The Hobby Club was established in New York City in 1908 as an exclusive gentleman's club for people with an amateur's hobby or special interest. The original number of members could not be more than 50 men. In effect, this was an opportunity to showcase their special "Cabinet of curiosities" and special collections of armour, coins, precious stones and Incunable to the other members at their annual dinners.
Contents
According to its constitution, "This Club shall be called THE HOBBY CLUB. The object of the Club shall be to encourage the collection of literary, artistic and scientific works; to aid in the development of literary, artistic and scientific matters; to promote social and literary intercourse among its members, and the discussion and consideration of various literary and economic subjects."
"The Hobby Club, incorporated by a number of well-known New Yorkers, will hold its first dinner at the Metropolitan Club on the evening of Dec. 28. The club's membership is limited to fifty, and to become eligible one must mount some well defined hobby. So enthusiastic have the members become that it is now planned to give dinners, at which the hobbies will be discussed, at least once a month until April. There is even talk about building a clubhouse. That the organization will be a success seems assured, as scores have sought to become members."
Dinners
Much of the activity of the Hobby Club was in the lavish dinners provided in the homes of the various members, who were then able to show off their hobbies and collections. The Fourth Dinner of the Hobby Club was on September 27, 1912 in the home of Theodore N. Vail who gave a presentation on "The Intercommunication of Intelligence" at his country home, Speedwell Farms, in Lyndonville, Vermont. "In the evening we had the club dinner, with Mr. Vail as speaker of the occasion. His subject, "The Intercommunication of Intelligence," enabled him to draw in a most interesting fashion upon his own reminiscences of the great work of establishing telegraphic and telephonic connection between all parts of the continent."
The Fifth Dinner was on October 31, 1912 in the home of Professor Bashford Dean and his presentation on "Ancient Armor" in Riverdale, New York. The Sixth Dinner was on December 19, 1912 was hosted by MR. John D. Crimins at the Metropolitan Club and his presentation was on "Early New York".
Through the courtesy of the [Joan of Arc] Statue Committee, the Club held a special meeting on the evening of Saturday, January 25, 1913, in the American Numismatic Society Building, to view the Joan of Arc Loan Exhibition. Dr. George F. Kunz presented to each member a special Hobby Club edition of the very artistic illustrated catalogue. The members later were entertained at the Hispano-American Museum, where their fellow member, Mr. Archer M. Huntington, acted as host and guide, showing and explaining the many rare and beautiful art and literary treasures. The Seventh Dinner was held on January 30, 1913 by Mr. Alvin W. Krech who gave a talk on "Incunabula". The Eighth Dinner was held on March 20, 1913 and hosted by Mr. George A. Plimpton who gave a talk on "Education Before Printing as Endorsed by Original Manuscripts". The Ninth Dinner was held on May l, 1913, and hosted by Dr. George F. Kunz, who gave a talk on "Precious Stones" at the Union Club. The Tenth Dinner was held on December 18, 1913 and hosted by Mr. R. T. Haines Halsey who spoke about "American Arts and Crafts of the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries" at the Metropolitan Club. The Eleventh Dinner was held on February 19, 1914, and hosted by Mr. Winston H. Hagen who spoke about 'By-ways of Book Collecting'. The address was delivered by Mr. Halsey at his residence, No. 64 West 55th Street.
The Twelfth Dinner was held on March 26, 1914, and hosted by MR. David Wagstaff who spoke on "Books on Angling" at his home on No. 26 West 52nd Street. The Thirteenth Dinner was held on April 23, 1914, and hosted by MR. Percy R Pyne who spoke on 'Old Prints of New York". The Fourteenth Dinner was held on November 20, 1914 and hosted by PROF. Edwin R. A. Seligman who spoke about "Curiosities of Economic Literature" at his home at No. 324 West 86th Street. The Fifteenth Dinner was held on January 12, 1915 at the Metropolitan Club and hosted by MR. Rowland G. Hazard, who spoke on "Prehistoric Implements". The Sixteenth Dinner was held on February 12, 1915 and hosted by MR. Phoenix Ingraham who spoke on "Thackeray and Stevenson" at his home at No. 80 Irving Place. The Seventeenth Dinner was held on April 23, 1915 and hosted by MR. Edward T. Newell, who spoke on "Ancient Greek and Roman Coins' at the Metropolitan Club. The Eighteenth Dinner was held on December 16, 1915 and hosted by MR. Henry E. Huntington who spoke on "Books and Manuscripts of My Library" from his home at No. 2 East 57 th Street. The Nineteenth Dinner was held on January 18, 1916, and hosted by MR. Henry S. Van Duzer who spoke on "Thackerayana" from his home at No. 30 East 55th Street. The Twentieth Dinner was held on February 17, 1916 and hosted by MR. William B. Osgood Field who spoke on "Some Illustrators of the Nineteenth Century" from his home at No. 645 Fifth Avenue. The Twenty-first Dinner was held on March 30, 1916 and hosted by MR. Albert Gallatin who spoke on "Original Drawings" from his home on No. 7 East 67th Street. The Twenty-second Dinner was held on November 9, 1916 and hosted by DR. Charles William Wallace who spoke on "Shakespeariana" at the Metropolitan Club. The Twenty-third Dinner was held on January 25, 1917 and hosted by PROF. David Eugene Smith who spoke on "MlRABILIA MATHEMATICA" at the Union Club. The Twenty-fourth Dinner was held on February 22, 1917 and hosted by MR. Charles A. Munn who spoke on his collection of "Washington Portraits and Distinguished Americans of the Eighteenth Century" at his home at No. 62 East 55th Street. The Twenty-fifth Dinner was held on December 6, 1917 and hosted by MR. William K. Bixby who showed his collection of "Unpublished Autograph Letters and Manuscripts" in his home at No. 2 East 57th Street.
Club Publications by Members
At the meetings, privately published books were given to the other members as a souvenir by the speakers. These items were published in severely limited editions. A list is given on pages 37–38 of the Annals of the Hobby Club. They include: