A Closer Look: The Twentieth Century Club of Buffalo
From the Photo series: A Closer Look: Explore Western New York’s architectural treasures series
The Twentieth Century Club, founded in 1894 by Charlotte Mulligan, is one of the United States' oldest continuously running clubs for women. The historic clubhouse on Delaware Avenue is the stunning setting for the social and educational programs offered through the club. Renowned Buffalo architect E.B. Green of Green & Wicks designed the building in 1895. It was placed on both the state and national historic registries in 2011.
Established in 1894
The sign at the Delaware Avenue entrance to the Twentieth Century Club of Buffalo.
Welcome to one of the oldest clubs for women in the U.S.
The doorways to the reception hall inside the Twentieth Century Club.
"Gossiping Men"
Detail of a painting "The Gossiping Men" by Maxfield Parish on a bulletin board that was a gift from the Buffalo Club after the 1901 Pan-American Exposition.
Curves and textures
Detail of the ironwork on a staircase.
Formal welcome
A staircase at the Twentieth Century Club.
The Court
A double skylight hangs over the Court, which is surrounded by columns and adorned by plasters of scenes from Psalm 150 that were modeled after those by Luca della Robbia at the Duomo in Florence.
Psalm 150
Detail of a plaster sculpture on the wall of the Court, a series that depicts scenes from Psalm 150 modeled after those by Luca della Robbia at the Duomo in Florence.
Modeled after the Duomo in Florence
Detail of a plaster sculpture on the wall of The Court, a series that depicts scenes from Psalm 150 modeled after those by Luca della Robbia at the Duomo in Florence.
Florentine choir boys
Detail of a plaster sculpture on the wall of the Court, a series which depicts scenes from Psalm 150 modeled after those by Luca della Robbia at the Duomo in Florence.
Double skylight
The double skylight above the Court inside the Twentieth Century Club.
Layers of patterns
Detail of the double skylight.
Founder Charlotte Mulligan
A portrait of founder Charlotte Mulligan by Evelyn Rumsey Carey hangs in the stairwell of the Twentieth Century Club.
Library
The library inside the Twentieth Century Club.
Malachite
Detail of the fireplace in the library that is comprised of one continuous slab of malachite.
Seat in the sunshine
Light reflects off a chair in the library of the Twentieth Century Club.
Keeping watch
An iron statue inside the library.
Devil in the details
Detail of wood carving on a piece of furniture in the Gallery.
Built for socializing
A view into the Gallery from the Magazine Room at the Twentieth Century Club.
Founder's music library
The music library of founder Charlotte Mulligan remains on display in cabinets in the Director's Room at the Twentieth Century Club.
A button back in time
Throughout the Twentieth Century Club of Buffalo are buttons that look like doorbells that were once used to summon staff, signaling a switchboard in the office.
Command central
The switchboard in the main office, which was once connected to a series of bells throughout the Twentieth Century Club of Buffalo. When a member needed service, they would press a button and the staff could see where the signal came from and respond.
Stately setting
A mirror in the private dining room at the Twentieth Century Club.
Facta Probant
The club motto, "Facta Probant" translated as "let deeds tell," is printed on napkins at the Twentieth Century Club.
Snowflake
A chandelier evokes a snowflake at Twentieth Century Club.
Opposing angels
Detail of the painting "War and Peace" by Alice Russell Glenny as well as the clock, designed by Glenny and made by the Hersey Clock Co., in the aptly named Glenny Room at the Twentieth Century Club. The section below the mural used to be an area where musicians would perform behind curtains.
Glenny Room
In the aptly named Glenny Room, there are four large murals by Alice Russell Glenny.
Muse
Detail of a painting by Alice Russell Glenny, one of four murals by the artist in the aptly named Glenny Room at the Twentieth Century Club.
Elliptical Dining Room
The Elliptical Dining Room, designed by architect Duane Lyman in 1926, was built after a fire destroyed the original ballroom. Staff saved the chandeliers from the fire and they were reused in the new design.
Rescued from fire
The original chandeliers were rescued by staff when a 1923 fire destroyed the ballroom.
Elaborate details
Detail of plaster embellishments around the intricate molding inside the Elliptical Dining Room, designed by architect Duane Lyman in 1926, which was built after a fire destroyed the original ballroom.
Channeling the past
Detail of a plaster relief in the Elliptical Dining Room.
Ornate
Detail of plaster molding in the Elliptical Dining Room.
East loggia
The east loggia overlooking the garden at the Twentieth Century Club.
Art glass
Detail of art glass in the east loggia at the Twentieth Century Club.
Winter view
A view into the snow-covered gardens at Twentieth Century Club of Buffalo, which were originally designed by Harold LeRoy Olmsted, the nephew of the famous landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted.
Catching the light
Afternoon light filtered through art glass projects onto the terra cotta floor inside the east loggia at the Twentieth Century Club.
Circular pattern
Detail of art glass in the Twentieth Century Club of Buffalo.
Arches frame the view
A view into the patio and gardens at the Twentieth Century Club.
Winding staircase
A view looking down the south staircase in the Twentieth Century Club.
Oak intersection
A view looking down the south staircase in the Twentieth Century Club.
Icy design
A chandelier evokes a snowflake at the Twentieth Century Club of Buffalo.
Colonial Ballroom
The Colonial Ballroom, where it is said that F. Scott Fitzgerald once took ballroom dancing classes at the Twentieth Century Club.
Filtered light
An iron pattern on the windows in the Colonial Ballroom at the Twentieth Century Club.
Delaware face
The Delaware Avenue façade of the Twentieth Century Club of Buffalo.
In this Series
Photo series: A Closer Look: Explore Western New York’s architectural treasures
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