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Creator
Netherland Club of New York
Call number
MssCol 3616
Physical description
17.58 linear feet (40 boxes, 2 volumes, 2 oversized folders)
Preferred Citation

Netherland Club of New York records, Manuscripts and Archives Division, The New York Public Library.

Repository
Manuscripts and Archives Division
Access to materials
Request an in-person research appointment.

The Netherland Club of New York is a private social and professional organization centered on Dutch culture, history, and the fostering of Dutch-American relationships. The Netherland Club of New York records date from 1903 to 2013 and contain meeting minutes, annual reports, correspondence, financial records, newsletters, photographs, and other materials that document the Club's activities.

Biographical/historical information

The Netherland Club of New York is a private social and professional organization centered on Dutch culture, history, and the fostering of Dutch-American relationships. Dutch Minister W.A.F. Baron Gevers is credited with initiating the incorporation of the Netherland Club in 1903, and was the club's first honorary president. Other founding leaders were J. Rypperda Wierdsma, president; Herman J. Von Hemert, vice president; secretary A. Gips; and W.F. Piek, treasurer. Within its first year, the Club leased a townhouse at 47 East 25th Street, providing dining and leisure spaces for its members and rooms for newly-arrived immigrants from The Netherlands. Many of the Club's early supporters consisted of local businessmen.

From 1912 to 1939, the Netherland Club of New York resided at 3 Gramercy Park West, and then relocated to The Holland House at 10 Rockefeller Plaza, also home to the Dutch Consulate General. During the Second World War, the Club was visited by Princess Juliana, followed by Queen Wilhelmina in 1942. In 1974, membership was opened to women, and after the Club's 75th anniversary in 1978, membership reached an all-time high.

Support from the Club's luncheon restaurant coupled with Dutch and American corporate funding has allowed the organization to flourish relatively consistently throughout its existence. The organization of the Netherland Club is typical of most social or professional groups, consisting of a Board of Directors; various committees; and corporate, honorary, and individual members. The Club hosts a wide range of activities and events, including concerts; luncheons; traditional Dutch game evenings; political debates; professional networking events; exhibitions; lectures; cultural tours; and regular events featuring members of the Netherlands Delegation, the United Nations, and various political groups. The Club has developed several annual events throughout the years, including the Queen's birthday celebration, a golf tournament, the Haring & Heineken Harmonica, and the New Year's reception by the Dutch Consul General.

The Netherland Club relocated to 3 West 51st Street in 1992 and has remained there as of 2015.

Scope and arrangement

The Netherland Club of New York records date from 1903 to 2013 and document the administrative, social, and professional activities of the group, with particularly strong representation of the Club's membership and special events programming. The activities of the Netherland Club between 1903 and 1920 are documented almost exclusively through board meeting minutes, annual reports, and correspondence, with many materials in Dutch. There is very little documentation from the 1930s.

The collection is arranged alphabetically by subject or format and contains correspondence, annual reports, meeting minutes, financial records, event photographs, committee reports, newsletters, membership directories, and other materials. Meeting minutes of the board of directors and the annual general meeting are extensive and record the Club's administrative and location history, event planning, membership guidelines, and other activities and traditions of the Club. Correspondence relates primarily to event planning and membership issues. Also present are typescripts of two books: The Last Seven Months of Anne Frank (Willy Lindwer, 1992) and England Spiel Ontmaskerd (Pieter Hans Hoets, 1990).

Arrangement

The collection is arranged alphabetically by subject or format.

Administrative information

Source of acquisition

Gift of the Netherland Club of New York, 1998 and 2014.

Processing information

Compiled by Robyn Hjermstad, 2015.

Using the collection

Location

Manuscripts and Archives Division
Stephen A. Schwarzman Building
Fifth Avenue at 42nd Street, New York, NY 10018-2788
Brooke Russell Astor Reading Room, Third Floor, Room 328