On the occasion of Women’s History Month we want to share the inspiration we drew from one of our recent projects, the restoration of the Cosmopolitan Club Library on the Upper East Side in Manhattan, and remember a few of the club’s distinct early members.
The “Cos Club” is a private women’s club that has been offering social, dining, and cultural events to its membership for over 100 years. The Club was founded in 1909 as a social venue for governesses, private educators who often lived in same household as the children they taught. Only one year later, it became a women’s club, opening its membership to a broader audience and “a place where accomplished women in the arts and letters gathered to socialize, exchange ideas and enjoy one another’s company.”
The club’s membership includes a long list of influential women who contributed to social, cultural, and humanitarian advancements over the years:
- Abby Aldrich Rockefeller, philanthropist, visionary, and cofounder of the Museum of Modern Art
- Maria Bowen Chapin, educational leader who founded NYC-based Chapin School for Girls in 1901
- Mary Lawrence Tonetti, sculptor who designed the Christopher Columbus sculpture at the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893
- Adeline Genée, dancer, choreographer, and teacher who was founder-president of the Royal Academy of Dancing in London
- Willa Cather, writer known for her novels of life on the Great Plains
- Ida Tarbell, writer and pioneer of investigative journalism
- Elizabeth Bacon Custer, American author and public speaker
- Eleanor Roosevelt, diplomat, humanitarian activist, and first lady of the United States from 1933 to 1945
- Margaret Mead, professor, author and speaker of cultural anthropology
- Helen Hayes, actress and first woman to achieve EGOT status, she won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony Award
As part of a recent restoration, EverGreene was responsible for preserving and reviving the Cosmopolitan Club Library, refurbishing and refinishing the woodwork, gilded ornament, and marble fireplace.
“We have collaborated with EverGreene on several projects over the past 15 years and consistently valued their guidance, unparalleled quality of work, and innovative approach to any twist and turns. We are deeply grateful for revitalizing our historic library and bringing it back to life! ”
Brian J. Turschmann, General Manager, The Cosmopolitan Club
