May 24, 2012
Also Visit NY State Arts
General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen
(between Fifth Avenue and Avenue of the Americas)
New York, NY 10036
Tel: (212) 840-1840
Visit Web Site
Map
Fri: 10 am – 5 pm
The General Society of Mechanics & Tradesmen of the City of New York was founded in 1785 by skilled craftsmen. In 1820, The General Society opened one of the city's first free schools as well as the Apprentices' Library. The school, which became the Mechanics Institute in 1858, continues to provide tuition-free evening instruction in trades-related education.
Also founded in 1820, the General Society Library is the second oldest in New York City. In addition to its circulating collections of fiction and nonfiction, its non-circulating collections include a small but rich collection of books and musical scores on the works of Gilbert & Sullivan, and Useful Arts—books related to trades, crafts, fine and applied
arts, architecture, engineering, printing and publishing.
The façade of the building is a New York City Landmark. The library’s main reading room is three stories high and is topped by a magnificent skylight. The Mossman Lock Museum, full of unique locks, is located on a balcony and can be visited with an advance reservation made through the library ($10 admission).
- Landmark Status: National Register. Facade is New York City landmark
- Directions: Subway: B, D, F to 42nd Street - Bryant Park
- Archive
- Reading Room
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General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen Listings
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John M. Mossman Lock Collection
Ongoing The collection represents one of the most complete anthologies of bank and vault locks in the world, with more than 370 locks, keys and tools dating from 4,000 BC to the 20th century.