Our Founders

On February 21 st, 1885, the first Holland Society meeting was held in New York marking the start of establishing a society in which members were descended from a Dutchman of New Netherland. This initial gathering to gauge the interest in forming an association was hosted at the home of George West Van Siclen, who first had the idea for such a society in 1880.

A temporary organization was formed by electing Judge Van Vorst as provisional president. On April 30th , 1885 the Holland Society adopted its Constitution followed by New York State incorporating the Society the next day on May 1st 1885.

Ethan H. Van Ness was elected the 78th Holland Society President on April 11th, 2026, at the Holland Society’s 140th annual meeting.

1885 – Hooper C. Van Vorst
1890 – Robert Barnwell Roosevelt
1891 – George M. Van Hoesen
1892 – Augustus Van Wyck
1893 – James William Beekman
1894 – Warner Van Norden
1895 – D. B. St. John Roosa
1896 – Charles H. Truax
1897 – John W. Vrooman
1898 – Robert A. Van Wyck
1899 – Tunis G. Bergen
1900 – Henry Van Dyck
1901 – John H. Starin
1902 – George G. De Witt
1903 – Theodore Melvin Banta
1904 – Albert Vander Veer
1905 – Garret J. Garretson
1906 – John R. Van Wormer
1907 – Frank Hasbrouck
1908 – Evert Jansen Wendell
1909 – Henry Sayer Van Duzer
1910 – Alphonso T. Clearwater
1911 – Samuel Verplanck Hoffman
1912 – Henry Lawrence Bogert
1913 – William Leverich Brower
1915 – Gerard Beekman
1916 – Seymour Van Santvoord
1919 – Augustus Van Wyck
1920 – Arthur H. Van Brunt
1922 – Edward De Witt
1923 – De Witt Van Buskirk
1925 – James Suydam Polhemus
1926 – Charles Lott Schenck
1928 – John E. Van Norstrand
1929 – Charles M. Dutcher
1931 – Reynier J. Wortendycke
1933 – Henry E. Ackerson, Jr.
1935 – John de C. Van Etten

1936 – Edwin H. Updike
1937 – Walter M. Meserole
1939 – Arthur R. Wendell
1941 – William Van Wyck
1943 – Ottomar H. Van Norden
1945 – Leigh K. Lydecker
1947 – Harold O. Voorhis
1950 – Frederick I. Bergen
1952 – William T. Van Atten
1954 – P. Raymond Haulenbeek
1956 – Renyier J. Wortendycke, Jr.
1958 – Walter H. Van Hoesen
1960 – Thomas M. Van der Veer
1962 – Louis B. Vreeland
1965 – Bruce S. Cornell
1966 – Walter E. Hopper, Jr.
1971 – Earle E. Houghtaling
1972 – Julian K. Roosevelt
1974 – Gerrit W. Van Schaick
1977 – Carl A. Willsey
1978 – Richard H. Amerman
1980 – Kenneth L. Demarest, Jr.
1982 – James E. Quackenbush
1984 – John H. Vander Veer
1987 – Arthur R. Smock, Jr.
1990 – Rev. Louis O. Springsteen
1993 – Peter Van Dyke
1996 – Roland H. Bogardus
1999 – Walton Van Winkle, III
2002 – William Van Winkle
2006 – W. Wells Van Pelt, Jr.
2007 – John B. VanDerbeek IV
2009 – Colin G. Lazier
2011 – Charles Zabriskie, Jr.
2014 – Robert R. Schenck, M.D.
2017 – Andrew Terhune
2020 – Colonel Adrian T. Bogart III
2024 – Sally Quackenbush Mason