Rogers, John S., House
Also known as: New York Society Library
Why it's listed
Located at 53 East 79th Street on Manhattan's Upper East Side, this limestone house rises five stories and three bays wide, ending in a stone frieze, cornice and balustrade. The top floor is set back to form an open terrace beneath a tile roof with a wide overhang. A Doric-pilastered doorway and pedimented second-floor windows mark the facade. Trowbridge & Livingston designed it in neo-Italian Renaissance style for the John S. Rogers family in 1917. The firm also produced the B. Altman store, the J.P. Morgan banking house at 23 Wall Street and the St. Regis Hotel. In 1937 the New York Society Library, founded in 1754, bought the house with a bequest from the estate of Mrs. Charles C. Goodhue. Interior alterations cut the original 39 rooms to 24, though coffered ceilings, paneling and mantels survive. The library remains open to public use, and subscribers may borrow books.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an exceptional example of neo-Italian Renaissance architecture and a major example of the residential work of the notable firm Trowbridge & Livingston. It is also significant as the home since 1937 of the New York Society Library, founded in 1754.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 83001744, listed June 30, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 53 E. 79th St., New York |
|---|---|
| County | Manhattan |
| Listed | June 30, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83001744 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1917 |
| Architect / builder | Trowbridge & Livingston |
| Architectural style | Neo-Italian Renaissance |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and in good condition; used as a library by the New York Society Library since 1937, with interior alterations that reduced the rooms from 39 to 24. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.77630, -73.96164 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 83001744.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7013996
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.