AMERICAN-IRISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
The American-Irish Historical Society was founded, as its constitution declares, for “the study of American history generally; to investigate specially the immigration of the people of Ireland to this country, determine its numbers, examine the sources, learn the places of its settlement; to examine records of every character wherever found; to endeavor to correct erroneous, distorted, and false views of history in relation to the Irish race in America; to encourage and assist the formation of local societies; to promote and foster an honorable and national spirit of patriotism; to place the result of its historical investigations and researches in acceptable literary form; to print, publish, and distribute its documents; to sift and discriminate every paper, sketch, document bearing on the society’s line of work, before the same is accepted and given official sanction.” The work was inaugurated by the issuance of the following invitation to prominent men throughout the country:
A Call for the Organization of an American Historical Society whose Special Line of Research shall be the History of the Irish Element in the Composition of the American People.
Dear Sir,—A number of gentlemen, interested in the part taken in American history by people of Irish birth or lineage, are about to organize themselves into an historical society for the purpose of investigating and recording the influence of that element in the up-building of the nation.
People of Irish blood have been coming to this continent, voluntarily and otherwise, since the date of its earliest settlement. While they have been a valuable addition to colony and republic in all departments of human activity, their work and contributions have received but scant recognition from chroniclers of American history.
Whether this omission springs from carelessness, ignorance, indifference, or design, is now of little moment. The fact that such a condition does exist makes it imperative that it should be remedied not only in the interest of historical truth, but of racial fair play. Certain elements in the make-up of the American people have not hesitated on occasion to masquerade, at the expense of the Irish, in borrowed plumes, and to pose under plundered laurels. It is the duty of honest historians to look after the rights of the lawful owners.
The history of Irish immigration to this country is of profound interest. The motive that inspired this sturdy people in coming to these shores was largely the one that animated and inspired all immigration—discontent with the existing home conditions, civil, religious, political, industrial, and the hope of living under better and nobler conditions here.
The American of English stock has his historical society; the descendants of the Dutch, Huguenot, and Spaniard have associations which specialize the historical work of the bodies they represent; and we feel that the story of the Irish element should be told before the mass of legend and fiction now flooding the country under misleading designations has completely submerged historic facts.
The work of our projected society will be influenced by no religious or political divisions, for with us the race stands first, its qualifying incidents afterwards. It matters little where the people came from, whether from the north, the south, the east, or the west of Ireland. It is of minor importance in what church they worshiped; we wish merely to concern ourselves with the work done by them here; to record the story of their settlement; to state the extent of their participation in the civil, military, and political activities of the land, and to try truthfully and fearlessly to record their achievements.
The society now in process of formation must, we believe, be made up of men who have the patience to search, the knowledge and wisdom to sift and discriminate, and the ability to place the results in acceptable literary form. Lastly, the character of the membership must be such that it will command the respect and attention of the community, so that its work will be accepted as having a definite historical value which can be used in general works treating of the growth of the republic by historians of a future date. This, in brief, is the project; it is ambitious, but it is worthy; it is absolutely necessary if the good name and influence of an essential, but much neglected, chapter in American history shall be perpetuated.
To place the Irish element in its true light in American history, to secure its correct perspective in relation to historic events on this soil, is the final aim of the new society. Its primal object will be to ascertain the facts, weigh them in relation to contemporary events, and estimate their historical value, avoiding in this process the exaggeration and extravagance of poorly informed writers on the one hand and the prejudice and misrepresentation of hostile writers on the other.
The organization will be constructed on a broad and liberal plan. It will be non-political, and no religious test will be required for admission to membership or the holding of office. Being an American organization in spirit and principle, the society will welcome to its ranks Americans of whatever race descent who evince an interest in the special line of research for which the society is organized.
Some of the projectors belong to other historical bodies, and it was at first believed that the work for which this new society is to be formed could better be done through the medium of those bodies and without the necessity of a separate organization. Experience, however, has led to the conclusion that this is not so. Hence the resolve to form a distinct body, with its own special object, program, and mode of procedure.
There is a place for such a society in the community; its purposes are honorable and useful, and its work should begin while yet documents, records, and historical material are available. We feel that such a work will be valuable not only to the Irish race, but to the American race also, to whose fiber this element has contributed its share.
We will be glad to have your good wishes and coöperation in the work.
The meeting for organizing the society will be held at the Revere House in Boston, Mass., on Wednesday, Jan. 20, 1897, at 6.30 P.M. Introductory to the proceedings, a dinner will be served.
Very respectfully,
John C. Linehan,
State Insurance Commissioner, Concord, N. H.
Joseph Smith,
Secretary, Board of Police, Lowell, Mass.
Robert Ellis Thompson,
President, Central High School, Philadelphia, Pa.
James Jeffrey Roche,
Editor, The Pilot, Boston, Mass.
Theodore Roosevelt,
New York City.
Thomas J. Gargan,
Boston, Mass.
Patrick Walsh,
Ex-U. S. Senator; publisher, The Chronicle, Augusta, Ga.
Thomas Hamilton Murray,
Editor, Daily Sun, Lawrence, Mass.
Thomas A. E. Weadock,
Member of the LII.d and of the LIII.d Congress, Detroit, Mich.
John J. Phelan,
Late Secretary of State, Connecticut, Bridgeport, Ct.
Edward A. Hall,
Member, Connecticut Valley Historical Society, Springfield, Mass.
Hugh J. Carroll,
Late a Member of the Rhode Island General Assembly; Ex-Mayor
of the city of Pawtucket, R. I.
J. D. O’Connell,
Bureau of Statistics, Treasury Department, Washington, D. C.
Walter Lecky,
Redwood, Jefferson County, N. Y.
J. W. Fogarty,
Assessors Department, City Hall, Boston, Mass.; Secretary,
Charitable Irish Society (instituted 1737).
Thomas Addis Emmet,
New York City.
Dennis Harvey Sheahan,
Ex-Reading Clerk, Rhode Island House of Representatives,
Providence, R. I.
M. J. Harson,
Founder, Phi Kappa Sigma, Brown University, Providence, R. I.
James R. O’Beirne,
Late Brevet Brigadier-General of Volunteers; Ex-Commander, U. S.
Medal of Honor Legion, New York City.
St. Clair A. Mulholland,
Brevet Major-General of Volunteers; commanded Fourth Brigade,
First Division, Second Corps, Philadelphia, Pa.
Rev. Thomas J. Conaty, D.D.,
Rector, Catholic University, Washington, D. C.
Rev. George C. Betts,
Rector, St. James Protestant Episcopal Church, Goshen, N. Y.
Rev. George W. Pepper,
(Methodist), Cleveland, Ohio.
Rev. Andrew Morrissey, C. S. C.,
President, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Ind.
Osborne Howes,
(Eighth American generation), Secretary, Board of Fire
Underwriters, Boston, Mass.
Henry Stoddard Ruggles,
(Ninth American generation), Member, Sons of the Revolution and
Sons of the American Revolution, Wakefield, Mass.
Henry G. Crowell,
(A descendant of David O’Killia, who was a settler in Plymouth
Colony as early as 1657), South Yarmouth, Mass.
Richard W. Meade,
Rear Admiral, U, S. N.
John Cochrane,
President of the N. Y. Society of the Cincinnati, New York City.
Matthew Calbraithe Butler,
Late a Senator of the United States, Edgefield, S. C.
Issued at Boston, Mass.,
Dec. 26, 1896.
In response to this call, fifty gentlemen met at the Revere House on Wednesday, January 20, and organized the American-Irish Historical Society by signing the following agreement:
“We, the undersigned, by our subscription herewith, agree with the other subscribers hereto to organize ourselves into a body to be known as the American-Irish Historical Society of the United States, whose object shall be the study of American history and whose special line of work shall be the history of the Irish element in the composition of the American people, and the investigation, record and publication of the influence of that element in the up-building of the nation.”
Thomas Hamilton Murray, Lawrence, Mass.
James Jeffrey Roche, Boston, Mass.
Joseph Smith, Lowell, Mass.
Edward A. Hall, Springfield, Mass.
Bernard E. Donigan, Lawrence, Mass.
Timothy P. Sullivan, Concord, N. H.
James F. Brennan, Peterboro, N. H.
Hugh J. Carroll, Pawtucket, R. I.
Bernard McCaughey, Pawtucket, R. I.
Edward F. Radikin, Pawtucket, R. I.
Peter J. Heffern, Pawtucket, R. I.
William Farrell, Pawtucket, R. I.
M. W. Kelliher, M. D., Pawtucket, R. I.
John C. Linehan, Penacook, N. H.
Rev. Timothy P. Linehan, Biddeford, Me.
Rev. M. H. Egan, Lebanon, N. H.
James Cunningham, Portland, Me.
M. A. Toland, Boston, Mass.
George H. Moses, Concord, N. H.
Thomas B. Smith, Lowell, Mass.
P. J. Flatley, Boston, Mass.
T. Carl O’Brien, Boston, Mass.
John A. O’Keefe, Lynn, Mass.
Daniel Donovan, Lynn, Mass.
W. J. Ahern, Concord, N. H.
David E. Murphy, Concord, N. H.
Michael J. McNeirny, Gloucester, Mass.
Jas. H. Carmichael, Lowell, Mass.
Geo. C. Dempsey, Lowell, Mass.
Thos. F. Harrington, M. D., Lowell, Mass.
Dr. Philip Kilroy, Springfield, Mass.
Thomas B. Lawler, Worcester, Mass.
Rev. John J. McCoy, Chicopee, Mass.
Dr. Patrick J. Timmins, South Boston, Mass.
J. W. Fogarty, Roxbury, Mass.
John E. Lynch, Worcester, Mass.
Francis P. McKeon, Worcester, Mass.
M. J. Harson, Providence, R. I.
EDWARD A. MOSELEY
President-General
JOHN C. LINEHAN
Treasurer-General
THOMAS HAMILTON MURRAY
Secretary-General
THOMAS B. LAWLER
Librarian-Archivist
Several others were also present, but, coming in later, their signatures to this agreement were not obtained. They included Hon. Thomas J. Gargan and Osborne Howes, of Boston, Mass.; Charles A. De Courcy, of Lawrence, Mass.; Dennis H. Sheahan, of Providence, R. I.; and Thomas Carroll, of Peabody, Mass. Of these, Mr. Gargan, Mr. Howes, and Mr. Sheahan were among the signers of the call for the meeting. All expressed themselves in favor of the organization and a desire to be identified with it.
The following constitution was adopted:
Preamble.
Believing that the part taken in the settlement, foundation, and up-building of these United States by the Irish race has never received proper recognition from historians, and inspired by love for the republic, a pride in our blood and forefathers, and a desire for historic truth, this society has met and organized.
Its mission is to give a plain recital of facts, to correct errors, to supply omissions, to allay passions, to shame prejudice, and to labor for right and truth.
While we, as loyal citizens of this republic, are earnestly interested in all the various phases of its history, we feel that we should be false to its honor and greatness and recreant to our own blood if we did not make a serious effort to leave to those generations which will follow us a clearer and better knowledge of the important work done by men and women of the Irish race on this continent. People of this race—men and women born on Irish soil—have been here from the first, prompted in their flight by the motives common to all immigration, dissatisfaction with the old order of things, and the resolve to obtain a freer and better life in the new land under new conditions.
And so we have come together—natives of Ireland, American sons of Irish immigrants, and descendants of immigrants even unto the seventh, eighth, and ninth American generations—to duly set forth and perpetuate a knowledge of these things.
In the days to come, that lie in the womb of the future, when all the various elements that have gone and are going to make the republic great, are united in the American,—the man who in his person will represent the bravest elements of all the old races of earth,—we desire that the deeds and accomplishments of our element shall be written in the book of the new race, telling what we did and no more; giving us our rightful place by the side of the others.
To accomplish this is the purpose of this organization; it is a work worthy of the sympathy and aid of every American who can rise above the environment of to-day and look into the broad future. Fidelity, truth, honor, are the watchwords of such a purpose, and under their noble influence should our work be done.
Article I.—Name.
This organization shall be known as the American-Irish Historical Society.
Article II.—Objects and Purposes.
The objects and purposes of this society are:
(1) The study of American history generally.
(2) To investigate, specially, the immigration of the people of Ireland to this country, determine its numbers, examine the sources, learn the places of its settlement; and estimate its influence on contemporary events in war, legislation, religion, education, and other departments of human activity.
(3) To examine records of every character, wherever found, calculated to throw light on the work of the Irish element in this broad land.
(4) To endeavor to correct erroneous, distorted, and false views of history, where they are known, and to substitute therefor the truth of history, based on documentary evidence and the best and most reasonable tradition, in relation to the Irish race in America.
(5) To encourage and assist the formation of local societies in American cities and towns for the work of the parent society.
(6) To promote and foster an honorable and national spirit of patriotism, which will know no lines of division, which will be based upon loyalty to the laws, institutions, and spirit of the republic to whose up-building the Irish element has unselfishly contributed in blood and treasure, a patriotism whose simple watchwords will be true Americanism and human freedom, and which has no concern for any man’s race, color, or creed, measuring him only by his conduct, effort, and achievement.
(7) To promote by union in a common high purpose a sincere fraternity, a greater emulation in well-doing, a closer confidence and mutual respect among the various elements of the Irish race in America, that, by putting behind them the asperities of the past, they may unite in a common brotherhood with their fellow-citizens for the honor of the race and the glory of the republic.
(8) To place the result of its historical investigations and researches in acceptable literary form; to print, publish, and distribute its documents to libraries, institutions of learning, and among its members, in order that the widest dissemination of historical truth may be obtained and placed within the reach of historians and other writers and readers.
(9) To sift and discriminate every paper, sketch, document, bearing on the society’s line of work, before the same is accepted and given official sanction, in order that its publication may be a guarantee of historical accuracy; to do its work without passion or prejudice, to view accomplished facts in the true scientific historical spirit, and, having reached the truth, to give it to the world.
Article III.—Membership.
Any person, of good moral character, who is interested in the special work of this society, shall be deemed eligible for membership in the same. No tests other than that of character and devotion to the society’s objects shall be applied to membership.
Every applicant for membership shall be recommended by two members of the society before his application shall be considered by the Secretary-General, and the application shall be accompanied by the dues in the amounts laid down in the by-laws.
Members will be elected as follows: Candidates may send their applications—for which blanks will be furnished—to the Secretary-General, accompanied by the fee as provided in the by-laws, and each application must be endorsed by two members of the society. The Secretary-General shall submit the application to the Executive Council, and a three-fourths vote of that body, by ballot or otherwise, will be necessary to elect the candidate.
Article IV.—Classes of Members.
The society shall comprise life members and annual members who shall pay dues provided by the by-laws. The society may also choose honorary and corresponding members who shall be exempt from dues but shall not have the right to vote.
Article V.—Officers.
The officers of the society shall consist of:
1. A President-General.
2. A Vice-President for each state and territory and for the District of Columbia.
3. A Secretary-General.
4. A Treasurer-General.
5. A Librarian and Archivist.
6. An Historiographer.
7. An Executive Council.
(The word “General” herein to be considered equivalent to National.)
The officers of the society shall be elected annually.
Article VI.—The President-General.
The duties of the President-General shall be to open and preside over the society during its deliberations, to see that the constitution is observed and the by-laws enforced, to appoint committees, and exercise a watchful care over the interests of the society, that its work may be properly done and its purposes adhered to. In the absence of the President-General a presiding officer pro tem. may be chosen.
Article VII.—The Vice-Presidents.
It shall be the duty of the Vice-President of each state to represent the President-General at all meetings of state chapters of the society, and for the Vice-President of the state to which the President-General belongs, or in which the meeting is held, to represent him at all meetings of the parent society when he cannot be present, and in his absence to act as chairman pro tem. In the absence of both the President-General and state Vice-President, a presiding officer pro tem. may be chosen from the assembled members of the society.
Article VIII.—The Secretary-General.
The Secretary-General shall keep a record of all the proceedings of the society and the Executive Council; he shall have charge of the seal and records; he shall issue and sign in conjunction with the President-General all charters granted to the subsidiary chapters, and shall with him certify to all acts of the society. He shall, upon orders from the President-General, give due notice of time and place of all meetings of the body; give notice to the several officers of all votes, resolutions, orders, and proceedings of the body affecting them or appertaining to their respective offices, and perform such other duties as may be assigned him.
Article IX.—The Treasurer-General.
The Treasurer-General shall collect and receive all dues, funds, and securities, and deposit the same to the credit of the American-Irish Historical Society, in such banking institution as may be approved by the Executive Council. This money shall be drawn to the check of the Treasurer-General for the purposes of the society and to pay such sums as may be ordered by the Executive Council of the society in meeting, said orders to be countersigned by the President-General and Secretary-General. He must keep a full and accurate account of all receipts and disbursements, and at each annual meeting shall render the same to the society when a committee shall be appointed by the President-General to audit his accounts. He shall present at annual or special meetings a list of members in arrears.
Article X.—The Librarian and Archivist.
The Librarian and Archivist shall be the custodian of all published books, pamphlets, files of newspapers, and similar property of the society. He shall have charge of all documents, manuscripts, and other productions not assigned by this constitution to other officers of the society, and shall keep the same in a place or places easy of access and safe from loss by fire or other causes.
Article XI.—The Historiographer.
The Historiographer, or official historian, of the society shall perform the duties usually pertaining to that office.
Article XII.—The Executive Council.
The Executive Council shall consist of the President-General, Secretary-General, Treasurer-General, Librarian and Archivist, Historiographer, and not less than ten nor more than twenty other members to be elected by the society. The Executive Council shall be judge of the qualifications of applicants for admission, and if satisfactory, shall elect the same. The Council shall recommend plans for promoting the objects of the society, digest and prepare business, authorize the disbursement and expenditure of unappropriated money in the treasury for the current expenses of the society; shall prepare and edit—or cause to be prepared and edited—contributions of an historical or literary character bearing on the special work of the society, for publication and distribution; may appropriate funds for the expenses of special branches of research for historical data and for the purchase of works to form a library for the society whenever it shall have a permanent home and headquarters. The Council shall have power to fill vacancies in offices until the annual meeting, exercise a supervisory care over the affairs of the society, and perform such other duties as may be intrusted to them. At a meeting of the Executive Council five members shall constitute a quorum.
Article XIII.—Meetings.
The annual meeting of this society shall be held on the third Wednesday in January, at a place to be selected by the Executive Council. A field day of the body shall be held during the summer of each year at such time and place as the Executive Council shall select, due regard being given to the convenience of the greatest number, and, as far as possible, the meeting place selected shall be one whose historical associations are of interest to American citizens.
The annual meeting shall be for the purpose of electing officers, hearing reports, and transacting such other business as may come properly before it. There shall be four stated meetings each year.
Special meetings may be called at any time by the Executive Council.
Article XIV.—Subsidiary Societies.
Chapters of the parent society may be established in any city or town in the United States upon the petition of ten persons for a charter, and such charter shall be issued upon payment of the sum designated for such in the by-laws.
The President, Secretary, Treasurer, Librarian, and Historiographer of all subsidiary societies shall be admitted to all meetings of the parent society as members during their term of office, with all the privilege of membership except that of voting.
Article XV.—Amendments.
Amendments to the constitution shall be submitted to the Executive Council through the Secretary-General at least thirty days before the meeting of the society. A vote of two-thirds of the members present at the meeting shall be necessary for the adoption of such amendments.