In about 1777, a group of Virginians began meeting as a social club at the Raleigh Tavern in Williamsburg, Virgina. General George Washington mentions the Williamsburg club in some of his letters, and tradition holds that in 1779, the members accepted the General's recommendation to venerate the memory of Casimir Pulaski and name their group in his honor as a tribute to Pulaski's valiant service and personal sacrifice in the cause of American freedom.
Herbert L. Ganter, for years archivist at the College of William and Mary, and Dr. Henry E. Davis of Eastern State Hospital, club members, spent hours in the early 1960s researching the club. Based on the information they collected, including published accounts and the club's surviving minutes, it appears that the organization lapsed sometime during or after the "Late Unpleasantness of 1861-1865." It reappeared in the guise of a college club sometime between 1870 and 1875, when Henry Denison "Den" Cole of Williamsburg was a student.
Cole, evidently, carried the club from the college to his family-operated business-the Cole Shop-on Duke of Gloucester Street. Gradually the group comprised businessmen of the town and college professors, many of them prominent citizens. As the years went by, it was not unusual for members to be found at the Cole Shop sitting around a wood stove in the back room.
The club has records that go back over 100 years. It is probable that any older records were lost or destroyed during the "Late Unpleasantness" of 1861-1865.
Gift via the Williamsburg Historic Records Association. 1990.03 President Carleton Casey 1993.16 Pulaski Club 1994.36 Dr. Carleton Casey 1998.42 Dr. Carleton Casey 2001.33 Susan Prentice 2005.07 Channing M. Hall, III 2005.46 Unknown 2005.60 Channing M. Hall, III 2006.42 Channing M. Hall, III 2007.11 Channing M. Hall, III 2007.14 Channing M. Hall, III 2007.68 Channing M. Hall, III 2007.115 Channing M. Hall, III 2008.66 Channing M. Hall, III
Additions are being added on an ongoing basis.
Related artifacts described in the Manuscripts Artifact Collection (Mss. 1.03):
Framed Watercolor "Wood for the Pulaski Club Stove" (Mss 2014.005.01)
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Collection is open to all researchers. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, such as the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia. § 42.1-76-91); and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-3705.5). Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. If sensitive material is found in this collection, please contact a staff member immediately. The disclosure of personally identifiable information pertaining to a living individual may have legal consequences for which the College of William and Mary assumes no responsibility.
Pulaski Club Records, Special Collections Research Center, William & Mary Libraries.
Related artifacts described in the Manuscripts Artifact Collection (Mss. 1.03):
Framed Watercolor "Wood for the Pulaski Club Stove" (Mss 2014.005.01)
Records of the Pulaski Club of Williamsburg, a men's social club, named in honor of Count Pulaski of American Revolutionary War fame. Includes minutes, correspondence, photographs, poetry, stationery and clippings. Two letters by John D. Rockefeller are included.
This colleciton ID was changed to MS 00097 in October 2018. It was formerly identified as Mss. Acc. 1990.03.
About fifty items dating from 1877 to 1989 of records of the Pulaski Club of Williamsburg, Virginia, a men's social club, named in honor of Count Pulaski of American Revolutionary War fame. Includes minutes, correspondence, photographs, poetry, clippings. Two letters by John D. Rockefeller are included. An original pen and ink Christmas Card featuring members of the Pulaski Club signed by John C. Osborn and dated December 25, 1931. 1994.36 combined with 1990.03. Photocopy of Will Molineux's letter accepting invitation to join the Pulaski Club, March 27, 1993. Lists of Pulaski Club members from 1992, 1993 and 1994. (Mss. Acc. 1990.03, 1994.36)
Photographs and newspaper clippings of the photographs of the Cole Shop, the Pulaski Club in 1920, Pulaski Club officers in 1962, Pulaski Club members in 1982, and a portrait of Count Casimir Pulaski from Independence Hall in Philadelphia.
Poems about the Pulaski Club written by the History Committee Henningham Harrison and Ludwell Johnson.
Appreciation and thanks sent for the set of benches to replace the old benches used by the Pulaski Club.
Letter of W. Ray Allen, Williamsburg to J. Wilfrid Lambert informing him of the requirements to become a life member of the Pulaski Club of Williamsburg. Note on back of Octagon Soap wrapper informing Lambert he had become a life member. Mss. Acc. 1993.16 Addition
The Pulaski Club flyer with stationery relating to the Club. Membership lists of the Pulaski Club, 1995-1997. Mss. Acc. 1998.42 Addition
Ed Spencers Reminiscences of Arriving in Williamsburg.
Photograph of Pulaski Club, April 1932, with identifications on the reverse. Mss. Acc. 2001.33 Addition
Program for Pulaski Club's 225th anniversary dinner, 10/25/2004. Program and menu for dinner held at a Chefs' Kitchen. Mss. Acc. 2005.07 Addition
Papers relating to the annual sociable of the Pulaski Club, 2005. Includes correspondence with John V. Quarstein, program of the 2005 sociable, as well as a newspaper clipping, 1993. Mss. Acc. 2005.46 Addition
Minutes, Sept 22, 2005, of Pulaski Club luncheon. Flyer for reservation for the Annual Membership dinner, and information regarding photograph for article for Virginia Living Magazine. Mss. Acc. 2005.60 Addition
Pulaski Club article, "Pulaski Club: No Clubhouse, It Meets on Street", from Virginia Living Magazine, June 2006, by Chiles Larson. Includes drafts. The Pulaski Club Annual Sociable, April 11, 2006, given by Wilford Kale. Invocation, April 11, 2006, given by David J. Tetrault. Correspondence, 2006, of Channing M. Hall, III concerning the event. Mss. Acc. 2006.42 Addition
Pulaski Club Schedule for 2006-2007. Mss. Acc. 2007.11 Addition
2006 material which includes programs for October 11, 2006 meeting, correspondence and notes from the presiding officer, Channing Hall. Mss. Acc. 2007.14 Addition
Papers, 2006-2007, of the Pulaski Club. Program for the April 19, 2007 annual Sociable with a photocopy of the thank you letter to Thomas K. Norment, Jr., speaker and the 2006-2007, winter-spring schedule. Mss. Acc. 2007.68 Addition
Thank you letters for performer and meal at Pulaski Club Annual Dinner held November 8, 2007, at Alize Bistro; remarks made at the dinner; and photocopy of program. Mss. Acc. 2007.115 Addition
Pulaski Club Papers, 2008, includes menu for Annual Sociable, 17 April, 2008; program; correspondence with John Quarstein, Wayne P. Wright, Richard W. Tate and Thomas Moyles; toast by Jim Kelly, as well as remarks by Channing M. Hall, III. Mss. Acc. 2008.66 Addition
Contains material related to the 2010 Fall Cookout on the James, held by the Pulaski Club. Acc. 2010.706 addition.
Includes information about the Pulaski Club's Annual Members Dinner. Acc. 2011.123 addition.
Records. Acc. 2011.358 Addition.
Newsletters, 2011, of the Pulaski Club. Acc. 2011.651 addition.
Contains the remarks given by Channing M. Hall, III, at the Pualski Club Annual Meeting held on 17 November 2011. There is also the registration form for the meeting and a letter about the meeting.Acc. 2012.064 addition.
Contains correspondence, invitations, and remarks made at the Pulaski Club Annual Sociable. Acc. 2012.164 additon.
Contains correspondence about adding three new members and the true age of Count Pulaski. Also included in the accession is a reproduction of a 1939 Zaharov watercolor with order form to purchase. Acc. 2012.220 addition.
Acc. 2012.376 addition.
Contains correspondence of the Pulaski Club regarding the destruction of their Sugar Maple on Duke of Gloucester Street, appreciation of their Treasurer, and the annual dinner at the Fireside Chop House in Williamsburg, Virginia.
Contains letters written by Channing Hall III regarding the Pulaski Club lunch on August 13, 2013, the donation to the Williamsburg Historic Records Association of Willard Gilley's Zaharov watercolor, the 2013-2014 arrangements calendar, the September 12, 2013 meeting, and the annual members dinner on October 10, 2013. Mss addition 2013.292.
Contains a color photograph of Pulaski Club members on April 4, 2013 on the Pulaski Club benches in Colonial Williamsburg, correspondence regarding the 2013-2014 arrangements calendar, and the October 10, 2013 annual members dinner.
Contains correspondence, speeches, and programs from the 2014 Annual Sociable and Winter Gathering of the Pulaski Club. Addition Mss. Acc. 2014.140.
Correspondence, brochures and records from 2014. Mss. Acc. 2015.242 addition.
Records for 2017. Includes Octagon Laundry Soap Membership wrapper from Edgar K. Wells, Jr. 1960.
Brochures, schedules, correspondence and more. Mss. Acc. 2019.010 addition.
Mss. Acc. 2019.045 addition.
Contains administrative records, scrapbooks, and other material related to the Pulaski Club of Williamsburg, Virginia. Included in the addition are photographs of members and Pulaski Cub Dinners from 1928-2011; scrapbooks containing clippings, photographs, and letters documenting the history of the Pulaski Club; and administrative records consisiting of letters, clippings, and membership rosters from 1976-2011.
Correspondence and Annual Sociable ephemera. Ephemera includes memorial toast information for Willard Sheally Gilley.
Includes invitations, and correspondence documenting general club events.