The General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen of the City of New York was founded as a charitable organization in 1785 to provide cultural, educational, and social services to families of skilled craftsmen.
The General Society of Mechanics & Tradesmen
Congratulates its 2010 Mechanics’ Institute Graduates
The Mechanics' Institute held its 152nd graduation ceremony on Thursday, May 20 in the General Society Library. This year's keynote speaker was Lenore Janis, President of Professional Women in Construction (PWC). Janis is also a member of the General Society and studied at the Mechanics' Institute in the 1980's. Lenore Janis and PWC have long been supportive of the work of Mechanics' Institute.
Family and friends, members of the General Society and friends of the Institute gathered in celebration of the students’ successful completion of the Institute's programs including Electrical Technology, Plumbing Design, Construction Documents & Design, Historic Preservation, Facilities Management, and Construction Project Management. It was a wonderful evening for all in attendance.
Congratulations to our 2010 Mechanics’ Institute graduates! The General Society of Mechanics & Tradesmen wishes you every success as you advance in your careers as members of New York City’s building and construction industry.
The General Society of Mechanics & Tradesmen Honors Four Outstanding Industry Leaders with its Craftsmanship Award
In November 2009, The General Society proudly honored four building and construction industry leaders with its Craftsmanship Award. The 2009 recipients of the award, which is presented to individuals in the building and construction industry who demonstrate leadership in their respective fields and promote exceptional professional standards, were Irwin Cantor, P.E. Structural Consultant; Gerard F.X. (Guy) Geier II, FAIA, FIIDA, LEED; Paul O’Brien, Managing Director, Building Contractors Association and Daniel Rose, Chairman, Rose Associates, Inc. It was a wonderful evening in celebration of these four industry leaders each of whom have had long careers involving a broad range of professional, civic and non-profit activities.
The Craftsmanship Awards ceremony benefits the Mechanics’ Institute and allows The General Society to continue its 152-year old mission providing tuition-free evening instruction in trades-related education for the building and construction industry and its workers.
The General Society thanks all of its supporters and friends who make this mission possible.
Click here for a list of the Society's generous contributors.
The General Society is located at: 20 West 44th Street
New York, NY 10036 info@generalsociety.org
212.840.1840
America's Membership Libraries Details The General Society Library
The General Society Library is cited in a new book from Oak Knoll, America's Membership Libraries, a collection of sixteen essays, edited by Richard Wendorf. The book represents the first attempt to provide, through individual histories of the largest surviving membership libraries, a composite portrait of this important movement in American library history. The General Society Library is detailed in an essay by Dr. Janet Wells Greene, Ph.D. and is accompanied by historic photographs. The book is available from the library’s circulating collection.
The General Society of Mechanics & Tradesmen building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Mark Your Calendars!
Planning is underway for the General Society's Fall 2010 Lecture Series. The Society's popular Labor, Landmarks, & Literature series takes place on Tuesday evenings in our magnificent Library. This continues a tradition of public lectures that started at The General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen in 1837.
The General Society Celebrates 225 Years of Service
On Friday, November 12, 2010 the General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen will celebrate its 225th Anniversary. In the great tradition of the Society, its Founders Day Dinner Dance will mark the occasion. The dinner will be held at the Union League Club located at 38 East 37th Street. Proceeds from the evening benefit the educational programs of the Society.
Fall Semester at the Mechanics’ Institute
Mechanics’ Institute, the oldest privately-endowed tuition-free technical school in NYC is currently accepting applicants for its fall semester. Our programs provide state-of-the-art technical skills to all facets of the building and construction industry, from plumbing to project management. All courses are open to men and women who are currently working in the construction field or allied trades.
Program offerings for this fall include Electrical Technology Plumbing Design, and HVAC Systems. Professional programs include Construction Documents & Design, Historic Preservation, Facilities Management, and Construction Project Management.
All training is open to men and women currently working in these areas of the architecture or building construction fields and is designed to provide participants with an in-depth understanding of methodologies utilized in the construction field.
Registration is ongoing, but we can only accept a maximum of thirty (30) students per class, so register early to avoid being wait-listed.
Call 212.840.7648 today for information regarding the start of our spring semester. Fall semester classes began on Monday, September 13th.
