About the Burns Society of the City of New York
The Burns Society of the City of New York was established in 1871 to commemorate, celebrate, honor and preserve the memory and works of Robert Burns, one of the world's most famous poets and songwriters.
Membership in the Society is by invitation and consists of Scotsmen, their lineal descendants, and any others who have, to the satisfaction of the Membership Committee, demonstrated their appreciation of Burns and sympathy with the objects of the Society.
CHARITABLE WORKS
The Society is a 501(c)3 organization and undertakes to honor the memory of Robert Burns through charitable activities. Our most recent such activities include:
Contributing to the restoration and upkeep of Burn's statue located at Literary Walk in Central Park.
Donating funds to the National Trust for Scotland (NTS) to restore a longcase clock, owned by Robert Burns sister, that now sits in the rare book library of the Burns Museum in Alloway, Ayrshire, Scotland.
Donating funds to the NTS towards a £ 300,000 restoration of the Burns Monument, also in Alloway, Ayrshire (photo to the right) which, after 200 years is in need of repair.
Donating a Lowestoft china saucer to the Burns Museum. The saucer was given to the Society in 1955 by one of our members, Ernest W.D. Tennant, Esq. Mr Tennant had inherited the saucer from his great, great, Grandfather, Dr. William Dalrymple (1723-1814), who was Minister of Ayr, and had christened Robert Burns. See photo of past President, Peter Lawrie presenting the saucer to Nat Edwards, representing the National Trust of Scotland, at the Burns Cottage in May, 2013
Providing literary awards to students at three colleges in New York who excel in the study of Burns as demonstrated by the submission of an original essay about his life and work. See details on the Philanthropy page on this site.
MEMBERSHIP ACTIVITIES
The Society’s membership gathers several times each year, including these recurring events:
Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the membership
Burns Supper on or near the anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns (January 25th, 1759)
Golf Outing at a course in the Tri-state area
Visitors can contact the Society by using our Contact Form or directly by mail at:
Burns Society of the City of New York
P.O. Box 3864 Grand Central Station
New York, NY 10163
Members of the Society will find the Member Login at the bottom of each page on this website: