Saint Andrew's Society of the State of New York

The Saint Andrew's Society of the State of New York is the oldest charitable institution in the state of New York and is focused on helping Scots in the New York community.[1]

Saint Andrew's Society of the State of New York
NicknameThe Scots of New York
FormationNovember 19, 1756
PurposeHelping Scots in need
Headquarters150 East 55th Street
Location
David M. Murphy
Websitestandrewsny.org

History

The organization was founded in 1756 by Scottish founders in New York City who were looking to "relieve the distressed." It was named for the patron saint of Scotland, Saint Andrew.[2] Past presidents of the society include Philip Livingston (the first president), William Alexander (the "Earl of Stirling"), Andrew Carnegie, Ward Melville,[lower-alpha 1][3] and the Rev. Dr. David H. C. Read.[4] Past members include Alexander Hamilton, Lewis Morris, the Rev. John Witherspoon, and John Stewart Kennedy.[5]

In 1897, the organization revised its constitution to expand eligibility for membership to lineal descendant of a Scot, not just a son or grandson of a Scot. In 1966, more than 800 members and guests honored Saint Andrew, the patron saint with its 210th anniversary dinner at the Waldorf Astoria hotel in Manhattan.[6]

In 1993, there were 980 members of the Society.[4] In 2010, the constitution is again revised, this time allowing women to be admitted into membership in the society with Margaret "Peggy" Macmillan becoming the first woman to be admitted.[5]

Leadership
Further information: List of presidents of the Saint Andrew's Society of the State of New York

Present day

The society still provides for needy Scots in New York City via its almoners program and has a scholarship program that allows two Scots to attend graduate school in the USA and three American students of Scottish lineage to attend graduate school at a Scottish institution of higher learning.[7]

Social events for the Society include the Tartan Day parade in April and an annual banquet in November. The Society sponsors a Kirkin' o' the Tartan service during Tartan Week in April of each year. The Society offices are located on East 55th Street in Manhattan, which houses a collection of books about Scotland.

See also

References
Notes
  1. The history of the Society from 1774 to 1784, during the Revolutionary War, is unknown.[2]
Sources
  1. Whatley, Harlan Douglas; Bruce, Duncan A.; Taylor, Randall Lenox (2008). Two Hundred Fifty Years, 1756-2006 : The History of Saint Andrew's Society of the State of New York. Saint Andrew's Society of the State of NY. ISBN 978-0615287515. OCLC 697545293.
  2. Morrison, George Austin (1906). History of Saint Andrew's Society of the State of New York, 1756-1906. New York: Saint Andrew's Society of the State of NY. Retrieved July 26, 2019.
  3. "Saint Andrew's Society" (PDF). The New York Times. November 14, 1863. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
  4. Teltsch, Kathleen (May 27, 1993). "Women and St. Andrew's: Old Society's New Issue". The New York Times. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
  5. "History Timeline". standrewsny.org. Saint Andrew's Society of the State of NY. Retrieved July 26, 2019.
  6. "St. Andrew's Society Pays Fealty to Its Patron Saint" (PDF). The New York Times. December 1, 1966. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
  7. Combes, Abbott (October 23, 1983). "Scotish Tradition". The New York Times. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
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