The Knickerbocker Greys is the oldest after school activity in the United States, founded in 1881 for children aged 6 to 16. Since its founding, the primary purpose of the Greys “is to instill in cadets a sense of personal responsibility, and instinct for leadership, the habit of reliability, and the self-assurance which follows mastery of these steps to useful citizenship”. Cadets undergo a series of experiences over the years that build confidence, improve self esteem, develop character, social skills, patience, perseverance, enthusiasm, public speaking, problem solving, and leadership.[1] Its important that the tradition of the Knickerbocker Greys lives on as all of the cadets say at the review.- 2nd Lieutenant Hoban "The Knickerbocker Greys has been a fun and exciting experience for me."- 1st Sergeant Alex Meech
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The Knickerbocker Greys was founded by Mrs. Augusta Lawler Stacey Curtis, the wife of Dr. Edward Curtis, a noted New York physician who served on the staff of the Surgeon General of the Union Army, and assisted in the autopsy on the body of President Abraham Lincoln. She started the corps as a way to keep her boys out of trouble, since they had taken to hanging out at candy stores after school. At the time, there were no after school activities or organized sports.[2]
With a group of mothers, Mrs. Curtis asked Lieutenant Adolph W. Callison of the 22nd Regiment to be a Drill Master, and found a location at the 12th Regiment New York National Guard Armory. They chose a uniform similar to that of an English organization, consisting of a gray jacket, knickerbockers, and round cap, which were all trimmed with black braid. The group’s name was derived from the original uniform’s knee-length pants that were known as "knickerbockers”, and the color of the dress uniform, “Cadet Grey”.[3] This color is still used on West Point Cadet Uniforms.
In the winter 1886-1887 the 12th Regiment moved into their new armory, so the Greys obtained permission to drill in the armory of the 71st Regiment then at Broadway and 35th Street. They followed the Regiment first to Broadway and 45th Street and later to their armory at Park Avenue and 34th Street. During the building of this armory on Park Avenue, the Greys used various halls about the city for one season. In 1902 the 71st Regiment Armory was burned down and the Knickerbocker Greys were invited to drill in the 7th Regiment Armory (now known as the Park Avenue Armory) at on Park Avenue and 67th Street through the courtesy of Colonel Daniel Appleton.[3]
Over 4,500 New Yorkers have been members of the Knickerbocker Grey Cadet Corps over the past 125 years and have recruited cadets from many New York families, some from its highest social ranks. Many prominent families enlisted their sons into the Greys, who at the time drilled two afternoons a week. John D Rockefeller III and Nelson Rockefeller were both Greys, as well as Cornelius Vanderbilt III, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., and John Lindsay.[4] Along with such famous cadets, many other children have been Greys, from public, parochial, private, and even home schools. Originally an all male organization, the Greys became coed in 1986.[5] There have been two female cadet colonels, the highest rank any cadet can receive in the organization, since 1986.[6] The Knickerbocker Greys were featured in the November Issue of the New York Magazine Town And Country
Today the Knickerbocker Greys meet every Tuesday afternoon during the school year at the Park Avenue Armory between 67th and 68th Streets on Park Avenue. The focus of these weekly meetings is to learn traditional armed forces marching and drill routines, but the ultimate aim is for the participants to learn more than these drills. The main goal of the Greys is that in the process of this military training, cadets develop leadership skills: such as how to motivate others; how to deal with them correctly; and how to command a group of peers. The Greys also encourage a community within the corps, leading to friendships between older and younger cadets, by not only drilling, but going on trips, learning about American history, and even having parties and games.[7] The Greys also build confidence, by instilling in each cadet a sense of discipline, leadership, compassion and orderliness. As cadets master the military Drill and Ceremony, they pass on their skills onto younger cadets. This helps cadets in many areas, from leadership to public speaking. As one Cadet Colonel said, “I used to be really shy and I had a serious fear of public speaking, my experiences at the Greys helped me a lot, step by step. And since then, as cadet Colonel, I’ve learned a lot about confidence, leadership, and how to teach younger cadets.” [5] Cadets are also instructed in etiquette and learn how to “meet and greet” while acting as color guards for several societies in New York. Some of the annual events include the St. George's Society’s English Ball, the Sons of the Revolution dinner, and the Daughters of the American Revolution ball, and Military Order of Foreign Wars [8].