The Century Association

The Century Association. The Century Association is a New York City-based private club founded in 1847 by William Cullen Bryant, Asher Durand, and John Jacob Astor III, among others, with the goal of promoting arts, literature, and culture. The association's early members included notable figures such as Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, and Walt Whitman. The organization has been associated with various prominent individuals, including Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Eleanor Roosevelt, who were all involved with the Democratic Party and the Republican Party.

● History

The Century Association was established during a time of significant cultural and artistic growth in New York City, with the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the New York Public Library also being founded around the same period. The association's history is closely tied to the development of American art, with members such as Winslow Homer and Thomas Eakins contributing to the Hudson River School and other notable art movements. The association has also been involved with various cultural institutions, including the Museum of Modern Art and the Guggenheim Museum. Throughout its history, the association has hosted numerous events and exhibitions, featuring works by artists such as Claude Monet, Pablo Picasso, and Salvador Dalí. The association's archives include correspondence with notable figures such as Mark Twain, Edith Wharton, and F. Scott Fitzgerald.

● Membership

Membership in The Century Association is by invitation only, with a rigorous selection process that involves nominations from existing members and approval by the association's board of directors. Members have included prominent figures from the worlds of politics, business, and the arts, such as J.P. Morgan, John D. Rockefeller, and Andrew Carnegie. The association has also had a strong connection to the academic community, with members including Harvard University presidents Charles William Eliot and A. Lawrence Lowell, as well as Yale University president Arthur Twining Hadley. Other notable members have included Supreme Court justices such as Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. and Louis Brandeis, as well as Nobel Prize winners like Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson.

● Activities

The Century Association hosts a wide range of activities, including exhibitions, concerts, and lectures, featuring speakers such as Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Rockefeller, and Henry Kissinger. The association has also been involved in various philanthropic efforts, including support for the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army. The association's library and archives are also an important resource for researchers, with holdings that include rare books and manuscripts by authors such as Edgar Allan Poe and Herman Melville. The association has also partnered with other cultural institutions, such as the New York Philharmonic and the Metropolitan Opera, to host events and promote the arts.

● Notable_Members

Notable members of The Century Association have included presidents of the United States such as Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Dwight D. Eisenhower, as well as Supreme Court justices like Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. and Louis Brandeis. The association has also had a strong connection to the world of literature, with members including Mark Twain, Edith Wharton, and F. Scott Fitzgerald. Other notable members have included business leaders such as J.P. Morgan and John D. Rockefeller, as well as artists like Winslow Homer and Thomas Eakins. The association has also been associated with notable figures from the world of politics, including Nelson Rockefeller and Henry Kissinger, who were both involved with the Republican Party and the Democratic Party.

● Building_and_Architecture

The Century Association is housed in a historic building located in New York City, which was designed by Stanford White and completed in 1891. The building features a unique blend of Romanesque Revival and Queen Anne architectural styles, with a distinctive clock tower and stained glass windows. The building has been designated as a New York City landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The association's building has also been recognized for its sustainability efforts, including the installation of solar panels and a green roof. The building's interior design features works by notable artists, including John La Farge and Louis Comfort Tiffany.

● Governance

The Century Association is governed by a board of directors that includes prominent figures from the worlds of business, politics, and the arts. The association's bylaws and governance structure are designed to ensure the organization's independence and autonomy, while also promoting transparency and accountability. The association is also a member of various professional organizations, including the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the American Alliance of Museums. The association's financial management is overseen by a finance committee, which includes experts from the financial industry, such as Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley. The association's strategic planning is guided by a long-range planning committee, which includes members with expertise in non-profit management and cultural institutions.