Colony Club
Encyclopedia
The Colony Club is a private social club
in New York City
. Founded in 1903 by Florence Jaffray Harriman
, wife of J. Borden Harriman
, and modeled on similar clubs for men, it was the first social club established in New York City by and for women, although today male members are admitted.
of McKim, Mead & White to build the original clubhouse, later known as the "Old Colony Club". This building – at 120 Madison Avenue, between East 30th and East 31st Streets on the West side of Madison – was built between 1904 and 1908 and was modelled on eighteenth-century houses in Annapolis, Maryland
. The interiors, which exist largely unchanged and have been accorded the status of landmarks, were created by Elsie de Wolfe
(later to become Lady Mendl), a former actress who had recently opened an interior-design business and whose companion, the theatrical agent Elisabeth Marbury
, was one of the club's founders. Stanford White was slain by Harry K. Thaw
only three blocks away, in the second Madison Square Garden
, months before construction of the Colony Club was completed. The building was designed in the Federal Revival style, and has unusual brickwork done in a diaper pattern as a notable feature of its facade.
The Old Colony Club was sold after the club moved to its new location in 1916. Today, the building houses the East Coast headquarters of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts
. It was awarded landmark status by the City of New York in 1966.
in style – with interiors designed by Elsie de Wolfe
– the building has a marble base with red-brick and marble trim and columns for the upper floors. According to Andrew Dolkart
:
In 1973, Secretary of State Henry Kissinger
's birthday party was held at the Colony Club; among the guests were four couples whom Kissinger had ordered to be wiretapped, and in 2007, memorial services for Brooke Astor
were held there. The club continues its policy of women-only membership – new members members must be recommended by current members – although it was unsucessfully contested in court in 1987 by conservative radio talk-show host Bob Grant
and Sidney Siller, who founded the National Organization for Men.
Gentlemen's club
A gentlemen's club is a members-only private club of a type originally set up by and for British upper class men in the eighteenth century, and popularised by English upper-middle class men and women in the late nineteenth century. Today, some are more open about the gender and social status of...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Founded in 1903 by Florence Jaffray Harriman
Florence Jaffray Harriman
Florence Jaffray "Daisy" Harriman was an American socialite, suffragist, social reformer, organizer, and diplomat...
, wife of J. Borden Harriman
J. Borden Harriman
Jefferson Borden Harriman was a New York financier and member of the Gilded Age’s “hunting set.” He was best known as the supportive husband of Florence Jaffray Harriman, a socialite who became a progressive social activist and a United States Ambassador to Norway during the administration of...
, and modeled on similar clubs for men, it was the first social club established in New York City by and for women, although today male members are admitted.
History
Original clubhouse
With other wealthy women, including Anne Tracy Morgan (a daughter of J.P. Morgan), Harriman raised $500,000, and commissioned Stanford WhiteStanford White
Stanford White was an American architect and partner in the architectural firm of McKim, Mead & White, the frontrunner among Beaux-Arts firms. He designed a long series of houses for the rich and the very rich, and various public, institutional, and religious buildings, some of which can be found...
of McKim, Mead & White to build the original clubhouse, later known as the "Old Colony Club". This building – at 120 Madison Avenue, between East 30th and East 31st Streets on the West side of Madison – was built between 1904 and 1908 and was modelled on eighteenth-century houses in Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Maryland, as well as the county seat of Anne Arundel County. It had a population of 38,394 at the 2010 census and is situated on the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Severn River, south of Baltimore and about east of Washington, D.C. Annapolis is...
. The interiors, which exist largely unchanged and have been accorded the status of landmarks, were created by Elsie de Wolfe
Elsie de Wolfe
]Elsie de Wolfe was an American actress, interior decorator, nominal author of the influential 1913 book The House in Good Taste, and a prominent figure in New York, Paris, and London society...
(later to become Lady Mendl), a former actress who had recently opened an interior-design business and whose companion, the theatrical agent Elisabeth Marbury
Elisabeth Marbury
Elisabeth Marbury was a pioneering American theatrical and literary agent and producer who represented a prominent theatrical performers and writers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and helped shape business methods of the modern commercial theater...
, was one of the club's founders. Stanford White was slain by Harry K. Thaw
Harry K. Thaw
Harry Kendall Thaw was the son of coal and railroad baron William Thaw. He is best known for murdering the architect Stanford White at Madison Square Garden in 1906 in a jealous rage.- Early life:...
only three blocks away, in the second Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
, months before construction of the Colony Club was completed. The building was designed in the Federal Revival style, and has unusual brickwork done in a diaper pattern as a notable feature of its facade.
The Old Colony Club was sold after the club moved to its new location in 1916. Today, the building houses the East Coast headquarters of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts
American Academy of Dramatic Arts
The American Academy of Dramatic Arts is a fully accredited two-year conservatory with facilities located in Manhattan, New York City – at 120 Madison Avenue, in a landmark building designed by noted architect Stanford White as the original Colony Club – and in Hollywood, California...
. It was awarded landmark status by the City of New York in 1966.
Second clubhouse
The second clubhouse, located at 564 Park Avenue, also known as 51 East 62nd Street, on the northwest corner, was completed from 1914-1916 and designed by Delano & Aldrich. Neo-GeorgianGeorgian architecture
Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
in style – with interiors designed by Elsie de Wolfe
Elsie de Wolfe
]Elsie de Wolfe was an American actress, interior decorator, nominal author of the influential 1913 book The House in Good Taste, and a prominent figure in New York, Paris, and London society...
– the building has a marble base with red-brick and marble trim and columns for the upper floors. According to Andrew Dolkart
Andrew Dolkart
Andrew Scott Dolkart is the James Marston Fitch Associate Professor of Historic Preservation at the Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation and Director of the school's Historic Preservation Program...
:
In 1973, Secretary of State Henry Kissinger
Henry Kissinger
Heinz Alfred "Henry" Kissinger is a German-born American academic, political scientist, diplomat, and businessman. He is a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. He served as National Security Advisor and later concurrently as Secretary of State in the administrations of Presidents Richard Nixon and...
's birthday party was held at the Colony Club; among the guests were four couples whom Kissinger had ordered to be wiretapped, and in 2007, memorial services for Brooke Astor
Brooke Astor
Roberta Brooke Astor was an American philanthropist and socialite who was the chairwoman of the Vincent Astor Foundation, which had been established by her third husband, Vincent Astor, son of John Jacob Astor IV and great-great grandson of America's first multi-millionaire, John Jacob...
were held there. The club continues its policy of women-only membership – new members members must be recommended by current members – although it was unsucessfully contested in court in 1987 by conservative radio talk-show host Bob Grant
Bob Grant (radio)
Bob Grant , is an American radio host whose real name is Robert Ciro Gigante. A veteran of broadcasting in New York City, Grant is considered a pioneer of the "conservative" and "confrontational" talk radio format.-Early work:...
and Sidney Siller, who founded the National Organization for Men.
Prominent members, past and present
- Florence Jaffray HarrimanFlorence Jaffray HarrimanFlorence Jaffray "Daisy" Harriman was an American socialite, suffragist, social reformer, organizer, and diplomat...
— founder - Elisabeth MarburyElisabeth MarburyElisabeth Marbury was a pioneering American theatrical and literary agent and producer who represented a prominent theatrical performers and writers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and helped shape business methods of the modern commercial theater...
- Anne Morgan (philanthropist)
- Judith PeabodyJudith PeabodyJudith Dunnington Peabody was an American socialite and philanthropist who was best known for her involvement as a volunteer with causes ranging from the legal defense of Lenny Bruce to assisting families with AIDS....
- Abby Aldrich RockefellerAbby Aldrich RockefellerAbby Aldrich Rockefeller, , was a prominent socialite and philanthropist and the second-generation matriarch of the renowned Rockefeller family...
- Ava Lowle WillingAva Lowle WillingAva Lowle Willing, Lady Ribblesdale was an American socialite and the first wife of John Jacob Astor IV.-Biography:...
— founding member