Download or read book General Society of Mechanics & Tradesmen of the City of New York written by Polly Guerin and published by Arcadia Publishing. This book was released on 2015 with total page 224 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The skilled craftsmen of New York founded The General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen in 1785, and the organization's history is aligned with the city's physical and cultural development. In 1820, The Society founded its library. It began a lecture series in 1837 and opened the Mechanics Institute in 1858 to provide free education in the trades. Prominent New York members included Andrew Carnegie, Peter Cooper, Abram S. Hewitt and Duncan Phyfe. The Society's educational programs continue to improve the lives of New Yorkers while fostering an innovative and inventive spirit. Historian Polly Guerin presents the distinguished history of this essential New York institution.