WRBG Annual May Meeting with the Society of the Cincinnati

The WASHINGTON RARE BOOK GROUP

invites you to join us for a visit to the Society of the Cincinnati

and the Group’s annual meeting over lunch,

Monday, May 20, 2024: 12:00 noon to 2:00 p.m.

to be held at Anderson House,

2118 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC

Our last gathering of the event-year will feature a visit to the library and current exhibition of the Society of the Cincinnati at Anderson House, a stunning “Florentine villa” on embassy row.

Established in 1783 and named for Cincinnatus, the military hero in ancient Rome who returned to his farm after service and was known for his civic virtues, the Society was founded by officers of the Continental Army after the American Revolution for the purpose of honoring and promoting the ideals of the war of independence; the membership nowadays consists of their direct descendants (The Society of the Cincinnati). Its library collections focus on military history of the Revolutionary period and the Society’s own history and distinguished membership. Its exhibition hall currently holds a fascinating display of materials telling the story of the Marquis de Lafayette who provided such valuable assistance to the Americans (Fete Lafayette: A French Hero’s Tour of the American Republic – The American Revolution Institute).

The Society’s brand-new Library Director, Thomas G. Lannon, will be our host. Thomas recently moved to Washington D.C. from Pennsylvania and was Director of Special Collections & Archives at Lafayette College in Easton, PA. Prior to that, Thomas was Assistant Director, Manuscripts, Archives, and Rare Books at the New York Public Library where he oversaw acquisitions of modern archival collections and public service for special collections. He holds an MLIS from the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York and studied American Early history at the CUNY Graduate Center.

WRBG members will be pleased to know that the Society’s former library director and long-time member Ellen McCallister Clark will be joining us. She reports that she has been delighting in her conversations with Thomas, who is bringing new energy and ideas to the library operations.

Lunch will be provided at a cost of $32 per person.

Members must RSVP below by Monday, May 13th so that we have an accurate count for the caterer.

Please be sure to EITHER pay online when you RSVP or bring cash or check on the day of the event.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Amanda Zimmerman

President, Washington Rare Book Group