NEW YORK

Society LibrarycANNUAL REPORT

1942

53 East Seventy-ninth Str-eet

Founded 1754

NEW YORK SOCIETY LIBRARY

*

Trustees 1942-1943

NEW YORK SOCIETY LIBRARY

*

Officers

FREDERIC A. DE PEYSTER

LEWIS S. MORRIS

EDWARD C. PARISH

HAMILTON FISH ARMSTRONG

E. COSTER WILMERDING

EDWARD C. DELAFIELD

DONALD C. VAUGHAN

ARTHUR J. MORRIS

LEWIS SPENCER MORRIS

FREDERIC ASHTON DE PEYSTER

ARTHUR J. MORRISFULTON TRUST COMPANY.

Chairman

. Secretary

Treasurer

Assistant Treasurer

BERTRAM CRUGER

A. COSTER SCHERMERHORN

RODMAN GILDER

FREDERIC R. KING

Executive Committee

HAMILTON FISH ARMSTRONG, Chairman

EDMUND P. ROGERS STEPHEN VINCENT BENET

RODMAN GILDER

FREDERIC R. KING

WALTER MILLIS

DONALD C. VAUGHAN

WALTER MILLIS

Finance Committee

LEWIS SPENCER MORRIS, Chairman

EDWARD C. DELAFIELD

ARTHUR J. MORRISEDWARD C. PARISH

E. COSTER WILMERDING

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Librarian

EDITH HALL CROWELL

MARION KING, Assistant Librarian

FRANK B. BIGELOW, Librarian Emeritus

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THE TRUSTEES of the New York Society Library present to theshareholders this their report for the year ending March 3, 1942.

It is my sad duty to report the death of two members of theBoard of Trustees, Philip J. Roosevelt, who died on November 8,1941, and Samuel V. Hoffman, who died February 23, 1942.

The Library continues to serve as a cultural unit in this city'sbusy life. The Reading Room is a quiet haven for the leisurelyperusal of the recent magazines as well as for the intensive researchof the student. Scholars from as far away as California have madespecial trips to consult our treasures. During the past year overforty-eight thousand books were borrowed for home reading. Thedecrease (1313) in the number of books borrowed is a nationalcondition reported from most libraries. It is probably due to thefact that time formerly given to reading is now being devoted tolistening to radio commentators, also the exodus of members intowar service or other defense activities has doubtless affected readincrohabits.

The open book shelves were checked and a few more books weretransferred to the Rare Book Section; among them some splendidexamples of 16th century European printing from early presses inAntwerp, Bologna, Cologne and other cities, also a copy of JohnRotheram's "Essay on Faith," New York 1767 (a rare James Parkerimprint, no copy of which is located in Evan's bibliography ofAmericana). In the Theology section, two books were found bear-ing John Sharpe's characteristic autograph and motto "Ad quidvenisti?". These were placed with the Sharpe Collection, fromwhich they had been separated for many years, for we do not findthem in any extant inventory of the collection. Another "find"was Edward Stillingfleet's "A Letter to a Deist," London 1677,which bears the library's first bookplate. 'Ve know of no other bookin the library with this bookplate, which was the issue used priorto the Revolution, thus indicating that it was one of the few booksto withstand the pillaging of the British troops during the year1776-1777, when they occupied New York.

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Two Revolutionary broadsides and the first issue of the NewYork Evening Post were loaned to the Museum of the City of NewYork for their "Extra! Extra!" exhibit, which depicted the develop-ment of journalism in New York. In order to check on certain factsin a forthcoming picture, one of the motion picture concerns inHollywood requested us to rush to them by air mail, the bookwhich gave that information. An exhibit of the best sellers of ahalf century ago were sent to the Port Washington Public Libraryto help celebrate their 50th anniversary.

Among our gifts during the past year were the 1640 edition ofBen Jonson's "Workes" from Mrs. Henry A. Henriques, and morefamily manuscripts from Mrs. Walter Bowne. The two volumeedition of the "Diary of Gino Speranza" was presented by Mrs.Speranza.

We are collecting a file of autographs of our author members,which we hope will become as interesting as are those of authorswho used the library in the past. These signatures have been largelyfound on letters requesting or acknowledging the library's help,from writers such as Martha Lamb, Benson J. Lossing, LydiaMaria Child, John Bigelow, Hamilton Fish, James Kent, John L.Cadwalader, Horace Greeley, Charles A. Dana, William CullenBryant and many others. The list of our present author membershas grown to proportions impressive enough to record (iee Zlu;~d'l:e61~. One of our living authors paid a handsome tribute to theLibrary in a recent issue of the NEW YORKER when he hailed thefact that the water taps in the washrooms of this library "stay onwithout being held."

Approximately 2500 of our most valuable books, documents andmanuscripts have been sent out of the city for safekeeping "for theduration." They have been wrapped individually, packed in car-tons, and these clearly marked for later identification. This storagearrangement was made possible through the cooperation of theNew York Public Library and the State of New York. Other valu-able records have been placed in protected bank vaults.

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Attempts have been made to protect the building and its con-tents from possible damage by air bombing; skylights have beencovered with iron grilles and the glass blacked out. Buckets of sandand water have been placed on every floor and a pump, shovel, etc.on the roof. A shelter room on the third floor has been prepared forany occupants of the building at the time of danger, and eachmember of the staff has been charged with certain responsibilities.The caretaker has qualified as air warden and five of the staff havereceived First Aid instruction.

The library has been placed on the mailing list of the O.C.D.and their pamphlets are on file, as well as most of the importantbooks on the current situation. This is in line with the slogan "Anation's best defense is an enlightened people."

Our library can well be proud of its contribution to the VictoryBook Campaign; to date about 3000 books have been donated byour members to the men in service. The collecting will probablycontinue for the duration of the war, and this library will continueto act as one of the collection centers.

We wish to take this opportunity to express our appreciation tothe librarian and the library staff for their continued interest andcooperation.

For the Trustees,

LEWIS SPENCER MORRIS,

Chairman.

April 28, 1942.

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I,;

I

REPORT OF

THE AUDITING COMMITTEE

..

To the Trustees of the New York Society Library:

The Committee appointed "To audit the accounts of thisCorporation and to make an inventory of its real and personalproperty, excepting the books," respectfully submits and reports:

THAT

They have employed W. S. Salway, Certified Public Accountant,to examine the accounts of the Treasurer for the year ended March

31, 1942.The securities were examined by the Auditing Committee on

April 22, 1942

EDWARD C. DELAFIELDFREDERIC AsHTON DEPEYSTER

RODMAN GILDER

Auditing Committee

New York, N. Y.

April 22, 1942.

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STATEMENT OF

PRINCIPAL RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS

STATEMENT OF

INCOME RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS

For Year Ended March JIst, I942 For Year Ended March JIst, I942

BALANCE April 1St, 1941

General FundGoodhue FundGreen Fund.

RECEIPTS

$ 2,906,5 16,5 13,3 24,982 .68

BALANCE-April 1St, 1941 .

RECEIPTS

INVESTMENT INCOMEGeneral FundGoodhue FundGreen Fund.

$13, 104.202 1,693.09

2,116·37

Advance from General Fund Surplus8,382 .7°1,5°0.00

$ 298.006,963,50

415.41

705.79

INTERNAL INCOMEDues.SubscriptionsFinesBooks Sold

1,000.00

Mortgage Principal RepaidOn Allowed Mortgage ClaimTransferred from Income to cover depre-

ciation reserve

Total Receipts

DISBURSEMENTS

NON-OPERATING CASH TRANSACTIONSExcess Receipts . 259·53

Securities purchased.Membership Certificates.Advanced for Operations

$ 8,500.00135.00

1,500.00

Total Receipts

Total Disbursements 10,135.00

BALANCE-March 31St, 1942

General FundGoodhue FundGreen Fund.

$ 1,369.826,838.481,822.68

$10,°3°,98

8 9

TotalGreenFund

$ 10,°3°.98

4,345·9°

$257,633·47492,81 9,32

47,855.00

GoodhueFund

GeneralFund

$10,156.23 $17,254. 12 $2,066·37 $29,476.722, 125.00 941.25 50.00 3,II6.25

822·97 2,664.25 3,487.222,749.°3 2,749.03

INTEREST

MortgageBond

DIVIDENDS.REAL ESTATE INCOME.

CASH

Principal-UninvestedIncome-Unexpended

For Year Ended March JIst, I942

INVESTMENT INCOME

For Year Ended March JIst, I942

ASSETS

Gross Investment Income. $13,104.20 $23,608.65 $2,II6.37 $38,829.22Less Real Estate Expenses. 1,915.56 1,915.56

OUTSIDE REAL ESTATE

Goodhue Fund .

SECURITIES

General FundGoodhue Fund .Green Fund

1,021.682,000.7 1

95°·44792.70273. 16201.9470 .65

792 •80

926.81161.75

. $ 3,7°3·74131.39546,59177.62

254.781,106.01

29·3528,°73·47

OTHER DISBURSEMENTS

Interest on Mortgage. . $ 1,800.00Provision for Depreciation

Reserve 1,000.00Custody of Securities and

Bookkeeping 9°0.25

OPERATING

BooksBinding and Repairs .PeriodicalsPostagePrintingSuppliesDeliverySalariesBuilding Repairs and

MaintenanceElectricity and GasHeat.InsuranceCleaning SuppliesTelephoneWaterPension Fund Premiums .Legal and ProfessionalMiscellaneous Expenses

DISB URSEMENTS

Total Disbursements

BALANCE-March 31St, 1942 .

LIBRARY BUILDING AND EQUIPMENT

Total Cost (Less Reserve forDepreciation)

Less Mortgage Payable thereon .$325,625.35

45,000.00

DEFERRED CHARGES280,625.35

610.10

$1,148,885,36

10 II

ACCESSIONS TO THE

GREEN ART COLLECTION

ABBOTI, BERENICE

ALDRICH, RICHARD

BIRNBAUM, MARTIN

BOEHN, MAX VON

BROCKWAY, WALLACE

CHENEY, SHELDON

DICHTER, HARRY

EINSTEIN, ALFRED

EWEN, DAVID

FINNEY, THEODORE M.

GOGH, VINCENT VAN

GOMEZ, NATALIE

HELM, MACKINLEY

HOKINSON, HELEN ELNA

HOWARD, J OHN TASKER

JANIS, SIDNEY

J ONES, ROBERT EDMOND

KOHLER, KARL

LANG, PAUL HENRY

Low, DAVID

McKEARIN, GEORGE SKINNER

MARITAIN, JACQUES

MITCHELL, ELIZABETH

MOORE, DOUGLAS

MUSEUM OF MODERN ART

MUSEUM OF MODERN ART

O'HARA, ELIOT

RAWSON, MARION

SAINT-GAUDENS, HOMER

SEARS, CLARA ENDICOTI

SHEELER, CHARLES

SOBY, JAMES THRALL

STEFAN, PAUL

SWEENEY, JAMES JOHNSON

SZYK, ARTHUR

Guide to better photographyConcert life in New York 1902-1923John Singer SargentDolls and puppetsThe opera: 1600-1941Story of modern artEarly American sheet musicGreatness in musicMusic comes to AmericaHearing musicLetters to Emile BernardYour garden in the ci tyModern Mexican paintersMy best girlsOur contemporary composersThey taught themselvesThe dramatic imaginationHistory of costumeMusic in western civilizationLow on the warAmerican glassPhilosophy of artMusic with a feather dusterFrom madrigal to modern musicArt in our timeTwenty centuries of Mexican artMaking water color behaveOld house picture bookAmerican artist and his timesSome American primitives(Museum of Modern Art)

Paintings, drawings, prints:Salvador Dali

Anton DvorakJoan MiroNew order

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TAYLOR, DEEMS, ed.TERRY, WALTER

THORP, MARGARET

WALTER, BRUNO

WICKEY, HARRY

WILLIAMSON, SCOTI GRAHAM

WOOLF, SAMUEL JOHNSON

WRIGHT, FRANK LLOYD

Treasury of Gilbert and SullivanInvitation to danceAmerica at the moviesGustav MahlerThus far, the growth of an American

artistThe American craftsmanHere am IFrank Lloyd Wright on architecture

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DONORS

For Year Ended March JIst, I942

American Scenic and HistoricPreservation Society

Mrs. J. R. AtkinsonMrs. H. G. BartolBernard M. BaruchMrs. Walter BowneBritish Library of InformationBrooklyn Public LibraryC. C. BurlinghamNicholas Murray ButlerCarnegie Endowment for

International PeaceFrancis B. CrowninshieldMiss Augusta de PeysterMrs. Frederic Foster deRhamDun & BradstreetMrs. Alfred EdeyMiss Susan ErtzRodman GilderGrolier ClubJ. Woodward HavenDr. C. E. HeatonMrs. Henry A. HenriquesMrs. Eloise T. HibbertMiss Sylvia HoltMiss Fannie IrvinMrs. Edward S. Knapp

Dr. David Randall MacIverMrs. Thomas S. McLaneRonald MansbridgeCharles MaranMercantile Library of New YorkMetropolitan Museum of ArtEmil MeyersfieldPierpont Morgan LibraryMuseum of the City of New YorkNew York Public LibraryLouis M. RabinowitzMrs. C. G. RaphaelMrs. James M. RhettBaron Alphonse RothschildMrs. Peyton RousMrs. Charles Howland RussellSaint Lawrence UniversityEugene L. SchwaabSears Roebuck CompanyDr. Morris Edmund SpeareMrs. J. Herbert StablerMrs. Arthur T. SutcliffeF. William TischlerGeorge H. TowerJohn Munro WoolseyWorld's Citizen AssociationJ. Zborowski

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