United States. A Holland Society Of New York Membership Badge, By Tiffany & Co, C.1890

Instituted in 1885. In silver, obverse illustrating the left-facing bust of Philip II of Spain, surrounded by the inscription "EN TOUT FIDELLES AV ROY" and dated "1566", reverse illustrating clasped hands with wallets, surrounded by the inscription "IVSOVES A PORTER LA BESACE" and dated "1566", rings attached to all four sides, the rings at 3 and 9 o'clock suspending small porringers, the ring at 6 o'clock suspending a small gourd, maker marked "TIFFANY & Co" on the reverse of the hanger, measuring 20.5 mm (w) x 25 mm (h), original ribbon suspended from a silver pinback hanger inscribed "THE HOLLAND SOCIETY OF NEW YORK.", extremely fine.

Footnote: The Holland Society of New York was founded in New York City in 1885, to collect information respecting the settlement and history of New Netherland. Its main objective is to find and preserve documentation about the inhabitants' lives and times so as to elucidate the political, social, and religious patterns in the Dutch colony. The society sponsors historical publications, and provides resources for family studies and genealogy. Many of its members are especially active in genealogical research and publication. The Holland Society originated the New Netherland Project, which is translating and publishing the seventeenth century records held by the New York State Archives. Membership consists of male and female descendants in the direct male line of an ancestor who lived in New Netherland before or during 1675. Notable members include Cecil B. DeMille, Humphrey Bogart, Theodore Roosevelt, and Franklin D. Roosevelt, who also served as a Trustee of the Society during his tenure as Governor of New York. The Holland Society's library is an invaluable resource for those pursuing New Netherland studies, especially genealogy and family history. There are about 7,000 books of which 3,000 volumes deal with local history; 3,000 are family histories and genealogies, and 1,000 are reference books. There is also an extensive vertical file collection which includes letters, photographs, genealogies and press clippings, and a finding aid describing the collection is available on the Holland Society website. All Holland Society publications are included in the library collection. Copies of early church records provide information on births, marriages and deaths in New Netherland, in 109 volumes. The library subscribes to historical and genealogical society publications, collecting newsletters of family organizations with ancestry in New Netherland. While the collection focuses primarily on New Amsterdam and Hudson River settlements, it also follows early Dutch and allied migrations in North America. This growing collection concentrates in one place a large amount of information on the history and culture of the families that populated the Dutch colonies in America over three centuries ago. The library may be used by the public by making an appointment with the office.