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47-646: Over the years, the club grew in size, and requirements for membership became more rigorous. In 1894, the club was incorporated in the District of Columbia, and the headquarters moved from the various members’ homes to the music room of the Washington Club, located at 1710 I Street. As the club has grown over the years, it has been located in various places, including the Assembly room of the Cosmos Club ,

94-525: A Constitution was adopted, and a General Committee was established, and officers were elected, including President Joseph Henry. The next meetings of the new Society were held in the annex of the Surgeon General ’s office in Ford’s Theater . In a published oral history, founding member William Dall explained the change: Then General Barnes, who was Surgeon-General, and was one of the members,

141-717: A learned profession or in public service". From 1879 to 1882, the Cosmos Club met in rented rooms on the third floor in the Corcoran Building on the corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and 15th Street NW in Washington, D.C. The club moved into a rented house at 23 Madison Place in Lafayette Square from 1883 to 1886. However, the membership quickly outgrew the space. On June 1, 1886, the Club purchased

188-435: A regular basis to study and to listen to their own performances. Additionally, during this period, Miss Gretchen Hood , the opera singer, bequeathed money in her will to assist promising young musicians in their concert careers. This was the beginning of The Friday Morning Music Club Foundation, which was incorporated March 22, 1948, to help aspiring musical students. In 1970, Foundation Director Willa Mae Koehn moved to change

235-707: Is a 501(c)(7) private social club in Washington, D.C. , that was founded by John Wesley Powell in 1878 as a gentlemen's club for those interested in science. Among its stated goals is, "The advancement of its members in science, literature, and art and also their mutual improvement by social intercourse." Cosmos Club members include three United States presidents , two vice presidents, U.S. Supreme Court justices, artists, writers, businessmen, government officials, journalists, scientists, and university presidents, 36 Nobel Prize winners, 61 Pulitzer Prize winners, and 55 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients. In 1988,

282-595: Is now used by the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit . In 1917, the Club bought the Tayloe House , an 1828 Federal style house at 21 Madison Place NW. The Tayloe House was the club's women's annex, and its stables were converted into a meeting hall. In 1952, the Club left Tayloe House when they moved into Townsend House. The U.S. government purchased the house with

329-1081: The Washingtonian reported that annual dues are around $ 2,000. Members have access to reciprocating private clubs in other communities, including the Algonquin Club in Boston, the Arlington Club in Portland, Oregon , the Cornell Club of New York , The Cliff Dwellers in Chicago, the Duquesne Club in Pittsburgh , the Down Town Association in New York City, Engineering Society of Baltimore ,

376-501: The Cosmos Bulletin since around 1946. The club also publishes its Cosmos Club Occasional Paper Series, featuring articles written by its members. In 1990, the Cosmos Club began publication of Cosmos: A Journal of Emerging Issues as an annual publication of original essays by its members. However, publication ceased in 2004. The Cosmos Club presents several awards and a scholarship: Many organizations were founded at

423-504: The Dolley Madison House for $ 40,000. This house is located at the corner of H Street and Madison Place. Madison's brother-in-law, Richard Cutts , built the house in 1820; Dolley Madison lived there from 1837 until her death in 1849. Upon purchasing the building, the Club built an assembly hall addition and raised the height of the third story. They held a gala on January 5, 1887, to celebrate their new home. In 1893,

470-916: The Geological Society of Washington , the Council on Foreign Relations , and the Washington Academy of Sciences also regularly met at the Cosmos Club. Other organizations that used the Cosmos Club's facilities include The Columbia Historical Society , now the Historical Society of Washington, D.C., the Cosmotographers (a camera club), the Friday Morning Music Club , and the Literary Society of Washington . On November 16, 1903, when

517-875: The Hamilton Club of Lancaster , the Harvard Club of Boston , the Harvard Club of New York City , The Lotos Club in New York City, the National Arts Club in New York City, the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., the Norfolk Yacht & Country Club in Virginia, The Players of New York City, the Penn Club of New York , Princeton Club of New York , Racquet Club of Philadelphia , St. Botolph Club in Boston,

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564-655: The National Register of Historic Places in 1973. Members and visitors to the Cosmos Club must comply with its dress code. Men must wear dress slacks, collared long-sleeved shirts or turtlenecks, and jackets. In addition, men must wear ties in the formal dining room for dinner, lunch, and Sunday brunch. Memorial Day through Labor Day, the summer dress code permits business casual attire. The Cosmos Club offers book conversations, chess and bridge tournaments, monthly concerts, dancing lessons, holiday events, lunch and dinner lectures, and seasonal dinner dances. Many of

611-836: The Oriental Club in London, Oxford and Cambridge Club in London, the Savile Club in London, Stephen's Green Hibernian Club in Dublin, The Tanglin Club in Singapore. Philosophical Society of Washington Founded in 1871, the Philosophical Society of Washington is the oldest scientific society in Washington, D.C. It continues today as PSW Science . Since 1887, the Society has met regularly in

658-1139: The Saint Louis Club , the University Club of San Francisco , the Williams Club in New York City, the Union Club of Boston , and the University Club of Denver . The Cosmos Club also has reciprocal agreements with clubs in other countries, including The Athenaeum in London, the Carlton Club in London, Caledonian Club in London, the Club Financiero Génova in Madrid, The East India Club in London, Foreign Correspondents' Club in Hong Kong, The National Club in Toronto, The New Club in Edinburgh,

705-660: The Army Andrew A. Humphreys ; Quartermaster General of the Army Montgomery C. Meigs ; Surgeon General Joseph K. Barnes ; and Chief Justice Salmon P. Chase . “In response to this call,” according to the minutes of the first meeting, “a meeting of the subscribers thereto was convened and held at the Smithsonian Institution, in the Regents’ room, on Monday, March 13, 1871.” The outline of

752-577: The Club again expanded the building, adding two stories to the assembly hall. In 1940, the U.S. government purchased the house with the rest of the club's Lafayette Square holdings and added it to the National Courts Complex in 1952. The Cutts-–Madison House is included in the National Register of Historic Places and is a contributing building to the Lafayette Square Historic District . In 1906,

799-418: The Club opened to women. According to one history, Clarence Edward Dutton originally had the idea for a social club for men of science, and shared his idea with Major John Wesley Powell . On November 16, 1878, a group of men met at Powell 's home at 910 M Street, Washington, D.C ., and discussed their mutual interest in creating what began the Cosmos Club. There are no minutes or attendance records from

846-484: The Club purchased a house south of the Madison House at 25 Madison Place NW. In 1907, they purchased the house next door at 23 Madison Place NW—the club's former rental property. Both houses were razed in 1909, allowing the club to build a new five-story clubhouse at 725 Madison Place that was completed in 1910. This was dubbed "the new building". They also purchased a small office building on H Street, next to

893-514: The Club voted to sell on March 27, 1940. However, with the outbreak of World War II , the government did not immediately pursue their played expansion. Instead, the club was able to rent their former property on a year-to-year basis. This arrangement was financially beneficial for the club as they no longer had to pay property taxes. Finally, the Club moved to a new location in the Townsend House in 1952. The Lafayette Square property

940-558: The Cosmos Club celebrated its 25th anniversary, the membership had grown from the original twelve to 567: 408 residents, 159 non-residents. As of 2017, the club had some 3,089 members in Full, Junior, Senior, and Emeritus categories. Members come from a wide variety of backgrounds, but a common theme among members is "a relation with scholarship, creative genius, or intellectual distinction". In 1904, president William Henry Holmes divided members into 11 groups for admission purposes: The club

987-406: The Cosmos Club did not permit women to join, and it did not allow female guests to enter by the front door, or to enter rooms reserved for members. In 1973, 1975, and 1980, the Club voted against admitting women. In 1987, the Washington, D.C., Human Rights Office ruled that there was probable cause to believe that the club's men-only policy violated the city's anti-discrimination law. The office

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1034-613: The Cosmos Club, including the National Geographic Society in 1888, The Wilderness Society in 1935, and the Washington Academy of Sciences. The American Institute of Physics also formed at the Cosmos Club on May 3, 1931. Since 1887, the Philosophical Society of Washington , also known as PSW Science , meets at the assembly hall of the Cosmos Club, now called the John Wesley Powell auditorium in honor of John Wesley Powell . The Explorer's Club ,

1081-725: The Dolley Madison House. However, in 1930, Congress directed the Secretary of the Treasury to purchase the private property on Madison Place for the expansion of governmental offices. In 1939, the government offered the Club one million dollars for all of their holdings—the Madison House, the New Building, the office building, and the Tayloe House (described below). Although its members did not want to move,

1128-673: The Raleigh Hotel, and the Charles Sumner School . Today, its archives are located at the Historical Society of Washington, D.C., 801 K St., N.W., Washington, D.C., and its primary location for meetings and programs is First Congregational United Church of Christ in Washington, D.C. The period from 1943-1949 was extremely active, and included the formation of groups of different categories, including pianists, singers, organists, composers and others who met on

1175-544: The Smithsonian grounds, often through a considerable amount of mud. At the second meeting, held Saturday, March 18, 1871, the first scientific paper was presented to the Society. Professor S.F. Baird communicated on behalf of the author, “Official Report of the Yellowstone Expedition of 1870.” About the early meetings at Ford’s Theater, librarian John S. Billings remembered: [The] entrance up

1222-400: The Townsend House was built for railroad and coal heiress Mary Scott Townsend between 1898 and 1900 and features Louis XV elements on a Beaux Arts-style exterior. After renovations, the Club moved into the Townsend House in mid-1952. Townsend House includes a billiards room, dining rooms, a fitness center, a library, parlors, overnight rooms, and a periodical room. The house was listed on

1269-420: The acquisition and maintenance of a library, and the collection and care of materials and appliances related to the above subjects." The ten incorporators met again on January 6, 1879. They approved bylaws, regulations, and rules, and also elected Powell as the official president. They approved sixty individuals as Founders; many of these were existing members of the Philosophical Society of Washington which

1316-455: The activities are related to food, such as monthly lobster dinners, weekly champagne brunches, prime rib buffets, and wine tastings. In addition, the Cosmos Club serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner for its members and their guests. Townsend House is also used by members for special events such as anniversary parties, birthday parties, cocktail parties, debutante parties, funeral receptions, and wedding receptions. The Cosmos Club has published

1363-502: The assembly hall of the Cosmos Club . In the Club's present location since 1951, the assembly hall is now called the John Wesley Powell auditorium. Meetings are roughly every other Friday, except in the summer. Meetings are free and open to the public. A lecture is given by a scientist at each meeting. In 1931, the Society established the ongoing Joseph Henry Lecture series. The lectures present speakers at who have reached

1410-506: The attendance was always large for a local scientific society whose routine meetings were held for the sole purpose of reading formal papers.” In 1878, the Cosmos Club was founded and all local members of the Philosophical Society were invited to join. The Club moved to its own building, known now as the Dolley Madison House on Lafayette Square , and invited the Society to hold its meetings there. The Society accepted

1457-438: The fine arts; (2) though not occupied in science, literature, or the fine arts, were well known to be cultivated in a special department thereof; and (3) were recognized as distinguished in a learned profession or in public service." According to its website, election to membership in the Cosmos Club honors those deemed to have "done meritorious original work in science, literature, or the arts, or...recognized as distinguished in

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1504-535: The formal meeting. On March 12, 1921, one day shy of the Society’s 50th anniversary, Amelia K. Benson became the first woman to address the Society. Ms. Benson spoke about a paper she co-authored, titled, "A comparison of the International Hydrogen Scale with the standard scale of temperature defined by the platinum resistance thermometer." And, while recording the election of new members

1551-416: The free exchange of views on scientific subjects, and the promotion of scientific inquiry among its members. 43 men signed the letter. According to former Society President W.J. Humphreys , these signers “represented…every branch of both the natural and the exact sciences.” The signers included: mathematician Simon Newcomb ; astronomer Asaph Hall ; malacologist William H. Dall ; Chief Engineer of

1598-456: The group feared, was considering creating its own social club. The cost to join was $ 25, slightly over $ 700 in today's money. The annual dues were set at $ 20 for residents and $ 10 for non-residents. The original bylaws of the Cosmos Club had the following policy: "Membership in the Club was restricted by high qualification requirements and candidates were admitted only if they (1) had performed meritorious original work in science, literature, or

1645-420: The group in their homes. Henry recommended to resolve this difficulty by organizing a society that would be available to any man of science in Washington. Henry’s recommendation led Saturday Club members to formally write to Henry: Prof. Joseph Henry, LL.D. The undersigned respectfully request you to preside at a meeting which they propose to hold for the purpose of forming a society, having for its object

1692-474: The invitation. Ever since the Society’s 300th meeting on March 26, 1887, the Society has held its regular meetings at the Cosmos Club and moved with the Club in 1951, to its current location in the Townsend House on Massachusetts Avenue. The Society further evolved in the 20th Century. In 1919, after forty-eight years of meeting without refreshment, the Society sanctioned its first social hour following

1739-683: The name of the National Auditions to the Washington International Competition (WIC), and the first competition under this name was held for singers on April 23 and 24, 1971. Over the years, notable winners have included: Jessye Norman , Gwendolyn Bradley , Jane Coop, (who is also a judge of the competition), Sofya Gulyak , and Jie Chen. The Foundation continues to hold annual competitions alternating among pianists, singers, string players and composers, and grants awards. It draws its applicants from all over

1786-537: The narrow stairs, often pervaded with a scientific odor from the laboratory on the lower floor – an odor once compared to that of the deluge at low tide – the devious and complicated route from the head of the stair, past the General Committee room, to the place of meeting; the rather gloomy room, walled in from floor to ceiling with books from whose dingy backs no light was reflected, and yet in its general aspects and surroundings in many respects appropriate to

1833-505: The objects and purposes of the company gathered therein. The Society met at Ford’s Theater for sixteen years. Regular meetings were held on alternate Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. and were to be devoted to the consideration and discussion of scientific subjects, except for the annual meetings, when the conduct of business of the Society was discussed. Those early meetings included presentations on a wide scope of scientific matters: According to geologist Clarence E. Dutton , “[a]t those meetings,

1880-461: The organizational meeting. However, oral history says twelve attended the meeting. Ten signed the articles of incorporation three weeks later, and Powell was selected as the club's temporary president. The original incorporators included: According to the articles of incorporation, "The particular objects and business of this association are the advancement of its members in science, literature and art, their mutual improvement by social intercourse,

1927-554: The outbreak of the Civil War , Henry and several other men interested in science formed a small club called the Saturday Club. Their meetings were held the homes of its members, and were devoted to discussion of scientific questions. Meetings followed by a social with supper and refreshments provided by the evening’s host. The Saturday Club eventually grew to more than forty members and some found it difficult to accommodate

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1974-668: The pinnacles of their respective fields, and in recent years have included Nobel laureates Baruch Blumberg , William D. Phillips , John C. Mather , and Craig Mello . In 1846, the Smithsonian Institution was founded and its Regents elected Joseph Henry as the Institution’s first Secretary. In 1855, the Smithsonian Castle was completed, with space for exhibitions, research laboratories, and living quarters for Henry and his family. Sometime before

2021-481: The rest of the club's Lafayette Square holdings and added it to the National Courts Complex. The Benjamin Ogle Tayloe House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a contributing structure to the Lafayette Square Historic District . In 1950, the Club purchased the Townsend House at 2121 Massachusetts Ave. , N.W. Washington, D.C. Designed by architects Carrère and Hastings ,

2068-715: The world. The most recent Washington International Competition, for piano, was held in May 2024 at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The competition for strings and composition will be held in 2025, and voice in 2026. The Foundation also holds the Johansen International Competition for Young String Players (JIC) every three years; contestants are ages 13-17. The next JIC will be held in 2025. Cosmos Club The Cosmos Club

2115-422: Was good enough to offer us more commodious quarters in the city. In those days, coming to the Smithsonian building, especially at night, was something of a task. The paths were not paved; if it happened to be rainy it was a very muddy walk indeed…At that time, nearly all of the members of the Society lived in the city and therefore found it desirable to have the place of meeting where they would not have to go through

2162-476: Was only for white men until the 1960s. In 1962, the club's refusal to admit Black journalist and high-ranking State Department official Carl T. Rowan prompted members such as Bruce Catton and John Kenneth Galbraith to resign their memberships in protest. Edward R. Murrow and John F. Kennedy withdrew their applications for membership. Less than a year later, the Club admitted its first black member, historian John Hope Franklin . For its first 110 years,

2209-459: Was ready to order public hearings on the case, which could have resulted in the loss of all city licenses and permits if the all-male policy had continued. However, on June 19, 1988, the Cosmos Club's membership overwhelmingly voted to accept women members—only 14 of the 771 voting members were against admitting women. The first class of female members were admitted in October 1988. In 2015,

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