Out & About
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The New-York Historical Society celebrated its bicentennial at a black-tie gala Monday evening.
The event marked 200 years of collecting and exhibiting materials related to the history of America and New York, from copies of the city’s first local newspaper, William Bradford’s New York Gazette, to a container of World Trade Center dust. “We want to be the place for history in New York,” said the society’s chairwoman, Nancy Newcomb.
Cocktails were served in the Great Hall, where Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton are immortalized mid-duel in bronze as part of the exhibit “Alexander Hamilton: The Man Who Made Modern America.” Hamilton loomed large when the society presented its DeWitt Clinton Award to another secretary of the treasury, Robert Rubin.
“Bob Rubin has been acclaimed as the most effective treasury secretary since Hamilton,” President Clinton said in a film screened during the presentation. “And I believe that claim is well deserved.”
Clinton adviser Sandy Berger noted the differences between the two: “As far as I know, Bob has never been involved in any kind of shooting duel with any of his rivals.”
After the program, Mr. Rubin dined in the society’s library with Ms. Newcomb and colleagues from Citigroup, including chief executive Charles Prince.
In Dexter Hall, where Peter Duchin’s Orchestra performed, the president of the society, Louise Mirrer, sat with historian David McCullough and financier Julian Robertson.
In the Luman Reed Gallery, board member David Blight ate with the president of the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, James Bester, and the director of the National Constitution Center, Richard Stengel.
The new president of the Metropolitan Museum of Art sat next to a conductor at the Metropolitan Opera, Harry Bicket.
All shared a hearty meal, which started with smoked salmon, shrimp and papaya salad, and gingered Thai roll, continued with a lamb entree, and ended with a cobbler served with cinnamon raisin ice cream and cranberry and pear sorbets.
Also at the gala were the president of Colonial Williamsburg, Colin Campbell; Henry Luce III, whose $7.5 million donation during Betsy Gotbaum’s tenure as president established the fourth-floor gallery; historian James Horton, and a former chairman of the Federal Board of Reserves, Paul Volcker.
History was a constant backdrop, starting with the official greeter, who donned a 19th-century suit with top hat, cane, and gloves. Once inside, guests could also see displays from the new exhibit “Arriving In Style,” including the Beekman family coach, built in 1771.
“It still looks pretty primitive and dare I say uncomfortable,” said William Beekman, a descendant of its original owner. He follows in his father’s footsteps as a board member of the society, and his grandfather served as president during the society’s sesquicentennial.
Mr. Beekman reflected on his role: “I don’t serve out of a sense of obligation as a Beekman.” Rather, he has a history of hands-on involve ment. “I worked in the library when I was a kid, over the summer, and I would just get lost in the stacks – the materials they have are extraordinary,” he said.
He also has a goal for the future: “I think about how to make the society assume a reputation and standing that’s commensurate with the quality of its collections.”
As for future board members with Beekman in their blood: There is promise in Mr. Beekman’s eldest son, Izaak. While a student at Collegiate, he volunteered at the library, helping to organize subway excavation materials. He is now a sophomore studying engineering at George Washington University.
After dinner, younger friends of the society came for dessert and dancing, with festivities going until midnight. The event raised more than $1 million – a record for the society.