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McBurney School

McBurney School was a boys (later co-educational) college-preparatory school in Manhattan run by the YMCA of Greater New York. Its name commemorates Robert Ross McBurney, a prominent New York YMCA leader during the late 19th century.

History

"Established in 1916 as a part of the educational program of the YMCA of Greater New York, McBurney School commemorated in its name one of the pioneers in work with boys and young men during the latter years of the nineteenth century, the first paid secretary of the YMCA of New York. For many years the School was a part of the education department of the West Side Branch, first on West 57th Street and then, in 1929, at 5 West 63rd Street where a separate portion of the larger building was prepared for the School. By 1935 the educational work of the City Association had increased to a point where a Schools Branch was justified. The direction of this Branch centered in McBurneys' 15 West 63rd Street building and provided for the operation of four, sometimes five, schools. This arrangement continued until, by 1957, increases in enrollment called for the accommodation of 450 boys. It was decided, therefore, to discontinue all of the departments except McBurney and the Evening High School and to prepare in 15 West 63rd street a proper setting for a college preparatory school. In September, 1958, the first part of the renovation was finished, and the building at 15 West 63rd Street was ready for McBurney use."

With the construction of Lincoln Center only a block to the west, the value of the school property increased dramatically after 1965. McBurney went co-ed in 1973. In the mid-1980s the YMCA sold the property for residential development. In spite of mergers and a move to 20 West End Avenue, The New York Times reported that McBurney shut its doors and auctioned off its contents on August 3, 1988.

Legacy

In popular culture

McBurney was Holden Caulfield's destination when he left all the equipment of the Pencey Prep fencing team on the subway in Salinger's novel The Catcher in the Rye.

Administration & Faculty

Headmasters

  • 1916–1918: Newel W. Edson
  • 1918–1952: Thomas Hemenway – also oratory teacher
  • 1920: Adolf Augustus Berle: Head of “Junior School”
  • 1952–1962: Benjamin D. Chamberlin (retired Feb. 1, 1962)
  • 1962-1972: James J. Quinn Jr., Ph.D.
  • Aug 1972– May 1974: E. Duane Meyer, Ed.D
  • June 1974 – 1983 Anthony F. Capraro III, Ph.D.
  • Late 1983 Mar 1984: Andrew Thomas Carr Stifler
  • Mar 1984–Mar 1988: Lawrence N. Tallamy
  • 1982–1982 Andrew Thomas Carr Stifler

Notable staff

Notable alumni

References