Spanish Benevolent Society
Encyclopedia
The Spanish Benevolent Society (also known as Centro Español-La Nacional) was a private social club
in New York City
founded in 1868 to serve the Spanish
-America
n community in Manhattan
. It is located at 239 West 14th Street and is in the heart of the now disappeared Little Spain
.
, Buñuel
, or Federico García Lorca
. In 2010 Spanish
American
filmmaker and writer
Artur Balder
, who lived in the building as resident artist for more than one year, created the documentary Little Spain
, displaying for first time the untold history of this society. The archive contains more than 450 photographs and 150 documents that have never been publicly displayed. They present the history of the streets of Little Spain in New York City throughout the 20th Century.
not-for-profit organization. Since its founding in 1868, the primary objective of the Spanish Benevolent Society has been to promote the fraternity and solidarity among Spanish
and Hispanic-American residents in the United States
. Housed in a building on 14th street - at the crossroads of Greenwich Village
, Chelsea
and the Meatpacking District the Society's members preserve the Spanish tradition and its new American sense. They support the Spanish American society and maintain the expression of its culture.
Since our founding in 1868 and in accordance with our by-laws, the primary objective of the Centro Español - Spanish Benevolent Society is to “promote, encourage and spread the spirit of fraternity and solidarity among Spanish and Hispanic-American residents of this country.”
In those early years, the Society served as an essential support system for Spaniards immigrating to the United States – providing food and shelter; tending to their health care needs; arranging afterlife services; and acting as their de-facto home away from home in New York. While the needs of our members have changed greatly since that time, the Spanish Benevolent Society still remains committed to assisting individuals who come from Spain to seek a new way of life in New York.
Spaniards of all kinds: tourists, artisans, professionals and many others have benefitted from our little corner of Spain in the Big Apple. It has served as a meeting ground for political dissidents and revolutionaries, avant-garde poets and artists – including the groundbreaking director Luis Buñuel and the modernist poet Federico Garcia Lorca, who wrote sections of his famous anthology “Poet in New York” during his stay at the Society. It is even said that Picasso stopped in for a taste of home.
The Centro Español – Spanish Benevolent Society is also committed to the historical preservation of our dynamic community. Our Society is the final remnant of the once-thriving enclave on 14th street between 7th and 8th avenues known as “Little Spain.” The Society was the heart of the block then and will remain at the core of the revival of our “Pequeña España”. Finally, as the first non-native settlers of this great nation and the (cradle/mother country –not sure what word to use yet) to 50 million American citizens who speak our language we feel it is our obligation to promote and enrich the close linguistic and cultural ties between Spain and the United States.
Housed in a graceful brownstone on 14th street – at the crossroads of Greenwich Village, Chelsea and the Meatpacking District – Centro Español members share a love for Spain, Spanish culture and cuisine. We believe in a diverse, multi-cultural Spain and support the expression and promotion of all her languages and customs. At the Society we hold several events each week that are topical and relevant expressions of our diverse culture.
The Spanish Benevolent Society is an American not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, charitable organization. Our Society and building on 14th street are member-owned and we receive our support from membership and corporate partnerships.
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 1868 to serve the Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
-America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
n community in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
. It is located at 239 West 14th Street and is in the heart of the now disappeared Little Spain
Little Spain
Little Spain was a Spanish American neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan during 20th century.-History:"Little Spain" was 14th Street, between Seventh and Eighth Avenues. A very different slice of Chelsea existed on a stretch of 14th Street often referred to by residents as "Calle...
.
History
Many prominent Spanish artists, expatriates, immigrants, and personalities have lived at the society as resident artists during the more than 150 years of its existence, like Picasso, DalíDALI
DALI may refer to:* Danish Audiophile Loudspeaker Industries* The "Distance-matrix ALIgnment" algorithm used in the FSSP database on structurally similar proteins* Digital Addressable Lighting Interface* Dartmouth Assessment of Lifestyle Index...
, Buñuel
Buñuel
Buñuel is a town and municipality located in the province and autonomous community of Navarre, northern Spain.-External links:*...
, or Federico García Lorca
Federico García Lorca
Federico del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús García Lorca was a Spanish poet, dramatist and theatre director. García Lorca achieved international recognition as an emblematic member of the Generation of '27. He is believed to be one of thousands who were summarily shot by anti-communist death squads...
. In 2010 Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
filmmaker and writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
Artur Balder
Artur Balder
Artur Balder is a Spanish American filmmaker and writer.- Career :Artur Balder is the author of several children books, published and internationally distributed by Random House in Spain and South America...
, who lived in the building as resident artist for more than one year, created the documentary Little Spain
Little Spain
Little Spain was a Spanish American neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan during 20th century.-History:"Little Spain" was 14th Street, between Seventh and Eighth Avenues. A very different slice of Chelsea existed on a stretch of 14th Street often referred to by residents as "Calle...
, displaying for first time the untold history of this society. The archive contains more than 450 photographs and 150 documents that have never been publicly displayed. They present the history of the streets of Little Spain in New York City throughout the 20th Century.
Mission
The Spanish Benevolent Society is an AmericanUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
not-for-profit organization. Since its founding in 1868, the primary objective of the Spanish Benevolent Society has been to promote the fraternity and solidarity among Spanish
Spanish people
The Spanish are citizens of the Kingdom of Spain. Within Spain, there are also a number of vigorous nationalisms and regionalisms, reflecting the country's complex history....
and Hispanic-American residents in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Housed in a building on 14th street - at the crossroads of Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village, , , , .in New York often simply called "the Village", is a largely residential neighborhood on the west side of Lower Manhattan in New York City. A large majority of the district is home to upper middle class families...
, Chelsea
Chelsea, Manhattan
Chelsea is a neighborhood on the West Side of the borough of Manhattan in New York City. The district's boundaries are roughly 14th Street to the south, 30th Street to the north, the western boundary of the Ladies' Mile Historic District – which lies between the Avenue of the Americas and...
and the Meatpacking District the Society's members preserve the Spanish tradition and its new American sense. They support the Spanish American society and maintain the expression of its culture.
Since our founding in 1868 and in accordance with our by-laws, the primary objective of the Centro Español - Spanish Benevolent Society is to “promote, encourage and spread the spirit of fraternity and solidarity among Spanish and Hispanic-American residents of this country.”
In those early years, the Society served as an essential support system for Spaniards immigrating to the United States – providing food and shelter; tending to their health care needs; arranging afterlife services; and acting as their de-facto home away from home in New York. While the needs of our members have changed greatly since that time, the Spanish Benevolent Society still remains committed to assisting individuals who come from Spain to seek a new way of life in New York.
Spaniards of all kinds: tourists, artisans, professionals and many others have benefitted from our little corner of Spain in the Big Apple. It has served as a meeting ground for political dissidents and revolutionaries, avant-garde poets and artists – including the groundbreaking director Luis Buñuel and the modernist poet Federico Garcia Lorca, who wrote sections of his famous anthology “Poet in New York” during his stay at the Society. It is even said that Picasso stopped in for a taste of home.
The Centro Español – Spanish Benevolent Society is also committed to the historical preservation of our dynamic community. Our Society is the final remnant of the once-thriving enclave on 14th street between 7th and 8th avenues known as “Little Spain.” The Society was the heart of the block then and will remain at the core of the revival of our “Pequeña España”. Finally, as the first non-native settlers of this great nation and the (cradle/mother country –not sure what word to use yet) to 50 million American citizens who speak our language we feel it is our obligation to promote and enrich the close linguistic and cultural ties between Spain and the United States.
Housed in a graceful brownstone on 14th street – at the crossroads of Greenwich Village, Chelsea and the Meatpacking District – Centro Español members share a love for Spain, Spanish culture and cuisine. We believe in a diverse, multi-cultural Spain and support the expression and promotion of all her languages and customs. At the Society we hold several events each week that are topical and relevant expressions of our diverse culture.
The Spanish Benevolent Society is an American not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, charitable organization. Our Society and building on 14th street are member-owned and we receive our support from membership and corporate partnerships.