History of 128 East 63rd Street

The building at 128 East 63rd Street was built in 1875 to be the carriage house of William P. Read. Mr. Read was J. P. Morgan's personal secretary, or his attorney as we call the position today. Mr. Read’s private residence was either on Fifth Avenue or on the East River looking out towards Queens. The exact location has never been researched.

The building features the "Egg and Dart" motif in the facade which was famed architect Stanford White’s trademark. The plans for the building may have been one of his first endeavors as he would have been only 22 years old in 1875.

Carriages gave way to automobiles and the stable area gave way to a squash court between 1908 and 1939 when 128 East 63rd was the residence of two brothers. The Society purchased the building in August 1939 for approximately $33,000—about $1 million in today’s money.

The building at the time it was purchased.

Leroy P. Ward, known as "Sport" to his New York socialite buddies and an architect by profession, oversaw the renovations, such as they were, in exchange for living quarters in what is now the rear of the fourth floor. Period photos confirm his living room as a cozy and private entertaining space for his close friends, Gloria Swanson and Joe Kennedy among others. A giant goldfish pond occupied most of the existing third floor terrace.

The facade at the time—from the street level to the third floor—was blue cobalt glass. The door also was blue. The membership toyed with opening a commercial restaurant on the street level to help pay for the rest of the building’s use as the Society's headquarters. This was not pursued and over time the blue glass façade was found too expensive to maintain and so it was covered over.

The fourth floor bar with Rockwell's

The third floor renovations were completed by 1951, opening it as a lounge and what is currently the bar as a library. The space became a dining room in the early 1960’s and the bar took its present shape. Little has changed since.

The third floor after renovations in 1951.

The street level gallery opened in the ‘50s and was first renovated in 1970 with funds earned from the location rental paid for filming the movie "Loving" starring George Segal and Eva Marie Saint.

The lower level was renovated, and the two spaces renamed the Museum of American Illustration, in 1981 with funds raised from the membership and a significant grant from the J. Walter Thompson Advertising Agency. John Witt as Society President spearheaded the campaign. Through former President John Moodie, the Thompson grant was secured.

The Museum of American Illustration

The galleries were again remodeled in anticipation of the Society's Centennial Year and Founders Day, February 1, 2001. The membership, with the help of then President Judy Francis Zankel, made this possible.

Additional renovations have taken place since 2001 with the emphasis on a more "public welcomed" museum atmosphere.

The Galleries as they appear today.

128 East 63rd Street is a small building with a huge heart. The public, students: kindergarten through postgrad, the New York museum community, Fire Department support groups, the Parks Department and its Drawing Academy, the U.S. Air Force Art Program, numerous other not-for-profits and the illustration industry all consider 128 East 63rd Street to be “Home". All are welcome!

The Parks Department Drawing Academy at the Society