Grolier Club, Building and club in Manhattan, New York
The Grolier Club is a building and membership club on East 60th Street in Manhattan, dedicated to books and the arts of the printed word. It houses a gallery where exhibitions are regularly held, along with a library holding rare books and works on paper.
The Grolier Club was founded in 1884 by a group of book lovers who wanted a place to gather around fine printing and rare books, making it the oldest organization of its kind in the United States. Over time it moved to its current building on East 60th Street, where it has remained ever since.
The club takes its name from Jean Grolier, a Renaissance collector who believed books should be shared, not hoarded. That same spirit shows today in the public exhibitions and lectures held throughout the year.
The gallery is generally open Monday through Saturday and admission is free, making it easy to drop in for an exhibition without planning ahead. The library is accessible by appointment only, so it is worth contacting the club in advance if you want to browse the collection.
Although the Grolier Club is a private membership organization, its gallery exhibitions are free and open to the general public, which is rare for a club of this kind. The building also features a notable interior staircase that visitors can see when they come in for an exhibition.
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