Society-Mayflower Descendants

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History of the Society The Society of Mayflower Descendants in State of New York holds the unique distinction of being the first Society of Mayflower Descendents to be established. Richard Henry Greene founded the Society on December 22, 1894 in New York City as a society for lineal descendants of passengers who came over on the Mayflower in 1620. D uring the 1920s the Society grew in membership and activities leading up to the purchase of Mayflower House in 1928. The five story town house located on East 71st Street was re-decorated and furnished to host Mayflower teas and receptions as well as serve as the headquarters for the Society's operations and library. I n April 1931 the Society held its dinner dance at Ritz Carleton Hotel on 45th Street and Madison Avenue attended by several hundred members, family and friends. In 1933 the Society decided to present a gold medal for "conspicuous achievement to President Franklin D. Roosevelt and in 1934 to present one to Dr. Alexander Hamilton Rice, who made explorations in South America. U nfortunately, the Depression of the 1930s forced the Society to sell Mayflower House in 1941 and by 1943 the Society's offices were relocated to the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society building at 58th and Lexington Avenue. The office was relocated in May 2007 to it's present location at 20 West 44th Street. I n the post-World War II era, the Society saw an increase in young members; a dinner dance was held the Hotel Pierre in January of 1947 - the proceeds being donated to Endowment Fund of the Mayflower House in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Society members collected books and records which were donated to vocational and convalescent departments in Halloran Hospital and Manhattan Beach Hospital, both veterans' hospitals. I n 1957 the Mayflower II - a replica of the original ship manned by an international crew - sailed from England to Plymouth, Massachusetts. To celebrate its arrival, Gimbel's Department Store in Manhattan created a Gimbel's Mayflower Museum. The Society's then Governor, Pelham St. George, presided with Bruce A. Gimbel, president of Gimbel Brothers, at a ribbon- cutting ceremony on June 24, 1957. Over 200 members attended the opening of the exposition which featured life-size reproductions of Pilgrim houses, a Cape Cod Indian hut, furniture, household goods and mannikins dressed in authentic Pilgrim clothing. T hroughout the 1950s the Society held an annual dinner-dance at Plaza Hotel. The first Ball at which six debutantes were presented was held in their Grand Ballroom. I n 1962 the Society donated a portrait of Martin Van Buren, 8th President of the United States, to the White House for which First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy wrote a thank you letter to Society I n 1970 the Society celebrated the 350th Anniversary of the signing of the Mayflower Compact at its Ball at the Plaza. The Swedish-American line arranged a cruise on the S.S. Kungsholm and 450 GSMD members sailed to Leyden where they laid a wreath on the tomb of John Robinson, pastor of the Leyden Congregation. They were also received by the Mayor of Boston, England and attended a splendid reception at the Guild Hall in Plymouth, England. D uring the 1980s and 1990s to the present day, the Society sponsors two Educational Programs each year: the Educational Outreach Program with Plimoth Plantation and the Compact Award Program for high school seniors. In addition to hosting its' Annual Mayflower Debutante Ball, the Society hosts cocktail receptions, a Cousins Dinner and an Annual Meeting held every year in April. (This brief history of the Society was extracted from A Short History of the Society of Mayflower Descendants by Sondra Blewer).