THE GENERAL SOCIETY OF MECHANICS & TRADESMEN

OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK

FOUNDED 1785

 

  General Society logo

 

Dear Members and Friends,  

 

As you may recall, this past December an episode of "Live From The Artists Den was filmed at The General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen's historic building. We are grateful to PBS and Artists Den series creator Mark Lieberman and his entire team for an opportunity to showcase the magnificent building and history of The General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen, as well its educational and cultural mission. The musical performance, held in the Society's soaring three story Library space, features the very popular and Grammy award winning band "Vampire Weekend."

  

The hour-long episode premieres in the New York area this Saturday at 11pm on WLIW21 and Sunday at 11pm on WNET.  For a preview, please click here: http://artsts.de/1oXdCsa

 

 


 

ABOUT THE ARTISTS DEN

 

www.theartistsden.com

The Artists Den produces and records concerts in extraordinary places. The series documents the history and story of each setting with a unique pairing with music. This three-time Emmy nominated series is in production for its seventh season and is currently being broadcast nationally on PBS. The series is also popular in Japan, Canada, Australia, Germany, New Zealand, and all of Latin America.

Featured venues have included Graceland, the Park Avenue Armory, the Plaza Hotel, the first art museum in America, a Masonic temple, the Society for Ethical Cultural a former Archdiocese cathedral, a 1930s silent movie theater, The New York Public Library, and The Metropolitan Museum of Art.  

Featured artists have included Adele, Mumford & Sons, Kid Rock, Ben Harper, Robert Plant, Soundgarden,  Regina Spektor, Ringo Starr, Ani DiFranco, Raphael Saadiq, Aimee Mann, David Gray, Corinne Bailey Rae, The Black Crowes, Alanis Morissette, Tori Amos, and Elvis Costello.

Thank you to PBS and the Artists Den for helping us to tell the story of The General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen.

With best regards,

Victoria A. Dengel

Executive Director

 

 

 

ABOUT THE GENERAL SOCIETY OF MECHANICS AND TRADESMEN

The General Society of Mechanics & Tradesmen of the City of New York was founded in 1785 by the skilled craftsmen of the City. Today, this 228-year old organization continues to serve and improve the quality of life of the people of the City of New York through its educational, philanthropic and cultural programs including its tuition-free Mechanics Institute, The General Society Library, and its century-old Lecture Series. 

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 and provides a unique service to improve job opportunities for New Yorkers in the building and construction industry. Without a tuition-free education, many of our students would be unable to get the technical education needed to advance in today's environment. The Institute is the oldest privately supported technical school in New York City. Each fall, over 350 students enroll in Mechanics Institute's programs including Construction Documents and Design, Electrical Technology, HVAC Systems Design, Plumbing Design, Project Management, Facilities Management and Historic Preservation.  The Mechanics Institute has recently integrated Building Information Modeling (BIM) into its programs.

Founded in 1820, The General Society Library is the second oldest library in New York City and one of three remaining private membership circulating libraries. It serves the educational programs of The General Society. It also makes its extensive collections available to other institutions and the public. The book and periodical collections of the Library span two centuries and are suited to both scholarly research and recreational reading. Its archives date back to 1785. Members enjoy access to current fiction, biography, and non-fiction. 

The Labor, Literature and Landmarks Series continues a tradition of public lectures that started at the Society in 1837. The Series brings people of diverse interest from the entire New York area into our Library space. Now in its third season, the Artisan Lecture Series pays tribute to the art of craftsmanship by featuring master artisans who lecture about the intricacies of their specialized crafts. The Artisan Lecture Series promotes the work and art of skilled craftsmen to assist in ensuring their unique knowledge is understood and carried forth for future generations. 

Our building at 20 West 44th Street is the fifth home of The General Society. The fa�ade of the building is a New York City landmark and the building itself is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The library's main reading room soars to a height of three stories and is topped by a magnificent skylight. 

The General Society is a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit charitable organization.

  

The General Society of Mechanics & Tradesmen

20 West 44th Street * New York, NY 10036 212.840.1840 

www.generalsociety.org