The General Society of Mechanics & Tradesmen
The General Society was founded in 1785 to provide cultural, educational and social services to families of skilled craftsmen.
In 1820, The General Society opened one of the city's first free schools as well as the Apprentices' Library. The school, which became the Mechanics Institute in 1858, continues to provide tuition-free evening instruction in trades-related education. Also founded in 1820, the General Society Library is the second oldest in New York City. The Library has more than 120,000 volumes of current fiction, non-fiction and research materials and is host to the Center for Independent Publishing.
Twenty West Forty-fourth Street is the fifth home of the General Society and a New York City landmark. The main reading room soars to a height of three stories and is topped by a magnificent skylight. The building was purchased in 1899 and expanded in 1903 through gifts from member Andrew Carnegie.
For nearly 225 years, the General Society has remained dedicated to improving the quality of life of its members through educational opportunities. In 1833, by amendment to its charter, the Society was authorized to increase its usefulness by reserving a portion of its income for the purposes of "promoting and disseminating literary and scientific knowledge," which was determined could be best done by means of lectures, and more recently, through the cultural and educational activities of the Center for Independent Publishing. The General Society's lecture series, now in its 175th year, is remarkable in scope as well as in duration. The Society is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization, whose support is provided entirely by endowments and gifts from members and friends like you.