription: PRESENTED TO ALEXANDER J. WALL BY THE OFFICERS AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE NEW-YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY IN APPRECIATION OF HIS SKILL, KNOWLEDGE, AND UNREMITTING EFFORT IN PLANNING AND CARRYING THROUGH THE TRANSITION FROM THE. OLD BUILDING TO THE NEW APRIL 1, 1939 These words of tribute to Mr. Wall are heartily endorsed by all who worked under him during the busy years when the new building was being erected, and by all who are now enjoying the beautiful edifice. ~ 71 ~ I1 15! <-**4> . Si Co *»* > FLAG OF THE NEW-YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY Quarterly Bulletin OFFICERS ITH Mr. Zabriskie's election to the Presidency of the W Society, the office of Treasurer became vacant, and the regretful resignations of Mr. R. Hqrace Gallatin and Mr. Herbert L. Satterlee as First and Third Vice-Presidents cre­ ated additional vacancies. These were partly filled at the May 16th meeting of the Board of Trustees by the election of Mr. Henry Parish as Third Vice-President and Mr. LeRoy E. Kimball as Treasurer of the Society. Mr. Harris Fahnestock was elected a member of the Board of Trustees of the first class ending 1940, in place of Mr. Stephen H. P. Pell, resigned. On April 16, 1939, the Board of Trustees, recognizing the long service of Mr. Samuel V. Hoffman as Trustee and past President of the Society (1903-1913), elected him Honorary President, an honor well deserved in appreciation of his end­ less interest and generous gifts these many years. THE SOCIETY'S FLAG HE design for a flag of the Society was adopted by the TBoard of Trustees, upon the suggestion of Mr. R. Horace Gallatin, at their meeting on April 18th. The flag has been made, and is now flown daily, together with the Stars and Stripes, from the front of the building on Central Park West. The flag is royal blue, and is pictured, in color, on the oppo­ site page. In the center, in white, is represented the muse of history, encircled with the words: "The New York Historical Society 1804." The design was taken from the medal for achievement in history which the Society has bestowed upon several eminent historians. Mr. George A. Zabriskie generously presented to the Society ~ 73 ~ The New-York Historical Society a replica of its flag in silk, and a silk American flag, which are now placed on the rostrum of the Assembly Hall. SCHOOL ATTENDANCE N MAY 9th, the Society, in cooperation with the Field O Activity Program of the Works Progress Administration, under the Department of Education of the City of New York, inaugurated a docent service for school children. The staff consists of eight teachers and seven counsellors who bring children from the schools of the five boroughs to the Society's museum, and give them object lessons on New York history, illustrated by lantern slides and a tour of the collections. By June 16th, 117 classes and a total of 3,533 children had been brought to the museum, and the project has become so popular that many classes have requested return visits. Although the regular schools close in June, the service will continue throughout the summer, for students in play and summer schools. A series of lessons entitled "Americans All" is being given on New York's history, its rapid growth, and the spirit of democracy. Classes are held daily, Tuesday through Friday. INFORMATION AND SALES DESK On the main floor, opposite the Central Park West entrance, there is now installed an information and sales desk, where visitors may purchase postcards and photographs of objects in the Museum, and books and pamphlets published by the Society. 74 SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS URING July, one gallery on the third floor will be de­ D voted to a special exhibition commemorating the two hundredth anniversary of the birth of George Clinton (1739- 1812), first Governor of the State of New York. It was on July 26th, in 1739, that George Clinton was born in Little Britain, Orange (then Ulster) County, New York. He was elected first Governor of the State in 1777* and held that office six successive terms, until 1795, and again for a seventh term, 1801-1804. He was twice elected Vice-President of the United States, serving from 1805 until his death in Washing­ ton, D. C, on April 20, 1812. Included in the exhibition are a large oil portrait painted by Ezra Ames (1768-1836); engrav­ ings of the Governor and of members of his family; a commis­ sion bearing his own seal with the Clinton family arms, and one with the pendent Great Seal of the State adopted in 1778; political broadsides and pamphlets, several of which relate to the presidential campaign of 1808; and some interesting let­ ters, dating from 1777 to 1812, selected from the Society's manuscript collection.