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Albany Torch Club
Records, 1926-2016

SC23322

Quantity: 3 boxes (3.0 cubic ft.)
Access: Open to research. White cotton gloves must be worn when handling photographs.
Acquisition: Gift: Albany Torch Club, January 2015; accretions received November 2015, June 2016, and November 2016.
Processed By: Kayleigh Paster, Student Assistant, State University of New York at Albany for Manuscripts and Special Collections, January-February 2015; updated by Regina Berry, June and November  2016

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Historical Note:

The Albany Torch Club was organized to provide men of learned professions with the opportunity to socialize with one another and to engage in intellectual presentations on a range of topics. The club is a part of the International Association of Torch Clubs (IATC), which was founded in 1924 by William Bullock for the "purpose of broadening intellectual and social horizons."

The organizational meeting of the club was held on June 4, 1926, at the Hotel Ten Eyck in Albany, New York. The first regular meeting of the club was held at the Albany Public Library on October 11, 1926. 

The Albany Torch Club is one of nearly seventy torch clubs in the United States and Canada. While the IATC provides some oversight and assistance, local chapters create their own by-laws, define membership requirements, and establish governing principles to facilitate intellectual and social exchange among area professionals.

Originally, meetings were held at various venues throughout the city but between 1926 and the 1950s many of the meetings were held at the Fort Orange Club and the Aurania Club. Currently, the club meets monthly between October and June at the University Club in downtown Albany to socialize, dine, and hear a presentation from a member or a visiting professional.

To be considered for membership in the Albany chapter one must have a professional degree from a recognized school or an equivalent level of training or experience in a professional field. Inductees must be nominated by one or more current members of the club and must be in good standing within their field. Retired professionals are welcome, as are transfers from other torch clubs. Until November 1980 women were not eligible for membership in the Albany club but could attend designated "Ladies' Nights" as guests of their husbands or other members.

Scope and Content Note:

The records of the Albany Torch Club include administrative records, subject files, and publications; some of the materials are on floppy and compact disks. Many of the administrative records consist of meeting minutes as well as accompanying attachments such as correspondence, news clippings, meeting notices, membership rosters, and a small number of papers that were presented at meetings by club members.  The collection also includes financial records, membership applications, directories, photographs, and certificates and awards. The subject files include records created by the Adirondack and Schenectady torch clubs as well as records related to the International Association of Torch Clubs and the yearly conference it holds.

Series Descriptions and Container Lists:

Series 1: Administrative Records, 1926-2016 (Boxes 1-2)
Series 2: Administrative Floppy Disks and Compact Disks, 1989-2014 (Box 3)
Series 3: Subject Files – International Coalition, 1998-2007 (Box 3)
Series 4: Subject Files – Non-Albany Torch Clubs, 1992-2008 (Box 3)
Series 5: Financial Records, 1988-1997 (Box 3)
Series 6: Membership Applications, 1977-2008 (Box 3)
Series 7: Publications, 1973-2014 (Box 3)
Series 8: Directories, 1977-2013; bulk 1996-2013 (Box 3)
Series 9: Photographs, 1997-2005 and n.d.; bulk 2001-2002 (Box 3)
Series 10: Certificates and awards, 1989-2011; bulk 2001-2011 (Box 3)

Series 1: Administrative Records, 1926-2016

The administrative records series consist chiefly of meeting minutes from 1926 to 1957. These minutes document the early planning meetings prior to the club's founding, regular meetings, meetings of the board of directors, and the yearly ladies' night meetings held in June. Included with these early minutes are a small number of records such as financial materials, correspondence, news clippings, and papers presented at club meetings, along with membership rosters, directories, and assorted other materials. After 1958 meeting minutes appear less and less frequently and in their place are rosters, programming lists, financial records, meeting announcements, memos, notes, and correspondence. It appears that many of the documents in this series are originals, but some photocopies and retained copies are also present.

Box Folder Description
1 1 1926
1 2 1927
1 3 1928
1 4 1929
1 5 1930
1 6 1931
1 7 1932
1 8 1933
1 9 1934
1 10 1935
1 11 1936
1 12 1937
1 13 1938
1 14 1939
1 15 1940
1 16 1941
1 17 1942
1 18 1943
1 19 1944
1 20 1945
1 21 1946
1 22 1947
1 23 1948
1 24 1949
1 25 1950
1 26 1951
1 27 1952
1 28 1953
1 29 1954
1 30 1955
1 31 1956
1 32 1957
1 33 1958
1 34 1959
1 35 1960
1 36 1961
1 37 1962
1 38 1963
1 39 1964
1 40 1965
1 41 1966
1 42 1967
1 43 1968
1 44 1969
1 45 1970
1 46 1971
1 47 1972
1 48 1973
1 49 1974
1 50 1975
1 51 1976
1 52 1977
1 53 1978
1 54 1979
1 55 1980
1 56 1981
1 57 1982
1 58 1983 [1 of 2]
1 59 1983 [2 of 2]
1 60 1984
1 61 1985
1 62 1986
1 63 1987
1 64 1988
1 65 1989
1 66 1990
1 67 1991
1 68 1992 [1 of 2]
1 69 1992 [2 of 2]
1 70 1993 [1 of 2]
1 71 1993 [2 of 2]
1 72 1994
1 73 1995
1 74 1996
1 75 1997
1 76 1998
1 77 1999
2 1 2000
2 2 2001
2 3 75th Anniversary, 2001
2 4 Notes on admission of women, 2001
2 5 2002
2 6 2003
2 7 2004
2 8 2005
2 9 2006
2 10 2007
2 11 2008
2 12 2009
2 13 2010
2 14 2011
2 15 2012
2 16 2013
2 17 2014
2 18 2015
2 19 January-May 2016

Series 2: Administrative Floppy Disks and Compact Disks, 1989-2014

This series consists of floppy and compact disks which contain the administrative records of the Albany Torch Club from 1989 to 2011. It was not possible to verify the contents of the floppy disks in this series at the time of processing due to the lack of equipment for playback. However, based on the labels on the items, it appears that the records consist of minutes, announcements, letters, attendance records, and monthly reports. It is possible that these records are duplicated on the Torch Club Historical Files compact disk, but since the files on this disk were not viewable at the time of processing it is not known for sure.

The other compact disks contain administrative records from 2007 to 2014. Records contained on these disks include primarily word-processed documents such as meeting notices, officer nominations, papers presented at meetings, board minutes, forms, mailing lists, correspondence, monthly reports, email correspondence, spreadsheet databases of members, and booklets created using desktop publishing software. Also included are two CDs from the International Association of Torch Clubs.

Box Item Description
3 1 Floppy disk, Torch [Historical Files?], October 1989-November 1996
3 2 Floppy disk, Torch [Historical Files?], November 1, 1996
3 3 Floppy disk, Torch [Historical Files?], December 1996-December 1997
3 4 Floppy disk, Torch [Historical Files?], January 1998-January 15, 1999
3 5 Floppy disk, Torch [Historical Files?], January 18, 1999-February 20, 2000
3 6 Floppy disk, Torch [Historical Files?], March 3, 2000-June 30, 2000
3 7 Floppy disk, Torch [Historical Files?], n.d.
3 8 Floppy disk, Torch Convention, June 19, 1995
3 9 Floppy disk, Torch Club of Albany, N.Y., Leo A. Kellogg, January 7, 1996
3 10 Floppy disk, Torch Logo, n.d.
3 11 Floppy disk, Torch Club of Albany, N.Y., Leo A. Kellogg, n.d.
3 12 Floppy disk, Torch Club Word Processing Documents, Back up, n.d.
3 13 Floppy disk, Torch Club of Albany, N.Y., Leo A. Kellogg, File in Word Perfect (5.1), File in ASCII  n.d.
3 14 Compact disk, Torch Club Historical Files, [1989-2000?]
3 15 Compact disk, Torch Data, January 2007
3 16 Compact disk, Torch Data, April 2009
3 17 Compact disk:
  1. Programs, Roster and Bylaws booklet, 2008-2009
  2. Cover for the booklet, 2008-2009
  3. Booklet, 2009-2010
  4. Cover, 2009-2010
3 18 Compact disk:
  1. Programs, Roster, and Bylaws booklet, 2008 – 2009
  2. Covers for the booklet, 2008 - 2009
3 19 Compact disk, Mc[?] Pub Files, Booklet Cover, 2010-2011
3 20 Compact disk, International Torch Club Officer Disc, 2013
3 21 Compact disk, International Torch Club, Club Management and Support Documents, 2013-2014

Series 3: Subject Files – International Coalition, 1998-2007

This series consists primarily of administrative materials related to the International Association of Torch Clubs, its oversight of the Albany Torch Club, and the yearly IATC convention. Included are a number of drafts of by-laws, constitutions, policies and charters for both the association and the Albany club, as well as blank forms related to membership; meeting minutes; the Torch paper publication process; club supplies; correspondence (handwritten, typed, and printed emails); and materials related to meetings (calendars, agendas, and meeting notices). Financial materials include proposed budgets and billing and financial statements. Among the printed resources are informational pamphlets, guidelines, manuals, descriptions of procedures and duties, and booklets on topics related to the administration and day-to-day affairs of the association and the Albany Torch Club.  Also present are materials related to the yearly conference held by the association, including registration rosters, registration statistics, correspondence, itineraries, programming information, and registration badges.  

Box Folder Description
3 5 International Coalition, 1998-2005
3 6 Booklets and Miscellaneous Papers from International [1 of 3], 2003-2005 and n.d.
3 7 Miscellaneous Papers from International [2 of 3], 2003 and n.d.
3 8 Booklets from International [3 of 3], 2003
3 9 International Notes [1 of 3], 2006-2007
3 10 International Notes [2 of 3], 2003-2004        
3 11 International Notes [3 of 3], 2003-2004

Series 4: Subject Files – Non-Albany Torch Clubs, 1992-2008

This series contains one booklet from a Canadian torch club as well as booklets from torch clubs located in New York State and throughout the United States. Also included are records related to the Adirondack Torch Club and the Schenectady Torch Club. Materials related to the Adirondack Torch Club date from 2000 to 2005 and include meeting announcements, newsletters, membership rosters and directories, typed and printed-email correspondence, by-laws, programs, pamphlets, notes, a manuscript submission form, and copies of papers presented at meetings. The Schenectady Torch Club materials also include programs, membership rosters, directories, and typed correspondence dating from 1999 to 2005.These materials are in very rough chronological order. The Adirondack records include a number of postcards sent as meeting announcements. These postcards were illustrated by Adirondack Torch Club president and cartoonist Stan Burdick.

Box Folder Description
3 1 Booklets from various Torch Clubs, 1992-2005
3 2 Copy of Adirondack Torch Club Meetings and Start [1 of 2], 2000-2008
3 3 Copy of Adirondack Torch Club Meetings and Start [2 of 2], 2002-2005
3 4 Notes on Schenectady Torch Club, 1999-2005; bulk 1999-2001

Series 5: Financial Records, 1988-1997

The Albany Torch Club financial records consist of two account books dating from 1988 to 1997. The books record the amount of dues paid by each member, their initiation dates, monthly dinner costs, and dates of resignations from the club. Notes in the records also indicate members who have died or moved, and, at times, even list the area that the member moved to. Additional financial materials can be found throughout Series 1and Series 3.

Box Folder Description
3 volume Budget, 1988-1996 (80p.; 25 cm)
3 volume Budget, 1996-1997 (80p.; 25 cm)

Series 6: Membership Applications, 1977-2008

The membership applications series is somewhat sporadic with most of the applications dating from 1989 to 2008.  The applications and proposals consist of both originals and copies and are often accompanied by the resume of the applicant. It appears that the original arrangement of the records placed the year 2001 out of chronological sequence; based on the original arrangement the records from this year should appear in both Folder 17 and Folder 18, but the records are only found in Folder 18.    

Box Folder Description
3 15 Membership Applications, 2008
3 16 Membership Applications, 2004-2007
3 17 Membership Applications, 2000-2003; 2001 not filed in this folder, see Folder 18
3 18 Membership Applications, 1995-2001
3 19 Membership Applications, 1977-1994; bulk 1989 - 1994

Series 7: Publications, 1973-2014

This series consist of publications issued by the International Association of Torch Clubs as well as by torch club members. Included is the July 2004 edition of the Torch Leader, a newsletter which was published by the Association for Torch Club Officers. This edition includes topics such as membership, attendance, and suggestions for local clubs. Also present is an incomplete run of The Torch spanning the years 1973- 2014. The Torch is currently published three times a year and consists of papers previously presented by Torch members at a meeting of their local club. The Torch typically contains around seven papers, which must be submitted to a panel of advisors before being considered for publication.

The Story of Torch: The First Fifty Years of the International Association of Torch Clubs, written by Thomas L. Carroll, traces the origin and history of the association from the early 1920s through the 1970s. This history includes dates relevant to each local torch club and provides a detailed history of the association decade by decade. Topics covered include administrative practices and leadership, conflicts, yearly conventions, and internal and external challenges. Also present in this series are copies of the Torch logo used for publication purposes as well as a novella published by Albany Torch Club member Paul T. Veillette. This self-published work traces the life of Veillette's ancestor, Jean Veillet.

Box Folder Description
3 Loose The Torch Leader, July 2004; 5 copies
3 Loose The Torch, April 1973
3 Loose The Torch, July 1973
3 Loose The Torch, Summer/Fall 1980
3 Loose The Torch, Fall 2000
3 Loose The Torch, Fall 2006
3 Loose The Torch, Winter 2006-2007
3 Loose The Torch, Fall 2007
3 Loose The Torch, Fall 2008
3 Loose The Torch, Winter 2008-2009
3 Loose The Torch, Fall 2009
3 Loose The Torch, Winter 2009-2010
3 Loose The Torch, Spring 2010
3 Loose The Torch, Fall 2013
3 Loose The Torch, Winter 2013
3 Loose The Torch, Fall 2014
3 Loose The Story of Torch: The First Fifty Years of the International Association of Torch Clubs, Thomas L. Carroll, December 1991
3 Loose A Man for Three Seasons: Jean Veillet, Sieur de la Plante: A Biographical and Historical Novella, Paul T. Veillette, 1994 (121 p.; 22 cm.)
3 14 Copies of Torch logo for publication purposes, 1996

Series 8: Directories, 1977-2013; bulk 1996-2013

The International Association of Torch Clubs directories include names and contact information for the association's board members as well as an index of clubs and their contact information. The yearbooks contain the previously mentioned information as well as organizational charts of association leadership and the association's charter and by-laws and amendments.

Box Folder Description
3 Loose International Association of Torch Clubs, Directory of Officers, 2012-2013
3 Loose International Association of Torch Clubs, Directory of Officers, 2011-2012
3 Loose International Association of Torch Clubs, Directory of Officers, 2010-2011
3 Loose International Association of Torch Clubs, Directory of Officers, 2009-2010
3 Loose International Association of Torch Clubs, Directory of Officers, 2008-2009
3 Loose International Association of Torch Clubs, Directory of Officers, 2007-2008
3 Loose International Association of Torch Clubs, Directory of Officers, 2006-2007
3 Loose International Association of Torch Clubs, Directory of Officers, 2005-2006
3 Loose International Association of Torch Clubs, Directory of Officers, 2004-2005
3 Loose International Association of Torch Clubs, Directory of Officers, 2003-2004
3 Loose International Association of Torch Clubs, Directory of Officers, 2001-2002
3 Loose International Association of Torch Clubs, Directory of Officers, 2000-2001
3 Loose International Association of Torch Clubs, Directory of Officers, 1996-1997
3 Loose International Association of Torch Clubs, Yearbook, 1982-1983
3 Loose International Association of Torch Clubs, Yearbook, 1977-1978

Series 9: Photographs, 1997-2005 and n.d.; bulk 2001-2002

The Albany Torch Club photographs consist of color photographs of club members dating from 1997 to 2005 with the bulk dating between 2001 and 2002, documenting the Albany Torch Club's 75th anniversary celebration, as well as trips made to the 2001 International Association of Torch Clubs convention in Ontario, Canada, and the 2002 convention in Athens, Georgia. A small number of group shots of Albany Torch Club members date from 1997. Included is letterhead.

Box Folder Description
3 13 Albany Torch Club Photographs, 1997-2002

Series 10: Certificates and awards, 1989-2011; bulk 2001-2011

This series consists of certificates and awards presented to the Albany Torch Club between 1989 and 2011. Along with the certificate or plaque are copies of programs and other documents related to the special event or ceremony. These documents include typed copies of remarks to be read, a Torch Club acrostic, and a short quiz about Torch Club history.

Box Folder Description
3 Loose Plaque, President's Award for Best Club in Region 1, 1989
3 Loose Framed award, President's Recognition of Outstanding Club, 2007
3 12 Awards, 2001-2011
3 20 Honorary Certificates
  1. Certificate of recognition presented to the Torch Club of Albany, September 25, 2016, by the Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New York, on the occasion of the clubs 90th anniversary
  2. International Association of Torch Clubs, recognizing the Albany Torch Club on its ninetieth anniversary
  3. IATC President's Recognition Award for 2016 Outstanding Club Region 1 bestowed upon the Albany Torch Club
Last Updated: March 9, 2022