_When and where Founded._
The American-Irish Historical Society was founded on the evening of Jan.
20, 1897, at a meeting called for that purpose, and held in the Revere
House, Boston, Mass. Over forty gentlemen were present. The Hon. Thomas
J. Gargan, of Boston, presided. Thomas Hamilton Murray, then editor of
the _Daily Sun_, Lawrence, Mass., was secretary of the meeting. The
provisional committee that had attended to the preliminary work included
Mr. Murray, just mentioned; Mr. James Jeffrey Roche, editor of the
Boston _Pilot_; Mr. Joseph Smith, Secretary of the Police Commission,
Lowell, Mass.; Mr. Thomas B. Lawler, of the publishing house, Ginn &
Company, Boston, Mass.; and Hon. John C. Linehan, State Insurance
Commissioner, Concord, N. H. Four states—Maine, New Hampshire,
Massachusetts, and Rhode Island—were represented among those in
attendance. Letters conveying good wishes were received from
Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, South
Carolina, Georgia, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, and the District of
Columbia.
_Objects and Purposes._
The society is organized for the special study of the Irish element in
the composition of the American people; to investigate and record the
influence of this element in the up-building of the nation, and to
collect and publish facts relating to and illustrating that influence.
People of Irish blood have been coming to this continent, voluntarily
and otherwise, since the date of its earliest settlements. 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. The society purposes to remedy
it.
_More in Detail._
Speaking more in detail, it may be stated that the objects and purposes
of the society are: The study of American history generally; to
investigate, specially, the Irish immigration 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 activity; to examine
records of every character, wherever found, calculated to throw light on
the work of the Irish element in this broad land; 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 in America; 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; 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.
_Membership Requirements._
Any person of good moral character who is interested in the special work
of the 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. The society comprises life members and
annual members and may also elect honorary and corresponding members.
_The Mode of Admission._
The society believes that for the present as little red tape as possible
should prevail in the admission of applicants. A large membership is
desired. Consequently, a request to be enrolled, addressed to the
Secretary-General, to any of the members of the Executive Council, or to
a member of the society who is located in the neighborhood of the
applicant, will generally be sufficient to effect the desired result.
_Non-Sectarian and Non-Political._
The society is constructed on a broad and liberal basis. It is
non-sectarian and non-political. Being an American organization in
spirit and principle, it greets and welcomes to its ranks Americans of
whatever race descent and of whatever creed who take an interest in the
special line of work for which the society is organized. It at present
includes Roman Catholics, Protestant Episcopalians, Methodists,
Presbyterians, Unitarians, and members of other denominations. Catholic
priests and Protestant ministers are on its roll. Republicans,
Democrats, and men of no political party affiliations are numbered among
its members.
_The Fees of Members._
Life members pay fifty dollars in advance at one time; they are exempt
from further membership dues. Annual members pay three dollars per year
each. For the present no initiation fee is required. Massachusetts, New
York, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia are already represented in the
list of life members. The membership roll also contains the names of
gentlemen of the seventh, eighth, and ninth American generations.
_The Society’s Officers._
The officers comprise a President-General, a Secretary-General, a
Treasurer-General, a Librarian and Archivist, an Historiographer (not
yet elected), and an Executive Council. The constitution also provides
for a Vice-President for each state and territory and for the District
of Columbia. It is proposed to eventually organize state and city
chapters of the society. A list of the present officers will be found
contained herein.
_The First President-General._
The first President-General of the society was Richard Worsam Meade, 3d,
Rear-Admiral, U. S. N. (retired). He was born in New York City, Oct. 9,
1837, at the home of his maternal grandfather, Judge Henry Meigs, which
family has given many officers to the United States Navy. He was the
oldest son of the late Capt. Richard Worsam Meade, 2d, U. S. N., and was
a nephew of the late Gen. George Gordon Meade, who for two years
commanded the Army of the Potomac. President-General Meade died in
Washington, D. C., May 4, 1897. His obsequies took place in that city.
The Society contributed a floral harp. Among the mourners there were
present from the society: Messrs. Edward A. Moseley, J. R. Carmody, J.
D. O’Connell, and Capt. John M. Tobin. The honorary bearers were:
Rear-Admiral John G. Walker, Commodore Charles S. Norton, Admiral George
Dewey, Commodore Norman H. Farquhar, Commodore Winfield S. Schley, Capt.
A. S. Crowinshield, Capt. Charles O’Neil, U. S. N., and Col. Charles
Heywood, United States Marine Corps. Eight stalwart seamen bore the
body. A battalion of marines from the Washington barracks, under command
of Capt. E. B. Robinson, and a delegation from Lafayette Post of New
York City, escorted the body to Arlington, preceded by the United States
Marine Band.
_Meetings and Field Day._
Provision is made for quarterly meetings of the society and monthly
meetings of the Executive Council. As far as possible, each meeting,
especially those of the Council, is held in a city or state different
from the one where the preceding meeting was held. This prevents the
society from becoming merely local to any one state or city, and makes
it what its founders intended it to be—a national body. A general field
day of the organization is held annually in the summer or fall. The
annual meeting for the election of officers is held in January.
_Diploma of Membership._
Each member will be entitled to a diploma of membership, bearing the
name of the society, the date of his admission, and such other
appropriate matter as may be decided upon. These certificates will be
signed by the President-General, the Secretary-General, the
Treasurer-General, and one or two other officers, and will be suitable
for display in office, library, or study.
_The Society’s Publications._
The publications of the society consist of two classes—regular and
special. A copy of every regular publication will be supplied free to
each member. Special publications will be supplied at the actual cost
price. Both classes of publications will contain a record of the
society’s proceedings, papers contributed by the members as the result
of original research, extracts from old documents bearing upon the Irish
in this country, or similar matter of interest, much of it, indeed, of
priceless value for preservation and reference. These publications will
be thoroughly indexed.