New York City served as Seton’s base of operations for over 30 years, from the time of his wedding to Grace Gallatin in 1896 until he relocated to New Mexico in 1930. Prior to 1897, he also lived, studied, and worked in New York City for several stints. He studied at the Art Student’s League.
Seton spent a great deal of time at the American Museum of Natural History, where he collaborated with Frank Chapman and Clyde Fisher, among others. Today, the American Museum of Natural History holds an extensive collection of Seton materials, the most important being the originals of the journals he kept throughout his adulthood.
Another New York location he frequented was the Bronx Zoo, for which his friend William Hornaday served as the long-time director. H9rnaday was also the founder and first president of the Camp Fire Club of America. The Bronx Zoo is operated by The Wildlife Conservation Society (founded as the New York Zoological Society in 1895). Seton was a life member of the Society. As part of its conservation initiatives, the Society sponsored the organization of the American Bison Society, which played a key role in saving the American buffalo from extinction. Seton served on the board of managers of the American Bison Society. In the Zoo’s early days, Seton championed the development of a place for artists to work at the Zoo. His dream was realized when an artist studio was opened in the Lion House in 1903.
The Woodcraft League of America maintained offices in New York from 1915 until nSeton moved to New Mexico in 1930.
Seton was a founder and served as president of the Camp-Fire Club of America located in Chappaqua, New York, which still exists today.
There are collections of Seton material at several other New York institutions, including the Museum of the City of New York and the Cooper-Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum.
In 1910, Seton led an experimental encampment with boys chosen from across the country at the YMCA’s Silver Bay facility in upstate New York. This event is often considered the first campo held by the Boy Scouts of America.
