Rocky Mountain Club

The Rocky Mountain Club was incorporated in New York City as an "Eastern Home of Western Men" with the purpose to "create good-fellowship among the members and advance the interests of the Rock Mountain States." John Hays Hammond was the only President. The original directors were: W. B. Thompson, A. J. Seligman, John Campbell Cory, B. B. Taylor, Frederick Russell Burnham and J. J. McEvelly. Theodore Roosevelt was a prominent member, along with U.S. Senator Thomas Kearns of Utah and U.S. Senator W.A. Clark of Montana.

Rocky Mountain Club
MottoEastern Home of Western Men.
Formation1907
Dissolved1928
TypeService club
PurposeTo create good-fellowship among the members and advance the interests of the Rocky Mountain States
HeadquartersNew York, New York
Official language
English
President
John Hays Hammond
Key people
Directors: W. B. Thompson, A. J. Seligman, John Campbell Cory, B. B. Taylor, Frederick Russell Burnham, and J. J. McEvelly. Theodore Roosevelt was a prominent member along with U.S. Senator's Thomas Kearns from Utah and W.A. Clark of Montana.

Key dates in the history of the club include:

  • January 20, 1907 - incorporated[1]
  • November 1, 1907 - Hotel Knickerbocker becomes the temporary headquarters[2]
  • December 28, 1913 - moved from the city to 65 West Forty-fourth Street, New York[3]
  • January 30, 1917 - pledges $500,000 to Belgian relief[4]
  • March 13, 1917 - begins recruitment effort to assist Roosevelt in forming a volunteer Army[5]
  • April 25, 1926 - plans world tribute to John Hays Hammond
  • March 4, 1928 - disbands

World War I

The Club was highly critical of Woodrow Wilson for not entering the war against Germany earlier. Once Roosevelt obtained permission from the U.S. Congress to form a volunteer Army to help in France, Major Burnham was enlisted by the Club to raise the troops in the Western states and to coordinate recruitment efforts. Wilson ultimately rejected Roosevelt's plan and the volunteer Army disbanded. During the war, the club also raised $500,000 in relief funds for Belgium war refugees, and after the war it played a prominent part in helping U.S. soldiers from Western States re-incorporate into American society.

References
  1. "A Rocky Mountain Club Incorporates". New York Times: 9. 20 January 1907. Retrieved 2008-05-27.
  2. "The Wealthy Rocky Mountain Takes Quarters in Hotel Knickerbocker". New York Times: 3. 1 November 1907. Retrieved 2008-05-27.
  3. "WESTERN MEN'S NEW HOME.; Rocky Mountain Club Has Housewarming at 65 West 44th St". New York Times: 3. 28 December 1913. Retrieved 2008-05-27.
  4. "CLUB IN NEW YORK PLEDGES $500,000 TO BELGIAN RELIEF; Fund for New Million-Dollar Home for Rocky Mountain Club Turned Over. MEMBER GIVES $100,000 Monthly Collections Also Promised to Chairman Hoover of Relief Commission. MOVED BY STORIES OF WOE America Declared to be Falsely Credited with Salvation of Occupied Territory". New York Times: 1. 30 January 1917. Retrieved 2008-05-27.
  5. "ENROLL WESTERNERS FOR SERVICE IN WAR; Movement to Register Men of That Region Begun at the Rocky Mountain Club. HEADED BY MAJOR BURNHAM John Hays Hammond and Others of Prominence Reported to be Supporting Plan". New York Times: 11. 13 March 1917. Retrieved 2008-05-27.
  • Salt Lake Telegram, November 9, 1907
  • New York Times, January 19, 1907
  • New York Times, March 4, 1928
  • John Hays Hammond, Sr. Papers. Manuscripts and Archives, Yale University Library.
  • Autobiography of John Hays Hammond, John Hays Hammond, Farrar & Rinehart, 565. ISBN 0-405-05913-2 (1935).
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