ca. 1890-2016
Offsite Storage Inventory
Restrictions on Access
The Algonquin Club of Boston photographs are stored offsite and must be requested at least two business days in advance via Portal1791. Researchers needing more than six items from offsite storage should provide additional advance notice. If you have questions about requesting materials from offsite storage, please contact the reference desk at 617-646-0532 or reference@masshist.org.
Abstract
Photographs pertaining to the Algonquin Club of Boston.
Historical Sketch
The Algonquin Club of Boston was a social club founded in 1886 by Oliver Ames, Edward A. Taft, William B. Wood, and Thomas E. Proctor "for the purpose of maintaining a club house and reading room in the city of Boston." The club originally occupied a building at 164 Marlboro Street until 1888, when it moved to 217 Commonwealth Avenue, a building designed specifically for the club by noted architects McKim, Mead & White. The club was incorporated under the name "New Algonquin Club" on 11 October 1898 and finally the "Algonquin Club of Boston" on 2 January 1908.
In 2018, the Algonquin Club building at 217 Commonwealth Avenue was sold and the renovated building, now known as the 'Quin House, opened in 2021 and functions as a members-only clubhouse with restaurants, fitness facilities, and event spaces.
Collection Description
The Algonquin Club of Boston photographs include portraits of Algonquin Club members, officers, and speakers, as well as photographs of the building and various social events held there.
Acquisition Information
Gift of the Algonquin Club of Boston, November 2018, April 2019, November 2022. Additions through Vita Paladino, January 2019, Summer 2019.
Restrictions on Access
The Algonquin Club of Boston photographs are stored offsite and must be requested at least two business days in advance via Portal1791. Researchers needing more than six items from offsite storage should provide additional advance notice. If you have questions about requesting materials from offsite storage, please contact the reference desk at 617-646-0532 or reference@masshist.org.
Detailed Description of the Collection
Expand allI. Photograph albums
Vol. 1: Members of the Algonquin Club, Book I
Members represented in vol. 1 are: Gregory Adamian, William D. Adams, Craig Cain Arnold, Edward Atamian, Dane E. Baird, William P. Barrach, William C. Blanker, Marcin Bolec, John Bowen, Francis Brennan, J. Lincoln Cain, C. Richard Carlson, Robert A. Charpie, Leo P. Condakes, Robert E. Connors, Jr., James F. Conway III, Gary L. Countryman, Bryan P. Coyne, Robert C. Crisafi, and Robert B. Crowe.
Vol. 2: Members of the Algonquin Club, Book II
Members represented in vol. 2 are: James R. DeGiacomo, Michael DeMarco, Charles A. Denault, Joanne W. Dickinson, Ralph H. Doering III, John J. Doherty, Paul J. Donahue, Matthias B. Donelan, Joseph M. Durkin, Richard H. Egdahl, Edward Eskandarian, Andrew J. Ferrara, John Francis Gallagher III, Eric Grande, Nicholas Grande, Daniel Justin Greney, Kenneth I. Guscott, Luisa Hayward Holden, Richard V. Hunt, Jonathan Jensen, and Robert Jurgen.
Vol. 3: Members of the Algonquin Club, Book III
Members represented in vol. 3 are: Robert E. Kellan, Glenn C. Kelley, Christopher C. Kennedy, John J. Kennedy, Phillip M. Lang, John J. Linnehan, Anthony Lucki, Nancy Mannella, James A. Manninen, Lillian Prince Margolis, Mrs. Arthur J. McAvoy, Eric McLaughlin, Thomas McManmon, Paul J. McNamara, Joshua Migliazzo, Fred Moavenzadeh, John S. North, J. Scott Nystrom, Thomas O'Connell, James M. Paulson, Kenneth Pedini, Donald M. Perrin, Thomas L. Phillips, William J. Picardi, John J. Reardon, Richard A. Reichter, David J. Sargent, Camille F. Sarrouf, Lawrence Thornton Shields, Marshall M. Sloane, Robert P. Smith, Jonathan S. Stuart, Niles O. Sutphin, Charles M. Talanian, Carlos H. Tosi, Edmund G. Verney, Richard G. Verney, George A. Violin, James H. Walsh, Frederica Williams, and Edward A. Zullo.
Vol. 4: Algonquin Club staff
Album containing 35 Polaroid snapshots of staff members, mostly unidentified. At the end of the album are 18 Polaroids of table settings at various events.
Vol. 5: Algonquin Club, Christmas 1997
Album containing 77 color snapshots of a Christmas party. Subjects of photographs are unidentified. At the end of the album are two photographs of a patriotic table setting.
Vol. 6: Dr. Howard M. Clute's birthday party, 10 January 1946
Album containing 14 black and white photographs taken by Edward M. Anderson at Dr. Clute's 56th birthday party. All photographs are identified.
Vol. 7: Minstrel show, [1940s?]
Album containing 10 black and white photographs taken by Fay Foto Service of Boston, probably in the 1940s. Performers are in blackface.
II. Loose photographs
Portraits: speakers and guests at the Algonquin Club, A-Z
Portraits: unidentified
Events: 100th anniversary celebration, 1986
Events: Casino night, 1995
Color snapshots.Events: Monte Carlo night, 26 October 2002
Color snapshots.Events: Easter egg hunt, 12 April 2003
Color snapshots.Algonquin Club artworks
Color snapshots and film negatives.Algonquin Club building exteriors and interiors
III. Oversize photographs
Portraits of past presidents of the Algonquin Club
Large format portraits, primarily taken by Bachrach Studio. Represented in this box are: William Adams, David H. Barlow, Edward P. Brown, Maxwell Bessel, Rudolph C. Butterman, Lawrence Cazayauk, Raymond Cox, Bryan Coyne, Maurice Dennison, Kenneth Guscott, F. Hagemann, Julius F. Heller, James M. Howell, John Johnson, Terence M. Keane, Edward A. Larner.
Portraits of past presidents of the Algonquin Club
Large format portraits, primarily taken by Bachrach Studio. Represented in this box are: Edward A. Larner, Jr., Katherine T. McAvoy, Thomas McCann, Thomas Morrison, Henry Nichols, Richard C. Ockerbloom, James Paulson, Leland Powers, David Scott, Glenwood J. Sherrald, Lawrence Thornton Shields, Paul Smith, Carlton Spenser, Charles Spenser Jr., Maggie Trichon, Frank J. Wall.
Oversize photographs, ca. 1890s-1929
Mounted photographs of banquet table displays and kitchen staff. Also a photograph of the twelve surviving charter members of the Algonquin Club taken between 1920 and 1929.
Preferred Citation
Algonquin Club of Boston photographs, Massachusetts Historical Society.
Access Terms
This collection is indexed under the following headings in ABIGAIL, the online catalog of the Massachusetts Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related persons, organizations, or subjects should search the catalog using these headings.