My Dear Whitney, -

In response to your request I have looked up old data and records of the Society of Beaux-Arts Architects and turn over to you such as I thought might prove helpfull.

I have always thought that The Society had its real inception at a dinner held on Washington's Birthday, Feb.22nd.1889 at the Cafe D'Orsay in Paris.

Such a good time was enjoyed that the diners mutually pledged themselves to meet that day ten years in New York. Those who attended this dinner were - Bemis, John - Benson, John P. - Boring, W.A. - Brockway, Albert - Cary, George - DeSibour [sic], Louis - Flagg, E. - Josselyn, E.A. - LaValle, John - Lord, Austin - McGuire, Joseph H. - Plummer, Thomas - Tilton, Edward - Trowbridge, S.B.P. - Turner, Thornton - Warren, Whitney and also Bonsal, Stephen - Preston, Evans - and Donaldson, F. Jr.

On Feb.22nd.1899 every one of these men, except the last three did meet at a dinner at the Hotel Lafayette in New York. They came not only from New York but from Boston, Buffalo, Syracuse yes even from Paris. . . .