| Month |
Year |
Event |
| |
|
|
| December |
1862 |
On December 27th at the home of Dr. J. Forsythe Meigs,
1208
Walnut Street, the Union League of Philadelphia was
officially
organized. It was conceived as a patriotic social society
whose purpose was to uphold the Constitution of the
United States and support Abraham Lincoln as the President
in his efforts to suppress the rebellion and reunite
the country. |
| |
|
|
| December |
1862 |
On December 30th, member John W. Forney writes to
President
Abraham Lincoln on behalf of other League members and
prominent Republicans in Philadelphia, asking if the
President would sit for a life portrait that would
then be hung in Independence Hall. Lincoln agrees,
and this becomes the first painting commissioned by
the League. |
| |
|
|
| January |
1863 |
January 8th 1863 becomes the first official date
of admission to
membership in the League. |
| |
|
|
| February |
1863 |
On February 23rd, the League occupies the Hartman
Kuhn mansion,
1118 Chestnut Street, as its first clubhouse. |
| |
|
|
| February |
1863 |
The Board of Directors, along with 60 League members,
donate
$750 to purchase Thomas Sully’s, the League’s
first painting. |
| |
|
|
| |
1864 |
At the US Sanitary Commission Fair, League members
raise funds for wounded and disabled soldiers. League
co-founder George Boker personally pays for the printing
of forty-eight copies of the Emancipation Proclamation
signed by Abraham Lincoln, and sold for $10 each. |
| |
|
|
| |
1863-1865 |
League’s Committee on Employment finds thousands
of jobs for
veterans and widows. |
| |
|
|
| |
1874-1876 |
League members finance US Centennial in Philadelphia. |
| |
|
|
| |
1879-1884 |
George Boker is elected President of the League. |
| |
|
|
| |
1881 |
Edwin N. Benson donated $1,000 for the creation and
installation of the stained glass memorial window in
honor of the first four Union League presidents. 248
League members donate $32,500 to a building fund towards
the erection of “The Annex,” the first
major addition to the Broad Street building. |
| |
|
|
| |
1882 |
Art Association of the Union League is created to
purchase art for the beautification of the League house. |
| |
|
|
| |
1890 |
League member George S. Pepper bequeaths the Library
$5,000 in his will. Past League President Edwin N.
Benson donates $10,000 towards the erection of a new
annex for the expansion of the pool room. |
| |
|
|
| |
1907 |
The Moorish Dancing Girl is donated by Edward T.
Stotesbury. |
| |
|
|
| |
1917-1918 |
WWI begins and the League’s members subscribe
to $28,878,600 of Liberty Bonds. |
| |
|
|
| |
1917 |
James Tanner presents the League with the Tanner
Manuscript and League President John Gribbell gives
his family’s signed copy of the Emancipation
Proclamation at the dedication of the new room. |
| |
|
|
| |
1929 |
During the Great Depression the League creates a
Committee on Unemployment to assist the unemployed
and raises money to provide breakfast for school children. |
| |
|
|
| |
1941–1945 |
During WWII, the League’s members subscribe
to $1,786,350 in war bonds. |
| |
|
|
| |
1945–1946 |
The League maintains a War Veterans Committee to
secure employment for returning service men. Of the
1,471 interviewed, jobs are found for 1,215 men. |
| |
|
|
| |
1946 |
The Committee on Boys’ Work is established
to motivate young people and to recognize them with
the Good Citizenship Award. |
| |
|
|
| |
1955 |
The Scholarship Program is founded to give financial
assistance to deserved Good Citizenship Awardees. |
| |
|
|
| |
1967 |
The Scholarship Program is formalized by the creation
of an irrevocable charitable trust known today as The
Scholarship Foundation of the Union League of Philadelphia. |
| |
|
|
| |
1971 |
Youth Work is formalized by the creation of a trust
known as The
Youth Work Foundation of the Union League of Philadelphia. |
| |
|
|
| |
1986 |
The Committee on Boys Work is amended to include
girls, so the name is changed to the Committee on Youth
Work. |
| |
|
|
| |
1989 |
The Brodhead Cup is established to recognize the
Club Tables who have collectively contributed the most
to the Foundations in a given year. |
| |
|
|
| |
1990 |
The Ladies Committee initiates the awarding of one
scholarship every four years. |
| |
|
|
| |
1992 |
Our members contribute $28,000 to the city of Philadelphia
to help keep community swimming pools open. |
| |
|
|
| February |
1996 |
The Abraham Lincoln Foundation is established and
qualifies as a
501(c) (3) non-profit organization. |
| |
|
|
| |
1997 |
The Ladies Committee begins funding a new scholarship
each year. |
| |
|
|
| |
1998 |
League member Robert G. Wilder makes a substantial
gift to the League and the new fitness center is named
in his honor. |
| |
|
|
| |
1999 |
The portrait of the former President George H. Bush
is unveiled which is commissioned by Henry McNeil. |
| |
|
|
| April |
2000 |
The League produces the one act play, While Lincoln
Lay Dying based on the
Tanner manuscript found in the League’s
archives and written by League member, Mary L. Hagy. |
| |
|
|
| |
2001 |
The Capital Campaign is conceived to raise necessary
funds to provide the League with an endowment. |
| |
|
|
| |
2001 |
Thomas N. Pappas and Family contribute largest charitable
gift to The Abraham Lincoln Foundation in League History. |
| |
|
|
| |
2001 |
An anonymous League member donates $20,000 to the
Abraham Lincoln Foundation used for the conservation
of the Lincoln statue
and all other bronze in the Lincoln Memorial Room. |
| |
|
|
| |
2002 |
Anonymous League member donates $40,000 for the conservation
of fine art. |
| |
|
|
| February |
2003 |
League member Bruce Hooper presents the League with
engraving
March to the Sea. |
| |
|
|
| |
2003 |
League member Edwin Johnson donates over 300 Civil
War books to The Abraham Lincoln Foundation for the
Library. |
| |
|
|
| June |
2004 |
A portrait of former President Gerald R. Ford, is
commissioned by the Thornton D. Elizabeth S. Hooper
unveiled the portrait at the
reception with Susan Ford Bales in attendance. |
| |
|
|
| |
2004 |
Friends of Presidential Portraits is created to restore
paintings in the League’s 21 residential portraits
collection. |
| |
|
|
| February |
2005 |
Thomas Kean, former Governor of NJ and Chairman of
the 9/11
Commission receives the Lincoln Award at Lincoln Day. |
| |
|
|
| May |
2005 |
The First Union League Golf Classic benefiting The
Abraham Lincoln
Foundation is held at Saucon Valley Country Club raises
$50,000. |
| |
|
|
| September |
2005 |
John Meko, Jr. hired as first Executive Director
of The
Abraham Lincoln Foundation. |
| |
|
|
| October |
2005 |
The Pappas Business Center opens.
David C. and Suzanne Auten restore the America
Mourning Her Brave sculpture. |
