This week, the book tour for “Rage and the Republic: The Unfinished Story of the American Revolution” took me back to the historic Union League Club in New York City. For a history nut, the Union League is an unparalleled delight with a building and a club steeped in American history going back to its founding in 1863. I wanted to share a few photos from my stay at the private club.
The current building is actually the fourth and the most grand of the locations of the club at the corner of Park Avenue and East 37th Street. The building is the design of Benjamin Wistar Morris and was opened in 1931. I have previously shared my visits with the equally historic club in Philadelphia.
The Union League was founded during the Civil War, and those roots are evident in many of the historical artifacts and paintings, including portraits of such heroes as Colonel Robert Gould Shaw of the famed 54th Massachusetts Infantry.
One of the more unique artifacts is a period work showing John Brown with a lock of his hair taken at the time of his burial.
The club houses portraits of historical figures, who were members of the club. There are also portraits of Lincoln that are now worth millions, but the club will not part with them.
Another favorite of mine is a painting by the sculptor Frederic Remington. It is a picture of Union troops out West called the Whiskey Mules (after a trick used by troops to send mules with whiskey to intoxicate indians before they attacked). It is a rare example of Remington’s style as a painter but also a testament to his extraordinary gifts.
There are also works by Thomas Nast, considered the “Father of the American Cartoon” and a member of the Union League Club. He was also a Radical Republican and was committed to the Union cause against slavery. Notably, both the Club and Nast were fierce opponents of the corrupt administration of “Boss” Tweed and the Tammany Hall Democratic Party political machine. (Unfortunately, the lighting was not great for these pictures):
The club is honeycombed with gracious rooms with soaring windows and carved staircases.
The Union League was a major player in local and national politics, with various presidents since Lincoln staying at the club and sitting for portraits. These paintings include some now priceless works created by artists who were also members. The club also helped establish the United States Sanitary Commission, which ultimately became the American Red Cross.
This painting shows the outfitting of the two African-American regiments by the Club in one of its earlier locations:
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The club played a significant role in our history. Not long after its founding, New York erupted in the Draft Riots by those who opposed the Civil War, including those who favored slavery. The club was an immediate target of the mob, but its members held off the attack by barricading the club and creating a line of armed defenders. This was the first Union League building:
The Club has a proud history of fighting for the emancipation of slaves and later the protection of black Americans from the Ku Klux Klan. They organized shelters and armed defense of freed slaves. Its members would later help fund major New York sites from the Metropolitan Museum of Art to Grant’s Tomb.
A visit to the Union League is like a walk through American history. It is a genteel gem of an earlier and elegant period of Americana. The club still follows its traditions, banning cellphones and requiring proper dress at dinner.
Its current members and staff are custodians of this landmark and maintain it with obvious pride and love. We owe them a great debt not only for the important role that the Club has played in our history, but also for the preservation of this unique place. They allow non-members to stay, though you require a referral from a club member.
Thank you to the Union League for a wonderful visit and event.
It looks lovely.
Looks can be deceiving but not always. Can you recommend anything lovely other than you mom’s basement?
Thomas Nast was a nasty Nativist, a virulent and unrepentant Anti-Irish and Anti-Catholic his entire life
Baseless blood smear. Go directly to Hades, do not pass GO do not collect hundred dollars.
Why does Turley keep going to places like New York, Chicago and Los Angeles to sell his books ??
As we all know, these places are total hellscapes of economic and social collapse due to the leftists, socialists and communists who have taken over these cities and driven out large portions of the population leaving behind nothing but illegal aliens, terrorists and Antifa extremists.
Who, of these people, could possibly be interested in buying his stupid books ???
Or perhaps, Turley is simply lying about what is happening in these great cities when he posts his many absurd pieces about how these cities are in collapse.
Because a city is collapsing in no way means there aren’t still people who can afford to buy a book there. A city and it’s residents aren’t the same thing. I not sure your mind can grasp that.
But according to Turley, and MAGA dogma, these cities have seen massive outflows of population fleeing the socialist regimes that have taken over control of these cities.
You appear to be saying that people are NOT fleeing even though the cities are supposedly collapsing, and there are plenty of people who want to buy his books.
If you can hold both of those mutually exclusive thoughts in your mind as being true, then you have profound mental health problems. This is a typical symptom seen in schizophrenia.
10million minus 2 million is still 8 million.
The flight from NYC, NY and CA is not MAGA dogma it is what the US census has been telling us for 2 decades.
As well as u-haul data and tax data.
An economy can absorb alot of failure before collapsing. NYC is not going to fail – The strength in its bones was crreated 2 centuries ago.
Socialists can inflict alot of misery on New Yorkers and drive millions out – and New Your will remain bowed but not broken
John Say
So what you are saying is that YOU agree with me. What YOU are saying is that NYC is not in imminent danger of social and economic collapse, so when all the MAGA morons who gather here claim that this has already happened, then they are either mistaken at best, or lying at worst.
And when Turley posts his absurd pieces claiming that the social and economic fabric of these cities has already collapsed, then he is lying.
Apparently this is what you are saying, and therefore YOU agree with me.
You also make the preposterous claim that millions of people are fleeing NYC, and that they are being driven out by the socialists. Despite this you claim that NYC is strong and will not fail.
How exactly will it be saved from failing????
If millions of people are being driven out, and continue to be driven out, then the socialists will be gaining strength in greater numbers.
Who exactly will then be doing the saving of which you speak???
You can’t win battles by retreating. And yet you somehow believe that the non-socialists who are being driven out will be able to “save” the city from afar, after having abandoned the city.
You are completely out of your mind !!!
You are profoundly mentally impaired as I have said may times here.
Thanx for the informal diagnosis. Moving on to informal prognosis, what treatments do we propose for our dear Mr. Turley? Ibogaine coupled with a long stay in an isolation tank followed by cocopuffs and experimental electro shock therapy?
Sniff enough glue, can’t find a clue.
Violation of the Civility Rule here as egregious impertinent impudence. Ban for life.
Professor Turley uses his name and his photograph in all of the postings he makes. Abraham Lincoln also let his image get captured and on documents he signed as a lawyer, Congressman and President. Neither of these noble men would take the anonymous path. These gentlemen are/were not weasels.
You’re not reviewing or critiquing the book. You expose doubt that you can even read a book.
Thank you for sharing the pictures and congratulations on the award! Well earned.
If they band cell phones, can I assume you had a normal camera when taking the pictures?
That is beautiful and congratulations on the award. The display of tiny soldiers just made me think “so glad I don’t have to dust!”
Terrific report and pictures. Thank you.
Vert impressive Professor. Quite a facility. Nothing like an award from your peers to add a little spring to your step. I love the Frederic Remington painting. I have been a fan of James Warner Bellah and his stories of the Old West. The painting also evokes some visions from the pages of his works and screenplays.
During the last two decades I have stayed overnight at the Union League Club many times in conjunction with speaking engagements I had there at private seminars for investors in critical materials, metals and minerals. I particularly have enjoyed the formality of dining there and of the English club atmosphere maintained in the common rooms. You’re absolutely right, Professor Turley, the building is steeped in history. It is indeed inspiring simply to look at the portraits in the halls and common rooms of so many men who have built this country.
Good lord Jack, is there anything or anyplace you didn’t ….
Not really. I’m 86, and I’ve been doing this type of speaking for nearly 30 years.
Good on you Jack!
Sounds like you have lived a long, interesting and productive life.
Some of us have actually lived.
We base our remarks on many decades of real world experience as adults – not a few minutes
Glad the club wasn’t destroyed by the intolerant leftist mob during the 2020 Summer of Insurrection that was no less dangerous than that mob of anti-draft rioters.
All sides of History need to be preserved NO MATTER WHAT! Ignorance prevails when only one side of history is told and preserved! Want an example? Just look to the Soviet Union, China, and North Korea! What a coincidence right NYC?
Looks great. It’s an amazing part of history.
The libs will hate it.