Can we not respect the past….New York Genealogical & Biographical Society, 122 East 58th Street, New York, New York

We just don’t understand why the hell the new owners of the former “New York Genealogical & Biographical Society” needed to remove the period sign above the side entrance.  If they got a hold of the New York Public Library building would they destroy the stone sign above the door?  Probably.  It’s like the current banks and CVS located in former grand buildings…most of the time they make no effort to tailor their signage to the building, but, instead slap a nasty sign over the former building name, which was most probably carved into the stone…

Founded in 1869, permanent headquarters of the New York Geanological & Biographical Society changed locations on several occasions with its first home being in the residence of Dr. David Parsons Holton, which later removed to the residence of Dr. Holcombe at 54 East 25th Street, and finally to a semi-permanent, rented location in Mott Memorial Hall at 64 Madison Avenue.  However, its first notable address was its tenure at the Berkeley Lyceum in West 44th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues, also a rental.  Yet, in 1888, due to a $20,000 donation of the late Mrs. Elizabeth Underhill Coles, new digs were procured at 226 West 58th Street.  The society purchased this site in 1896.  While quickly over loaded with the growing collections, plans for yet another new headquarters were in the works by 1912.  Along with other donations, $10,000 donated by J. Pierpont Morgan with the condition that such funds be given when an additional $55,000 had been raised to purchase a lot and construct a new headquarters for the society.  This task was completed by the closing of Morgan’s will in 1913.  Yet additional funds were still needed. 

This process lingered for over a decade.  In 1927, there was approximately $110,000 in the building fund.  William Ross Protor was the lead donor–$10,000.   On February 11, 1927, the society announced that La Farge, Warren and Clark, architects of 146 East 46th Street, would design the new headquarters building to be constructed at “122-4-6 East 58th Street” near Park Avenue.

In January of 1928, the society announced that a design had been selected in the Colonial style to be construted in red brick trimmed in French limestone.  The entire project as estimated to cost $260,000.  At that point, $214,537 had been raised.  The project was however delayed due to the insufficient funds until June 1, 1927.  Finally, the cornerstone was laid at 4′oclock on November 16, 1928.  Apparently, the members were admonished.

In 2007, the society sold the building.  One can see the beautiful building in East 58th Street.  The former discreet signage of the society has been unnecessarily scraped off, leaving a rather rude mark of disrespect to certain of former glories…

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