The Van Courtlandt Social Club is San Antonio's oldest historically black male Social Club, and is the second oldest in the United States presenting Debutantes without cost. The Club was founded in the fall of 1915 by a group of Young Eastside males. Originally called the Eastside Social Club, the original 15 members rotated hosting meetings held on Sunday afternoons. Dinner would be served and after dinner members usually engaged in a hand of cards or a few rounds of dominoes. The idea of changing the name of the club had been entertained and finally, in December 1920, a special meeting was called for that purpose. Numerous suggestions were made before the members decided on Van Courtlandt. The name had been submitted by one of the members who was a porter on the Southern Pacific Railroad. On one of his trips to New York City, had observed a city park named Van Cortlandt Park. He felt that this northeastern name gave a degree of sophistication to his club. Thus, by unanimous vote, the name of the club was changed from Eastside Social Club to the Van Courtlandt Social Club. Somewhere in the translation, the spelling was changed from Van Cortlandt to Van Courtlandt. The Club later adopted by-laws that increased its membership from 15 to 35 active members. For the past 105 years, the club has maintained its original founding principle and goals. It still does not require members to have a college degree, and it continues to seek members who are compatible with one another and who share a common outlook and direction in life.
The Club founded the Van Courtlandt Foundation in 2014 to commemorate the milestone achievement of the Club reaching its 100 year anniversary. The Foundation was formed to assist the Club in their charitable goals of community mentorship and the granting of scholarships. The Foundation granted the first round of scholarships at the Van Courtlandt Scholarship Luncheon in March 2015 where 10 scholarship gifts of $1000 each were presented to Debutantes. The Foundation has held their annual scholarship luncheon in March of each year since the inaugural lucheon in 2015 gifting over $30,000 in scholarships. A Donor Advised Scholarship Fund was established by the Club and is managed by the San Antonio Area Foundation in 2016. Gifts may be made to the Fund by mailing a check to the San Antonio Area Foundation Van Courtlandt Scholarship Fund. Donations may be made through the donate tab on this site to the Van Courtlandt Foundation or by mailing checks to PO Box 8671 San Antonio, Tx 78208.
The Club founded the Van Courtlandt Foundation in 2014 to commemorate the milestone achievement of the Club reaching its 100 year anniversary. The Foundation was formed to assist the Club in their charitable goals of community mentorship and the granting of scholarships. The Foundation granted the first round of scholarships at the Van Courtlandt Scholarship Luncheon in March 2015 where 10 scholarship gifts of $1000 each were presented to Debutantes. The Foundation has held their annual scholarship luncheon in March of each year since the inaugural lucheon in 2015 gifting over $30,000 in scholarships. A Donor Advised Scholarship Fund was established by the Club and is managed by the San Antonio Area Foundation in 2016. Gifts may be made to the Fund by mailing a check to the San Antonio Area Foundation Van Courtlandt Scholarship Fund. Donations may be made through the donate tab on this site to the Van Courtlandt Foundation or by mailing checks to PO Box 8671 San Antonio, Tx 78208.
PRESIDENTS OF VAN COURTLANDT FOUNDATION
2014-2015 Reginald Williams
2015-Present Milton Harris
2014-2015 Reginald Williams
2015-Present Milton Harris
PRESIDENTS OF VAN COURTLANDT SOCIAL CLUB
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1915 - 1917 Roy Norman
1917 - 1918 James T Lee 1921 - 1923 Lavon Carrington 1923 - 1929 Arthur Brady 1929 - 1942 Leonard Ratliff 1942 - 1955 O.C. Booker 1955 - 1957 Edgar Clardy 1957 - 1959 Brown L. Brackens 1959 - 1961 Archie Johnson Sr. 1961 - 1963 Valmo C. Bellinger 1963 - 1965 U. J. Andrews 1965 - 1967 G. J. Sutton |
1967 - 1969 Harry S. Jones
1969 - 1971 C. C. Andrews Sr. 1971 - 1973 J. O. Aycock Sr. 1973 - 1975 Walter Linton 1975 - 1977 C. C. Andrews Jr. 1977 - 1979 Calvin Dudley 1979 - 1981 M. D. Wright Jr. 1981 - 1983 Wejay Bundara 1983 - 1985 C. Thompson Harris 1985 - 1987 Robert L. M. Hilliard 1987 - 1989 Homer Walls 1989 - 1991 Eddie L. Harris III |
1991 - 1993 Ronnie L. Waiters Sr.
1993 - 1995 Ira Smith Jr. 1995 - 1997 Curtis E. Neal Jr. 1997 - 1999 Rastine Calhoun Jr. 1999 - 2001 Oliver V. Bruce Jr. 2001 - 2003 Denver McClendon Jr. 2003 - 2005 Charles A. Gunter 2005 - 2007 Clarence E. Hill 2007 - 2010 Averell H. Sutton 2011 - 2012 Howard T. Ray 2013 - 2015 C. C. Andrews Jr. 2015 - 2016 Bryan A. Chase Sr. 2016 - 2017 Eliot Lee 2017 - Harold Moore |