The Adventurers' Club of New York was an adventure-oriented private men's club founded in
New York City
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...
in 1912 by
Arthur Sullivant Hoffman
Arthur Sullivant Hoffman (September 28, 1876 – March 15, 1966) was an American magazine editor. Hoffman is
best known for editing the acclaimed pulp magazine ''Adventure''
from 1912 to 1927, Bleiler, Richard. "A History of Adventure Magazine", in ...
, editor of the popular pulp magazine ''Adventure''. There were 34 members at the first meeting. In its second year, "
Sinclair Lewis
Harry Sinclair Lewis (February 7, 1885 – January 10, 1951) was an American writer and playwright. In 1930, he became the first writer from the United States (and the first from the Americas) to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature, which was ...
, Hoffman's assistant, was elected secretary and served three years." Monthly dinner meetings, and weekly luncheons, were the primary functions of the club.
According to club secretary, newspaperman Fred J. Splitstone, the club's "One inviolate rule is that no publicity is ever given to the meetings. It makes men freer to talk." It also makes the club difficult to research. However, soon after making those comments, in 1926, the club began publishing a monthly newsletter, ''The Adventurer''. It ran at least until 1960. Its content primarily concerned club business, e.g. changes in leadership, new members. It occasionally ran profiles—and obituaries—of members. The main content was typically a description of the previous monthly dinner meeting. The speakers were described along with a summation of their speeches.
A weekly CBS radio show, ''Gold Seal Associates'', featuring members of the club describing the most exciting moment of their lives, was inaugurated on June 13, 1930. Major C. E. Russell was the inaugural speaker.
The club was one of at least two such clubs in New York. The other club was the
Ends of the Earth Club The Ends of the Earth Club was a group of artists and explorers founded in 1903. Its members included Mark Twain, General John Pershing, Admiral Robert Peary, Gutzon Borglum (the sculptor of Mount Rushmore), Herbert Adams Gibbons (a Princeton pr ...
, which included
Mark Twain
Samuel Langhorne Clemens (November 30, 1835 – April 21, 1910), known by his pen name Mark Twain, was an American writer, humorist, entrepreneur, publisher, and lecturer. He was praised as the "greatest humorist the United States has p ...
as a member.
The club appears to have faded out in the 1970s.
Chapters
Spin-off clubs were founded in Chicago, Los Angeles, Honolulu and Copenhagen. The Adventurers' Club of Los Angeles remains active, as does the Adventurers' Club of Honolulu (founded in 1954) and the Adventurers' Club of Denmark.
Members
In 1925, the club had 185 total members, of whom 140 were active. ''The Adventurers' Golden Jubilee'' (1964) listed 195 active members and 68 associate members, for a total of 263.
Among the members of the Adventurers' Club of New York were many prominent citizens, travelers, writers, artists and explorers, including the following. Members who attended the first meeting on December 7, 1912, are indicated with " " for original.
* Aage, Count of Rosenborg. Danish prince and officer of the French Foreign Legion.
* Adamson, Hans Christian. Writer; spent 24 days adrift in the Pacific with
Dwyer, James Francis
James Francis Dwyer (22 April 1874 – 11 November 1952) was an Australian writer. Born in Camden Park, New South Wales, Dwyer worked as a postal assistant until he was convicted in a scheme to make fraudulent postal orders and sentenced to sev ...
. Popular pulp writer.
* Eagan, Eddie. Summer and Winter Olympic Games athlete.
* Footner, Hulbert. Canoe explorer; prolific author.
* Foran, W. Robert. British Army officer; co-founder of the NY club; established the Chicago chapter.
* Forman, Harrison. World traveler and author.
* Gallery, Daniel V. USN officer; captured U-boat in WWII.
* Grey, Zane. Popular author of westerns.
* Hare, Jimmy. Photojournalist and contributor to
Collier's
''Collier's'' was an American general interest magazine founded in 1888 by Peter Fenelon Collier. It was launched as ''Collier's Once a Week'', then renamed in 1895 as ''Collier's Weekly: An Illustrated Journal'', shortened in 1905 to ''Collie ...
Snark
Snark may refer to:
Fictional creatures
* Snark (Lewis Carroll), a fictional animal species in Lewis Carroll's ''The Hunting of the Snark'' (1876)
* Zn'rx, a race of fictional aliens in Marvel Comics publications, commonly referred to as "Snark ...
''.
* Law, Frederick Houk. Bicycle traveler and pulp writer.
* Lewis, Sinclair. A. S. Hoffman's assistant editor at ''Adventure''; famous novelist.
* Liebe, Hapsburg. Spanish–American War veteran (Philippines); prolific pulp western author; ''Adventure'' contributor.
* Lovfal, Per. Electrical engineer; Arctic explorer.
* Lund, Dane. Spanish–American War veteran (Cuba).
* MacCreagh, Gordon. Traveler, ''Adventure'' contributor.
* McCloy, John. US Naval officer and twice Congressional Medal of Honor winner.
* McCurdy, J. A. D.Canadian aviation pioneer.
* Meeker, Ezra. Traveled the Oregon Trail by ox-drawn wagon.
* Mundy, Talbot. Popular adventure-fiction author, prominent in ''Adventure''.
* Pangborn, Clyde. Barnstorming aviator and first pilot to fly non-stop over the northern Pacific Ocean.
* Pierrot, George F. World traveler; host of World Adventure on Detroit radio and television; editor of ''
The American Boy
''The American Boy'' was a monthly magazine published by The Sprague Publishing Co. of Detroit, Michigan from November 1899 to August 1941. At the time it was the largest magazine for boys, with a circulation of 300,000, and it featured action sto ...
'' magazine.
Pond, James B. "Bim" Traveler and lecturer.
* Reynolds, Stephen Allen. Sailor, whaler and soldier; first secretary of the club.
* Ripley, Robert. Cartoonist, famous for ''
Ripley's Believe It or Not!
''Ripley's Believe It or Not!'' is an American franchise founded by Robert Ripley, which deals in bizarre events and items so strange and unusual that readers might question the claims. Originally a newspaper panel, the ''Believe It or Not'' feat ...
''.
* Ritchie, Robert Welles. Journalist, author.
* Roberts, Theodore Goodridge. Author, soldier, and traveler.
* Robertson, George. Automobile racer.
* Russell, Major C. E. Member of the US Intelligence Service and Philippines veteran.
* Schwarzkopf, Norman. Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police.
* Siemel, Sasha. Adventurer, hunter, guide, actor, writer, photographer, and lecturer.
* Steeger, Harry. As head of
Popular Publications
Popular Publications was one of the largest publishers of pulp magazines during its existence, at one point publishing 42 different titles per month. Company titles included detective fiction, detective, adventure novel, adventure, Romance nove ...
, published ''Adventure'' from July 1934 forward.
* Stephens, Fred. Rocky Mountains trapper and guide.
Stoloff, Victor Filmmaker.
* Terhune, Albert Payson. Popular fiction author; famous for the novel ''
Lad, a Dog
''Lad: A Dog'' is a 1919 American novel written by Albert Payson Terhune and published by E. P. Dutton. Composed of twelve short stories first published in magazines, the novel is based on the life of Terhune's real-life Rough Collie, Lad. Born ...
''.
* Thomas, Lowell. Popular journalist and travel writer; brought
Lawrence of Arabia
Thomas Edward Lawrence (16 August 1888 – 19 May 1935) was a British archaeologist, army officer, diplomat, and writer who became renowned for his role in the Arab Revolt (1916–1918) and the Sinai and Palestine Campaign (1915–191 ...
Notable speakers before the club include the following:
* 1926 January 16:
Ezra Meeker
Ezra Morgan Meeker (December 29, 1830December 3, 1928) was an American pioneer who traveled the Oregon Trail by ox-drawn wagon as a young man, migrating from Iowa to the Pacific Coast. Later in life he worked to memorialize the Trail, repeated ...
.
* 1926 January 16. Lt. Roland G. Mayer. Survivor of the airship ''Shenandoah'', which crashed in 1925.
* 1931 January ??: Frank Buck. Hunter and filmmaker.
* 1931 January ??: Owen R. Jones. Accompanist to
Adelina Patti
Adelina Patti (19 February 184327 September 1919) was an Italian 19th-century opera singer, earning huge fees at the height of her career in the music capitals of Europe and America. She first sang in public as a child in 1851, and gave her la ...
Sasha Siemel
Alexander "Sasha" Siemel ( lv, Aleksandrs Žiemelis; 1890–1970) was an American/Argentinian adventurer, professional hunter, guide, actor, writer, photographer, and lecturer of Latvian origin. He spoke seven languages and boasted of having ex ...
. Adventurer, hunter, guide, actor, writer, photographer, and lecturer.
* 1936 October 15:
Tony Sarg
Anthony Frederick Sarg (April 21, 1880–March 7, 1942), known professionally as Tony Sarg, was a German American puppeteer and illustrator. He was described as "America's Puppet Master", and in his biography as the father of modern puppetry ...
. Illustrator.
* 1936 October 15:
Leon Dabo
Leon Dabo (July 9, 1864 – November 7, 1960) was an American tonalist landscape artist best known for his paintings of New York, particularly the Hudson Valley. His paintings were known for their feeling of spaciousness, with large areas of the ...
. Artist.
* 1936 November 19: Martin Johnson. Traveler and filmmaker.
* 1936 November 19:
Alan Villiers
Alan John Villiers, DSC (23 September 1903 – 3 March 1982) was a writer, adventurer, photographer and mariner.
Born in Melbourne, Australia, Villiers first went to sea at age 15 and sailed on board traditionally rigged vessels, including t ...
. Author and explorer.
* 1936 November 19: Walter Granger. President of the Explorers Club.
* 1937 January 21:
Attilio Gatti
Attilio Gatti (Voghera (Lombardy, Italy) 10 July 1896 - Derby Line (Vermont, USA) 1 July 1969) was an Italian-born explorer, author, and documentary filmmaker who traveled extensively in Africa in the first half of the 20th century.
Expeditions ...
. Italian explorer, author and filmmaker.
* 1937 May 20:
Julien Bryan
Julien Hequembourg Bryan (23 May 1899 in Titusville, Pennsylvania – 20 October 1974) was an American photographer, filmmaker, and documentarian. He is best known for documenting the daily life in Poland, Soviet Union, and Nazi Germany between 1 ...
. Photographer, filmmaker, and documentarian.
* 1938 March 17:
Sasha Siemel
Alexander "Sasha" Siemel ( lv, Aleksandrs Žiemelis; 1890–1970) was an American/Argentinian adventurer, professional hunter, guide, actor, writer, photographer, and lecturer of Latvian origin. He spoke seven languages and boasted of having ex ...
.
* 1938 April 21: William E. Young. Sailor, shark expert.
* 1938 May 19: Claus K. Clausen. Decorated US Navy officer.
* 1938 December 15:
Jimmy Hare
James H. Hare (3 October 1856 – 24 June 1946) was an English photojournalist active between 1898 and 1931. He was the leading photographer during five major wars, and was the driving force behind '' Collier's'' becoming a large circulation m ...
. Photojournalist.
* 1939 January 19:
Ralph DePalma
Raffaele "Ralph" De Palma (December 19, 1882 – March 31, 1956) was an Italian-American racecar driving champion who won the 1915 Indianapolis 500. His entry at the International Motorsports Hall of Fame estimates that he won about 2,0 ...
. Dirt track auto racing champion.
* 1939 February 16: Jimmy Jemail. NFL player and journalist.
* 1939 April 20:
Lowell Thomas
Lowell Jackson Thomas (April 6, 1892 – August 29, 1981) was an American writer, actor, broadcaster, and traveler, best remembered for publicising T. E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia). He was also involved in promoting the Cinerama widescreen ...
. Popular journalist.
* 1939 April 20: Arch Whitehouse. Prolific aviation fiction pulp writer.
* 1939 April 20: Frank Buck.
* 1939 May 18:
Vilhjalmur Stefansson
Vilhjalmur Stefansson (November 3, 1879 – August 26, 1962) was an Arctic explorer and ethnologist. He was born in Manitoba, Canada.
Early life
Stefansson, born William Stephenson, was born at Arnes, Manitoba, Canada, in 1879. His parents had ...
. Canadian Arctic explorer, President of the Explorers Club.
* 1939 October 19: Harrison Forman. World traveler and author.
* 1939 October 19: Lon Yancey. US Navy veteran and history-making aviator.
* 1940 January 18:
Alexander Kerensky
Alexander Fyodorovich Kerensky, ; Reforms of Russian orthography, original spelling: ( – 11 June 1970) was a Russian lawyer and revolutionary who led the Russian Provisional Government and the short-lived Russian Republic for three months ...
. Key figure in the Russian Revolution.
* 1940 February 15: Linton Wells. Foreign correspondent and pioneer broadcaster.
* 1940 March 21:
Sterling Hayden
Sterling Walter Hayden (born Sterling Relyea Walter; March 26, 1916 – May 23, 1986) was an American actor, author, sailor and decorated Marine Corps officer and an Office of Strategic Services' agent during World War II. A leading man for mos ...
. Sailor and future film actor.
* 1940 March 21: Harrison Forman.
* 1940 March 21:
Harold McCracken Harold McCracken (1894–1983) was an American writer, Alaskan grizzly bear hunter, biplane stunt photographer, cinematographer, producer and museum director. He was a noted explorer, who led expeditions in the 1920s tracing the possibility of a l ...
. Author and adventurer.
* 1940 April 18:
David Sarnoff
David Sarnoff (February 27, 1891 – December 12, 1971) was an American businessman and pioneer of American radio and television. Throughout most of his career, he led the Radio Corporation of America (RCA) in various capacities from shortly afte ...
. RCA executive.
* 1941 February 20: Harrison Forman.
* 1941 May 15:
Lewis E. Lawes
Lewis Edward Lawes (September 13, 1883 – April 23, 1947) was a prison warden and a proponent of prison reform. During his 21-year tenure at Sing Sing Correctional Facility, he supervised the executions of 303 prisoners.
Biography
Lawes was born ...
. Warden of Sing Sing.
* 1942 February 19: Harry A. Franck. Prolific travel writer, "prince of vagabonds."
* 1942 February 19: Charles B. Whitehead. American flyer in the RAF.
* 1942 May 21:
Robert Ripley
LeRoy Robert Ripley (February 22, 1890 – May 27, 1949) was an American cartoonist, entrepreneur, and amateur anthropologist, who is known for creating the '' Ripley's Believe It or Not!'' newspaper panel series, television show, and radio show ...
. ''
Ripley's Believe It or Not!
''Ripley's Believe It or Not!'' is an American franchise founded by Robert Ripley, which deals in bizarre events and items so strange and unusual that readers might question the claims. Originally a newspaper panel, the ''Believe It or Not'' feat ...
'' cartoonist.
* 1942 May 21: Jean Delacour. Bird expert of the Bronx Zoo.
* 1954 ??: Fritz Duquesne. "My Life – In and Out of Prison"
* 1962 May 16:
Carl von Hoffman
Carl von Hoffman (c. 1889 in St. Petersburg or Latvia, Russia – 8 July 1982 in New York, New York, US) was a soldier, adventurer, author, and photographer of German people, German ancestry. He was possibly a descendant of Melchior Hoffman; jour ...
. Soldier, adventurer and author.
Presidents
Award winners
The club also awarded medals and honors. Recipients include:
*
Sasha Siemel
Alexander "Sasha" Siemel ( lv, Aleksandrs Žiemelis; 1890–1970) was an American/Argentinian adventurer, professional hunter, guide, actor, writer, photographer, and lecturer of Latvian origin. He spoke seven languages and boasted of having ex ...
Gold Medal
*
William O. Douglas
William Orville Douglas (October 16, 1898January 19, 1980) was an American jurist who served as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, who was known for his strong progressive and civil libertarian views, and is often ci ...
(1964). Supreme Court justice; mountain climber.
Bronze Medal
*
Alexander de Seversky
Alexander Nikolaievich Prokofiev de Seversky (russian: link=no, Алекса́ндр Никола́евич Проко́фьев-Се́верский) (June 7, 1894 – August 24, 1974) was a Russian-American aviation pioneer, inventor, and inf ...
Robert Spiers Benjamin
Robert Spiers Benjamin (17 August 1917 – 20 September 2009) was a 20th-century journalist. He was a founding member of the Overseas Press Club. Following his death, the club named an award in his memory for 'Best reporting in any medium on Lati ...
edited an anthology ''Call to Adventure''. Contributors were:
''The Adventurers' Golden Jubilee''
In 1964, the club published ''The Adventurers' Golden Jubilee 1912–1962: A History of the Adventurers Club of New York''.Adventurers Club of New York. (1965). ''The Adventurers' Golden Jubilee, 1964: A history of The Adventurers' Club of New York''. New York: The Club
See also
*
Explorers Club
The Explorers Club is an American-based international multidisciplinary professional society with the goal of promoting scientific exploration and field study. The club was founded in New York City in 1904, and has served as a meeting point fo ...
, an extant club of about the same age, also founded in New York, with a scientific mission.