The Knickerbocker Club (known informally as The Knick), is a gentlemen's club in New York City founded in 1871. Its current location, a neo-Georgian structure at 2 East 62nd Street, was commissioned in 1913. It was designed by William Adams Delano and Chester Holmes Aldrich.[1] The Knick enjoys reciprocal arrangements with other clubs of its type, including the Australian Club.

History

The origins of The Knick began with the Union Club of the City of New York, considered the first gentlemen's club in New York City(or at least the oldest currently in existence). Starting during the Civil War, including in response to rather treasonous sentiments of their fellow members, various members of the Union Club left to form other private clubs, including the Union League Club of New York, and in 1871 those who thought the Union's admission standards had fallen left to form the Knickerbocker Club.[1]

In 1903 The Brook was founded by some prominent members of The Knick, as well as some members of other New York City private clubs, such as the Union Club and Metropolitan Club, who felt their respective clubs' standards had fallen even beneath those of the Union in 1871.[2]

By the 1950s, urban social club membership was dwindling, in large part because of the movement of wealthy families to the suburbs. In 1959, the Knickerbocker Club considered rejoining the Union Club, merging The Knick's 550 members with the Union Club's 900 men, but the plan never came to fruition.[1] This was fortunate, as there had been much fretting over what colours to include in the re-united club's ties (winter and summer patterns) and hat band, as well as what nickname to use (the leading contender was "Knickion").

Notable former members

·         William Astor Chanler (1867-1934), explorer, soldier and New York politician

·         Frank Crowninshield (1872–1947), journalist, developer of Vanity Fair

·         Frederick Townsend Martin (1849–1914), writer and anti-poverty advocate

·         Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882-1945), President of the United States

·         Henry White (1850–1927), diplomat

·         Robert Winthrop (1833–1892), banker

·         Jerauld Wright (1898–1995), Navy Commander-in-Chief

References

^ a b c Gray, Christopher. "Inside the Union Club, Jaws Drop," New York Times (Feb. 11, 2007).

^ New Club is Launched, The New York Times, April 2, 1903