Norden Restaurant Corp. v. Sons of the Revolution

Fraunces Tavern on Pearl Street in lower Manhattan is a landmark. It was operated by Samuel Fraunces, and it was here that General George Washington in 1783 said good-bye to his revolutionary comrades in arms. On the 100th anniversary of Washington’s farewell, there was organized the patriotic organization, Sons of the Revolution, the defendant-appellant herein, whose purpose was to keep alive the spirit of '76. It is a not-for-profit corporation.

In 1904, as the result of a bequest, the appellant was enabled to purchase the building comprising Fraunces Tavern. It had since its organization…