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Grolier Club
Grolier Club
Grolier Club
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The Grolier Club is a museum, library, private club and society of bibliophiles in New York City. Founded in January 1884, it is the oldest existing bibliophilic club in North America. It is named after Jean Grolier de Servières, Viscount d'Aguisy, Treasurer General of France, whose library was famous; his motto, "Io. Grolierii et amicorum" [of or belonging to Jean Grolier and his friends], suggested his generosity in sharing books.[1]

Key Information

The Club's stated objective is "the literary study of the arts pertaining to the production of books, including the occasional publication of books designed to illustrate, promote and encourage these arts; and the acquisition, furnishing and maintenance of a suitable club building for the safekeeping of its property, wherein meetings, lectures and exhibitions shall take place from time to time..."[2]

Collections and programs

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The Grolier Club maintains a research library specializing in books, bibliography and bibliophily, printing (especially the history of printing and examples of fine printing), binding, illustration and bookselling. The Grolier Club has one of the more extensive collections of book auction and bookseller catalogs in North America.[3][4][5] The Library also has the archives of prominent bibliophiles, such as Sir Thomas Phillipps,[6] and of bibliophile and print collecting groups, such as the Hroswitha Club of women book collectors (1944–c. 1999)[7][a] and the Society of Iconophiles.[8]

The Grolier Club's public exhibitions "treat books and prints as objects worthy of display, on a par with painting and sculpture."[9] The exhibitions on two gallery floors draw on various sources including holdings of the Club, its members, and of institutional libraries. Subjects of its recent shows include women in science (2013)[10], blooks (2016), Walt Whitman (2019), American menus (2023), Zoe Anderson Norris (2023), Abraham Lincoln (2024, from David Rubenstein's collection), and imaginary books (2024-2025).

In 2022 the Rare Book School was featured in the exhibit, Building the Book from the Ancient World to the Present Day: Five Decades of Rare Book School & the Book Arts Press.[11] The exhibit covered two millennia of the changing form of the book.

The Grolier Club, which also hosts frequent public tours and lectures, is a member of the Fellowship of American Bibliophilic Societies.[12]

History

[edit]
Interior
Dutch kitchen

The Grolier Club was formed on January 23, 1884,[13] with 50 members and was formally incorporated in 1888.[14] The founders of the club were William Loring Andrews, Theodore L. DeVinne, A. W. Drake, Albert Gallup, Robert Hoe III, Brayton Ives, Samuel W. Marvin, E. S. Mead, and Arthur B. Turnure.[15] Perfection in the art of bookmaking was encouraged. E. D. French engraved the club's own bookplate as well as bookplates for many of its members.

Honorary members have included I.N. Phelps Stokes (elected 1927), Bruce Rogers (1928), Henry Watson Kent (1930), Franklin D. Roosevelt (1934), Rudolph Ruzicka (1946), Lawrence C. Wroth (1950), Carl Purington Rollins (1951), Elmer Adler (1952), Joseph Blumenthal (1967), Margaret Bingham Stillwell (1977) and Mary C. Hyde Eccles (1989). Honorary Foreign Corresponding members have included Emery Walker (elected 1920), Alfred W. Pollard (1921), Sir Geoffrey Keynes (1922), Michael Sadleir (1925), Stanley Morison (1951), Giovanni Mardersteig (1964), Howard M. Nixon (1971), Nicolas Barker (1972), John Carter (1973), and Hermann Zapf (2003).[16] Harry Elkins Widener, the wealthy young bibliophile whose early death in the sinking of the RMS Titanic inspired his mother to construct Harvard's Harry Elkins Widener Memorial Library, had been a member.[17][18]

From April 20 to June 5, 1971, a newly-discovered pre-Columbian Maya codex was displayed in the club, giving the codex the name the Grolier Codex. In 1973 the club published a facsimile of the codex in a book by Michael D. Coe.[19]

Buildings

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The Grolier Club has had three locations since its founding. Its first home was rented space at 64 Madison Avenue,[13] which it quickly outgrew. [14] It moved in 1890 to a Romanesque Revival building at 29 East 32nd Street (now a designated city landmark).[13]

The third and current clubhouse at 47 East 60th Street, on the Upper East Side, was designed by Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue.[5] The cornerstone was laid in December 1916,[20] and the clubhouse opened almost exactly a year later.[21] Its members-only upper-floor spaces include a simulation of a 17th-century New York Dutch taproom. A 51-story apartment tower beside the Grolier Club was built with air rights purchased from the club and the adjoining Christ Church.[22]

List of presidents

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The following people have served as presidents of the club:[23]

  • Robert Hoe III (1884–1888)
  • William Loring Andrews (1888–1892)
  • Beverly Chew (1892–1896)
  • Samuel Putnam Avery (1896–1900) Porträt: Medaille 1897 by Anton Scharff (1845–1903)
  • Howard Mansfield (1900–1904)
  • Theodore Low De Vinne (1904–1906)
  • Edwin B. Holden (1906)
  • Richard Hoe Lawrence (1906–1908)
  • William F. Havemeyer (1908–1912)
  • Edward G. Kennedy (1912–1916)
  • Arthur H. Scribner (1916–1920)
  • Henry Watson Kent (1920–1924)
  • William B. Osgood Field (1924–1928)
  • Lucius Wilmerding (1928–1932)
  • William B. Ivins Jr. (1932–1935)
  • Frederick Coykendall (1935–1939)
  • Harry T. Peters (1939–1943)
  • Edwin De T. Bechtel (1943–1947)
  • Frederick B. Adams Jr. (1947–1951)
  • Irving S. Olds (1951–1955)
  • Arthur A. Houghton (1955–1957)
  • C. Waller Barrett (1957–1961)
  • Donald F. Hyde (1961–1965)
  • Gordon N. Ray (1965–1969)
  • Alfred H. Howell (1969–1973)
  • Robert H. Taylor (1973–1975)
  • Herman W. Liebert (1975–1978)
  • Robert D. Graff (1978–1982)
  • Frank S. Streeter (1982–1986)
  • G. Thomas Tanselle (1986–1990)
  • Kenneth A. Lohf (1990–1994)
  • William Bradford Warren (1994–1998)
  • William T. Buice III (1998–2002)
  • Carolyn L. Smith (2002–2006)
  • William H. Helfand (2006–2010)
  • Eugene S. Flamm (2010–2014)
  • G. Scott Clemons (2014–2018)
  • Bruce J. Crawford (2018–2022)
  • Nancy K. Boehm (2022–)

Publications

[edit]

The Club has issued editions of the following works:[15]

  • Richard de Bury, Philobiblon
  • George William Curtis, Washington Irving
  • Robert Hoe, Catalogues of Early and Original Editions from Langland to Wither; Bookbinding as a Fine Art
  • Geoffrey Keynes, A Bibliography of William Blake (1921)
  • Theodore Low De Vinne, Historic Printing Types
  • William Matthews, Modern Book Binding
  • Ames, Alexander Lawrence, and Mark Samuels Lasner. Grolier Club Bookplates: Past & Present. New York: The Grolier Club, 2023.
  • Fletcher, H. George. Judging a Book by Its Cover: Bookbindings from the Collections of the Grolier Club, 1470s-2020. New York: The Grolier Club, 2023.[24]

See also

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Notes

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References

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Grolier Club

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from Grokipedia
The Grolier Club is America's oldest and largest society dedicated to bibliophiles and enthusiasts of the graphic arts, founded in 1884 in and named after the book collector Jean Grolier de Servières (1489/90–1565), renowned for his generous sharing of his library with others. Established by a group of nine New York book collectors seeking to promote the appreciation of books and prints as artistic objects comparable to paintings and sculptures, the Club quickly became a pioneer in treating printed materials as worthy of public exhibition—one of the first such organizations in the United States. From its inception, it has mounted over 900 exhibitions since 1884, covering diverse topics such as the works of , , chess literature, murder mysteries, Japanese prints (including the first public U.S. display in 1896), and posters, with three free public shows annually in its ground-floor gallery and four smaller member-collection displays on the second floor. These exhibitions, often accompanied by scholarly catalogs, are now also accessible online after their physical run, broadening access to rare books, manuscripts, and graphic works. The Club continues to host exhibitions into 2025, such as "New Members Collect 2025". Housed since 1917 in a Georgian Revival building at 47 East 60th Street in , the Club maintains a world-renowned reference of over 150,000 volumes focused on the of the , , binding, , and bibliophily, open by appointment to qualified researchers from to . With nearly 800 international bibliophiles, collectors, dealers, librarians, and artisans as of 2023, it fosters the study and collecting of books and works on paper through public lectures, symposia (often in partnership with organizations like the Bibliographical Society of America), and nearly 500 scholarly publications issued since its founding. The Club's programs emphasize collegiality and education, echoing the ethos of its namesake, and continue to make significant contributions to the preservation and understanding of the book .

History

Founding and Early Years

The Grolier Club was established on January 23, 1884, when New York printing press manufacturer and book collector Robert Hoe III invited eight fellow bibliophiles to his home to discuss forming a society dedicated to the arts of the book. The founders included William Loring Andrews, and ; Theodore Low De Vinne, a prominent printer; Alexander W. Drake, an art collector; Albert Gallup, a bookseller; Brayton Ives, a railroad executive and collector; Samuel W. Marvin, an industrialist; Edward S. Mead, a physician; and Arthur B. Turnure, a publisher. Inspired by the renowned 16th-century French bibliophile Jean Grolier de Servières (c. 1489–1565), who was celebrated for his innovative bookbindings and generous sharing of his library, the group resolved at their initial meeting to name the organization after him, formalizing "The Grolier Club of the City of New-York" within two weeks. The club's foundational purpose, as articulated in its original constitution, was to serve as a private society promoting the study, collecting, and appreciation of books and works on paper, with a particular emphasis on the arts of , , and . To reflect 's ethos of bibliophilic camaraderie, the club adopted his bookplate motto, Io. Grolierii et amicorum ("of Jean Grolier and his friends"), which underscored the communal enjoyment of rare volumes. Early operations began modestly, with the first official meeting held in rented quarters at the on , where the group elected its initial officers, including Robert Hoe as the first president, a position he held from 1884 to 1888. Committees were promptly formed to guide the club's nascent activities, such as the Library Committee for acquiring foundational holdings and the Publications Committee for producing scholarly works. In its opening decade, the Grolier Club focused on building its intellectual and material resources through targeted acquisitions and programmatic initiatives. The Publications Committee issued the club's inaugural volume in late 1884, a facsimile edition of the 1632 Decree of Star Chamber Concerning Printing, printed by De Vinne and praised by Hoe as "a pretty nice specimen of printing." The Library Committee began assembling a core collection of fine press books and reference works, emphasizing examples of exemplary printing and binding to support members' studies. Early activities also included lectures, such as Hoe's 1885 address on "Bookbinding as a Fine Art," illustrated with items from his personal library and later published with engravings. The club's first public exhibition occurred in April 1887, showcasing commercial bookbindings through drawings, covers, and bound volumes, which highlighted contemporary American and European techniques and set a precedent for future displays of graphic arts. These efforts established the Grolier Club as a vanguard institution for American bibliophily during its formative years.

Expansion and Key Milestones

In 1890, the Grolier Club relocated to its first permanent clubhouse at 29 East 32nd Street in , a three-story Romanesque Revival building designed by architect Charles W. Romeyn and constructed of tan Roman brick with red sandstone accents to accommodate the growing society's needs for library space and meetings. This move marked a significant expansion from the club's initial rented quarters, reflecting its rapid institutional development in the late . Membership expanded steadily in the club's early decades, growing from its nine founders to approximately 350 members by the early , driven by increasing interest in bibliophily among American collectors and professionals. Women were first admitted as associate members in , allowing limited participation in exhibitions and events, though full membership rights were not extended until , aligning with broader shifts toward inclusivity in private societies. By the , post-World War I prosperity further boosted numbers, from 422 members in 1920 to 530 by 1929, enabling enhanced programming and collections growth. A pivotal milestone came in 1917 when the club moved to a larger neo-Georgian clubhouse at 47 East 60th Street, designed by member Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue, to house an expanding library and support more ambitious activities amid rising membership. World War I disrupted operations with member enlistments and material shortages, but the club persisted through preservation efforts, maintaining its collections during wartime uncertainties. Similarly, World War II led to temporary reductions in activities and discussions of potential dissolution due to financial strains and lost momentum, though dedicated preservation initiatives safeguarded the library and archives. Post-war recovery included international bibliophilic tours, such as the 1962 Iter Italicum, a lavish trip to Italian libraries and collections organized for members to foster global connections in book arts. The 1890s saw the launch of the club's first major publication series, with nearly 100 titles produced in the initial two decades, including exhibition catalogs and fine-press works that established standards for bibliophilic scholarship. Notable collaborations emerged with institutions like the , facilitated by shared figures such as librarian Henry Watson Kent, who bridged the club's focus on with the museum's curatorial efforts in the early 20th century. During the , membership plummeted over 25% from 538 in 1930 to 391 by 1935, prompting cost-saving measures such as issuing the annual Yearbook in inexpensive wrappers starting in 1931 to sustain operations without compromising core activities. Over this period, the club's mission evolved from an elite focus on reforming American printing practices to a more public-facing institution, exemplified by the introduction of free exhibitions in the that showcased books and prints as artistic objects, drawing broader audiences and emphasizing education in the graphic arts. This shift broadened access while preserving the society's core fellowship of bibliophiles.

Modern Era

In 1976, the Grolier Club began admitting women as full members, marking a significant shift from its earlier male-only policy and integrating members from the Hroswitha Club of women book collectors, founded in 1944 as a counterpart organization. By the , the Club intensified diversification efforts, emphasizing inclusivity in membership and programming to increase representation of underrepresented groups, including through exhibitions on women book owners and commitments to workplace diversity. As of 2025, these initiatives have contributed to a membership exceeding 800 individuals, comprising bibliophiles, collectors, librarians, and professionals from diverse backgrounds. Key milestones in the late 20th and early 21st centuries included the 1987–1988 renovation of the exhibition hall by architect and Club member Byron Bell, which enhanced accessibility and converted adjacent spaces for improved functionality. The Club marked its 125th anniversary in 2009 with the exhibition "'For Jean & His Friends': 125 Years of Grolier Club Exhibitions & Publications, 1884–2009," accompanied by a comprehensive catalog documenting its historical output. During the from 2020 to 2022, the institution adapted by closing physical galleries and launching virtual programming, including online exhibitions and digital surrogates to maintain public engagement. The Club's institutional growth has been evident in its , which expanded to approximately 150,000 volumes by 2025, with a core of over 100,000 bookseller and auction catalogues, supported by efforts initiated in 2014. Partnerships with universities and projects have facilitated broader access, such as collaborative events and the launch of the online catalog Amicorum in 2025. As America's oldest bibliophile society, the Grolier Club in 2025 emphasizes in through temperature- and humidity-controlled storage, , and ongoing preservation initiatives to ensure long-term accessibility and outreach. Recent challenges include updating inclusivity policies to reflect contemporary standards and recovering from disruptions, with a hybrid model of in-person and virtual events sustaining membership and post-2022.

Facilities

Early Locations

The Grolier Club's initial operations relied on temporary accommodations following its founding on January 23, 1884. Early meetings occurred at the home of founder Robert Hoe before the club secured rented rooms at 64 in March 1884, which served as its first formal space for housing the nascent library and mounting exhibitions. These quarters, located in the Mott Hall building, quickly proved inadequate as the club's activities expanded, accommodating only basic gatherings and storage for a growing number of volumes donated by members. By 1888, the club's incorporation enabled the purchase of a lot at 29 East 32nd Street, leading to the construction of its first dedicated clubhouse, completed in 1890. Designed by architect Charles W. Romeyn in the Romanesque Revival style, the three-story structure was tailored to the club's needs, featuring a spacious lecture-exhibition hall on the first floor for public displays and talks, and a on the third floor to house bibliographic materials. This purpose-built facility marked a significant advancement, providing a stable venue that reflected the club's commitment to fostering the study of books and amid late-19th-century New York. The 32nd Street clubhouse became the hub for the club's early programs, hosting lectures on literary topics, exhibitions of rare books and prints open to the public, and regular member meetings that supported the acquisition and cataloging of collections. However, rapid growth in membership—from around 250 at the time of to over 400 by the early 1900s—and the influx of donations led to persistent overcrowding; the library shelves were filled by 1892, forcing expansions into additional floors, and by 1910 the building's limitations hindered further development of activities and storage. Architecturally significant for its robust Romanesque elements, including arched windows and a functional layout optimized for scholarly pursuits, the clubhouse exemplified adaptive design for cultural institutions of the and was designated a landmark on August 18, 1970. Ultimately sold in 1917 owing to these spatial constraints and the encroachment of commercial development in the area, it underscored the club's evolving requirements as it transitioned to a larger facility.

Current Building and Renovations

The Grolier Club has occupied its current headquarters at 47 East 60th Street in since 1917, following overcrowding in its previous clubhouse. This six-story Neo-Georgian townhouse, designed by club member and architect Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue, serves as a dedicated space for bibliophilic activities, featuring a public exhibition and on the ground floor, a on the upper levels, and members' rooms including and meeting spaces. The building accommodates the club's of approximately 150,000 volumes focused on book arts and history, along with spaces for its nearly 800 members. Major renovations in 1987–1988, led by architect and club member Byron Bell, overhauled the and basement, converting the former into a members' dining room, installing an for improved , and adding throughout to protect rare materials. A further comprehensive $4.6 million interior completed in 2018, designed by Ann Beha Architects, modernized the ground-floor with upgraded climate-controlled display cases, enhanced lighting, and ADA-compliant features such as a new lift, while preserving Goodhue's original design elements. As of 2025, the building hosts free public exhibitions in its ground- and second-floor galleries, open through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with secure, custom-built cases safeguarding high-value items like incunabula and rare manuscripts. The library remains accessible to members to Friday and to researchers by appointment, supporting the club's role in advancing New York City's cultural heritage through the preservation and display of book arts.

Collections

Library Holdings

The Grolier Club's library holds approximately 150,000 volumes as of 2025, with a primary focus on , history, , binding, and the graphic arts. The collection emphasizes scholarly materials essential to understanding the as an artifact, including extensive and subject bibliographies, as well as rare early works such as ’s 1494 Liber de laude scriptoribus, which exemplifies incunabula on writing and . Key holdings also encompass one of the world's largest assemblages of bookseller and catalogs, numbering over 100,000 items spanning the 19th through 21st centuries, with notable examples from English, American, and French sources dating back to the . Rare editions on arts form another cornerstone, featuring fine press works by influential figures such as and , whose editions highlight the revival of artisanal techniques. The library's growth has been sustained through a combination of member donations, endowment-funded purchases, and targeted gifts since its founding in 1884. Notable contributions include compilations by early members and librarians such as Henry Watson Kent, whose personal collection of materials on French revolutionary history was integrated into the holdings during his tenure from 1903 to 1905. Acquisitions are selective, prioritizing items that enhance the core scope of history and trade, with the policy prohibiting loans except in cases leading to permanent donation. As a non-circulating reference , the collection is accessible to members for on-site use and to qualified —including academics and the —by appointment, supporting in-depth study in secure, climate-controlled stacks equipped with . It underpins the club's exhibitions and scholarly programs, with recent additions showcased annually in rotating displays, such as the 2024 and 2025 highlights of twelve to eleven new items each year. The maintains an annual growth of approximately 500 to 1,000 items through ongoing acquisitions, ensuring its continued relevance for in book arts and .

Archives and Special Collections

The Grolier Club's archives and special collections encompass a wide array of non-book materials that document the institution's history, the personal contributions of its members, and broader aspects of book culture, including manuscripts, institutional records, personal papers, bookplates, trade cards, and . These holdings, processed into 233 collections, focus on unpublished and visual artifacts spanning from the club's founding in 1884 to the present, with materials drawn from American, European, and other international sources. Key institutional records include the club's founding documents, such as the 1884 charter and , alongside council meeting minutes, correspondence, and files from various committees. For instance, the Publications Committee records contain sketches, proofs, and editorial materials related to the club's output, while the Library Committee files document acquisition decisions and reports from librarians dating back to the late . Personal papers of notable members and presidents, such as those of Beverly Chew (club president from 1893 to 1907), preserve correspondence, financial documents, and memorabilia that illuminate leadership and early activities. Similarly, the Theodore Low De Vinne collection features photographs, memorabilia, and press materials from 1850 to 1914, reflecting the printer's influence on the club's focus. Special collections highlight ephemera and visual arts of the book, with standout examples including the Maria Gerard Messenger collection of women's bookplates, comprising approximately 2,000 items from the 16th century to the 1930s, and the French Book Arts Trade Card collection of 57 late 19th- to early 20th-century cards depicting printing and binding techniques. Exhibition histories are preserved through archival press releases, catalogs, and related documents from 1994 onward, providing insight into the club's programmatic evolution. Other notable items encompass the Currie Photograph Collection of printing presses and the Grolier Club Postcard Collection, alongside international holdings like the William Bowyer & Son ledgers from 1710–1773 (UK) and dealer archives from Édouard Rahir (France). Access to these archives is restricted to qualified researchers, who must make appointments through the ; materials are non-circulating and housed in climate-controlled conditions to ensure preservation. Detailed finding aids for all processed collections are and available online via the club's website, facilitating remote discovery. Recent preservation efforts include the 2015–2017 of the Messenger bookplates and French trade cards, hosted on the Digital Collections of New York (DCMNY), enhancing accessibility while protecting originals. These unique aspects, such as the integration of international and member-specific archives, distinguish the collections as vital resources for studying the history of bibliophily and the graphic arts.

Programs and Activities

Exhibitions

The Grolier Club's exhibition program began in 1884, shortly after its founding, with the first display featuring a survey of etchings from to . This initiative marked the Club as one of the earliest organizations in America to present books and prints as artistic and historical objects comparable to paintings and sculptures, elevating the graphic arts beyond mere utility. Over its 141-year history as of 2025, the Club has organized more than 900 exhibitions, all free and open to the public, drawing from its own and archives as well as private loans to showcase the evolution of book arts, , and . Exhibitions at the Grolier Club encompass diverse types, including thematic explorations of literary and artistic themes, displays of member collections, and occasional traveling shows hosted from partner institutions. Thematic exhibitions often highlight specific cultural or historical narratives, such as "Presidents and Their Books: What They Read and What They Wrote" (2023), which examined the reading habits and writings of U.S. presidents through rare editions and personal annotations from collector Tane. Member-focused shows, like the annual "New Members Collect" series, feature eclectic acquisitions from recently admitted bibliophiles, with the 2025 installment (May 29–July 26) presenting items ranging from illuminated manuscripts to modern . Traveling exhibitions, such as the Smithsonian Libraries' "Voyages" (2001), have brought external perspectives on scientific and to the Club's galleries. Recent exhibitions as of 2025 underscore the program's continued vitality and adaptation to contemporary formats. "After Words: Visual and Experimental Poetry in Little Magazines and Small Presses, 1960–2025" (April 23–July 26, 2025) traces the evolution of poetry through rare periodicals and artists' books, curated by Steve Clay and M.C. Kinniburgh. "Jewish Worlds Illuminated: A Treasury of Hebrew Manuscripts from The JTS Library" (September 17–December 27, 2025) offers an extensive survey of over 100 Hebrew manuscripts, spanning centuries and regions from to , in collaboration with the Jewish Theological Seminary. Looking ahead, "Paper Jane: 250 Years of Austen" (December 4, 2025–February 14, 2026), drawn from the collections of Janine Barchas, Sandra Clark, and Mary Crawford, celebrates the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen's birth with first editions, adaptations, and family-influenced artifacts. Following the , the Club has incorporated virtual and hybrid elements since 2020, producing digital surrogates and online catalogs for each show to extend access beyond physical visitors. The curatorial process emphasizes scholarly rigor, with exhibitions typically organized by Club members or invited experts who select items from the institution's 150,000-volume , archival holdings, and external loans to illuminate broader themes in and . These displays, held seven times annually across ground- and second-floor galleries, attract approximately 7,000 visitors each year while fostering public appreciation for the book as a multifaceted form through immersive installations of bindings, illustrations, and .

Lectures, Tours, and Public Events

The Grolier Club has hosted public lectures and symposia since its early years, with a tradition of regular programming to promote the study of books and . These include curator-led gallery tours and panel discussions, all registered through for public access. Following the , the Club adopted hybrid formats, offering virtual options alongside in-person sessions to broaden participation. Key programming series feature author talks and specialized workshops, such as those on book conservation techniques, alongside seasonal events like holiday gatherings that engage enthusiasts in hands-on learning about and binding. For instance, in 2025, tours and discussions highlighted Richard Aldington's literary career, drawing on his diverse works as a , biographer, and translator. These interactive formats emphasize educational outreach, often tying into broader themes in without overlapping with static displays. Recent highlights include the October 2025 program "The Decoration of Hebrew Manuscripts after the Invention of Printing," a collaborative exploring post-printing artistic traditions in Jewish texts. During the period, the Club pivoted to virtual tours and online panels to maintain engagement, such as recorded discussions on collecting and manuscript history available via . Partnerships with institutions like the Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS) have supported events on , including guided sessions on illuminated Hebrew manuscripts in 2025. Most public events are free, with low-cost options for select workshops, ensuring broad accessibility for scholars, collectors, and the general public. The 2025 calendar features over 20 events, including lectures on topics like 's writings and Regency-era fashion in print, alongside recurring tours. Members enjoy exclusive perks, such as private receptions following public programs, enhancing the Club's role in bibliophilic community building.

Leadership and Governance

Presidents

The presidents of the Grolier Club have played a pivotal role in guiding the institution's development since its founding in 1884, overseeing policies on collections, exhibitions, publications, and membership while fostering the study of book arts and . Elected by the club's council for terms typically lasting two to four years, presidents are selected from among the membership based on their expertise in bibliophily, , or related fields, ensuring continuity in the club's mission to promote the literary study of book production. Over its , the Grolier Club has had more than 40 presidents, each contributing to its evolution from a small society of collectors to a leading center for rare books and . The following table lists all presidents chronologically, with terms of service:
PresidentTerm
Robert Hoe III1884–1888
William Loring Andrews1888–1892
Beverly Chew1892–1896
Samuel P. Avery1896–1900
Howard Mansfield1900–1904
Theodore L. De Vinne1904–1906
Edwin B. Holden1906
Richard Hoe Lawrence1906–1908
William F. Havemeyer1908–1912
Edward G. Kennedy1912–1916
Arthur H. Scribner1916–1920
Henry Watson Kent1920–1924
William B. Osgood Field1924–1928
Lucius N. Wilmerding1928–1932
William M. Ivins Jr.1932–1935
Frederick W. Coykendall1935–1939
Harry T. Peters1939–1943
Edwin D. T. Bechtel1943–1947
Frederick B. Adams Jr.1947–1951
Irving S. Olds1951–1955
Arthur A. Houghton Jr.1955–1957
Clifton W. Barrett1957–1961
Donald F. Hyde1961–1965
Gordon N. Ray1965–1969
Alfred H. Howell1969–1973
Robert H. Taylor1973–1975
Herman W. Liebert1975–1978
Robert D. Graff1978–1982
Frank S. Streeter1982–1986
G. Thomas Tanselle1986–1990
Kenneth A. Lohf1990–1994
William B. Warren1994–1998
William T. Buice III1998–2002
Carolyn L. Smith2002–2006
William H. Helfand2006–2010
Eugene S. Flamm2010–2014
G. Scott Clemons2014–2018
Bruce J. Crawford2018–2022
Nancy K. Boehm2022–present (as of November 2025)
Several presidents stand out for their lasting impact on the club's collections and operations. Robert Hoe III, the club's founder and first president, was a pioneering manufacturer of printing presses whose innovations in rotary technology revolutionized newspaper production; his vision established the Grolier Club as a hub for bibliophiles, drawing on his personal of over 7,000 volumes, which influenced early acquisitions and the club's emphasis on printing history. Beverly Chew, serving from 1892 to 1896, brought his expertise as a distinguished and collector of English literature, helping to formalize the club's early cataloging practices and expand its focus on fine bindings and incunabula. Henry Watson Kent (1920–1924) significantly advanced the library's infrastructure during his tenure, building on his prior role as the club's first professional (1903–1906), where he developed its foundational system still in use today; under his leadership, the collection grew through strategic purchases and donations, emphasizing American and . Gordon N. Ray (1965–1969), a prominent scholar of 19th-century , steered the club toward greater international collaboration, overseeing exhibitions that highlighted Victorian and enhancing public access to rare materials through innovative cataloging. In more recent decades, presidents have navigated modernization and financial challenges. Kenneth A. Lohf (1990–1994), a rare book librarian at , led major fundraising efforts that supported acquisitions and digitization initiatives, securing endowments for long-term preservation. William H. Helfand (2006–2010), a collector of medical , facilitated the sale of above the club's building, generating funds for renovations that improved facilities for exhibitions and research. Under G. Scott Clemons (2014–2018), a specialist in imprints, the club emphasized scholarly programming, including major exhibitions on printing history that broadened public engagement. Bruce J. Crawford (2018–2022), known for his Dickens collection, advanced digital resources and membership diversity, while current president Nancy K. Boehm (since 2022, as of November 2025) has overseen leadership transitions, including the appointment of a new , to sustain the club's role in contemporary book arts. Through their stewardship, presidents have shaped the Grolier Club's policies on acquisitions, public access, and scholarly outreach, ensuring its enduring legacy as a preeminent for the of the book.

Committees and Membership

The Grolier Club is governed by a of 21 members, who serve as the organization's trustees. The is divided into three classes of seven members each, with seven new members elected annually at the Club's annual meeting to serve three-year terms, as outlined in the 2005 Constitution. This body is led by four principal officers—the President, Vice-President, , and —who oversee the recording of minutes and the overall management of the Club's activities. The holds monthly meetings (except in June, July, and August) to approve reports from standing and ad-hoc committees, ensuring alignment with the Club's mission to promote the arts of the book. Standing committees play a central role in operational governance. The House Committee, formed in 1884 by founding members including Theodore Low De Vinne, Samuel W. Marvin, and Arthur B. Turnure, supervises the care and maintenance of the Clubhouse, including major renovations such as the 1987–1988 overhaul of the exhibition hall and basement conversion to archival storage by architect Byron Bell. The Library Committee, established in 1886 and reorganized in 1903 with the appointment of Henry Watson Kent as the first Librarian, manages acquisitions, conservation, classification, and scholarly support for the library's over 100,000 volumes on book history and arts. The Committee on Publications, active since 1884, oversees the production of all Club publications, including exhibition catalogs and the Transactions series; its records, spanning 1884 to the present and comprising 82 boxes of minutes, proofs, memos, correspondence, and invoices, are maintained under Council direction with a 10-year access restriction for recent materials. Additional standing committees include Program and Support groups, whose chairs report directly to the Council at monthly meetings. Membership in the Grolier Club, which exceeds 800 individuals including collectors, dealers, librarians, printers, and binders, is restricted to those demonstrating a professional or personal commitment to books and the graphic arts. As a private bibliophile society founded in , the Club does not accept direct applications; candidates must be nominated by an existing member through a formal written proposal, supported by letters of recommendation from three additional members in good standing. Since , the process has involved review by the Committee on Admissions, including a meeting with the candidate, followed by a recommendation and ballot election at the annual meeting; prior to this, nominations were proposed directly to the by two members. Full members hold voting rights in Club elections and governance, while non-voting associate status may apply to select categories, though details remain internal. Annual dues support operations, with the structure reflecting the Club's emphasis on sustainability. The Club has pursued greater inclusivity in membership since the early , when policies evolved to admit women and broaden representation beyond traditional profiles, aligning with contemporary diversity goals. Under Declan Kiely, appointed in 2024, emphasizes mission alignment across collections, programs, and operations, with ongoing commitments to workplace diversity and inclusion as stated in policies. These structures ensure the Club's activities remain focused on fostering the study and appreciation of books and related arts.

Publications

Books and Exhibition Catalogues

The Grolier Club has published or sponsored nearly 500 books and exhibition catalogues since its founding in 1884, encompassing scholarly monographs, facsimiles, and limited-edition works on topics ranging from and history to and the . These publications often feature designs by renowned typographers such as Theodore Low De Vinne and Bruce Rogers, emphasizing fine printing traditions. Distribution is exclusively managed by the , ensuring wide availability to scholars and collectors. Key series include the Grolier Hundred, which highlights seminal works in specific fields, and collaborations such as the American Institute of Graphic Arts' Fifty Books of the Year exhibitions hosted at the Club. Notable early examples are One Hundred Books Famous in English Literature (1902), a limited edition of 305 copies with facsimiles of title pages and an introduction by George E. Woodberry, which set a precedent for the Hundred series. More recent titles in this vein include : A Legacy More Lasting than (2015), a 500-copy edition cataloguing the Club's exhibition on the printer, edited by G. Scott Clemons and H. George Fletcher; One Hundred Books Famous in (2021), curated by , exploring printing innovations from Gutenberg onward; and After Words (2025), accompanying the exhibition on visual and experimental in little magazines and small presses since 1960. All publications undergo review by the Club's Committee on Publications, which oversees selection, editing, and production to maintain high scholarly and aesthetic standards, often resulting in limited editions that include reproductions of rare materials. These works serve as standard references in bibliophily, influencing studies in book history and , while sales proceeds directly support the Club's operations, including library maintenance and public programs.

Periodicals and Digital Resources

The Grolier Club's primary periodical is the Gazette of the Grolier Club, a publication focused on member news, club events, and bibliophilic topics, which has been issued irregularly, typically one to two times per year, since the . It succeeded the earlier Transactions of the Grolier Club, which began in 1885 to document the club's founding activities and early meetings. The Gazette ran from May 1921 to May 1949, paused for 17 years, and resumed in 1966 as a "New Series," continuing to serve as a key channel for ongoing club communications. In addition to the Gazette, the club produces occasional newsletters, including a weekly email update distributed to subscribers highlighting upcoming public events, exhibitions, and programs. These newsletters complement the Gazette by providing timely announcements to both members and the broader public, fostering engagement with the club's activities. The Grolier Club's digital resources initiative began in the 2010s, with formal digitization efforts launching in 2014 through support from the Pine Tree Foundation, aimed at preserving and broadening access to its holdings. Key digitized collections include the French Book Arts Trade Card Collection, comprising 57 lithographed business cards from 19th-century Parisian artisans, made available online in 2015 as part of the Culture in Transit project; William Stannard's The Art Exemplar (ca. 1859), a rare instructional volume on drawing digitized in 2019–2020 with funding from a METRO grant; and the Maria Gerard Messenger Women’s Bookplate Collection, featuring approximately 2,000 ex-libris designs by female artists from the early 20th century. These materials, along with over 125 years of the Transactions and Gazette, are hosted on platforms such as Digital Collections of Metropolitan New York (DCMNY), HathiTrust, and the Internet Archive, offering free public access to enhance scholarly research and global outreach. Complementing these are online finding aids for the club's archives and special collections, providing detailed inventories and descriptions to facilitate remote research. By 2025, the initiative has expanded to include virtual exhibitions, with digital surrogates created for each physical show—typically seven per season—featuring high-resolution images and curatorial notes. Notable recent projects encompass materials related to the 2025–2026 "Paper Jane: 250 Years of Austen" exhibition, marking the author's 250th birth anniversary with digitized selections from rare editions and family-influenced works, further democratizing access to the club's bibliographic treasures. Overall, these resources have digitized thousands of items, significantly improving accessibility for researchers worldwide while preserving the club's legacy in the graphic arts.

References

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