The American-Irish Historical Society is on the threshold of its
fourth year of existence. We are strong in numbers, representative
in character and devoted to a patriotic work.
Our growth as an organization has been rapid, but not unstable;
widespread, but healthy; vigorous, and of permanent value.
We have solid reason to be proud of what the Society has
accomplished during the three years it has been in the field. We
have been accorded a generous welcome from historical societies long
in existence; our advent has been hailed with satisfaction; our
motives praised; our publications eagerly sought.
To-night we meet in New York city for the third time, and for the
third time we are indebted to our New York members for unbounded
hospitality, kindliest service and tireless efforts to make our
annual gathering a success.
During the year just closed, ninety-two new members have been
admitted to the Society, and ten of our brothers have died. These
deaths of the year removed from our ranks the following: Hon.
Patrick Walsh, Augusta, Ga.; Col. Patrick T. Hanley, Boston, Mass.;
Hon. John H. Sullivan, Boston, Mass.; Hon. Eli Thayer, Worcester,
Mass.; Dr. William F. Cummings, Rutland, Vt.; Mr. Joseph J. Kelley,
Cambridge, Mass.; Mr. William Slattery, Holyoke, Mass.; Rev. George
W. Pepper, Cleveland, O.; Rev. Denis Scannell, Worcester, Mass.; and
Mr. Edmund Phelan, Boston, Mass.
Since our last annual gathering in this city, meetings under the
auspices of the Society have been held in Providence, R. I.,
Newport, R. I., and Boston, Mass. In each instance great interest
was manifested in the mission of the organization, and new members
were secured.
Among those in attendance at the Providence meeting was Hon. John D.
Crimmins, our esteemed general vice-president. On that occasion he
subscribed $500 to forward the interests of the Society, this being
the largest individual gift the organization has thus far received.
Among the speakers at this meeting were the Rev. S. B. Nelson, an
Irish Presbyterian clergyman, and Rev. Frank L. Phalen, a Unitarian.
At the Newport meeting, the mayor of the city, Hon. Patrick J.
Boyle, a member of our Society, presided and delivered an address of
welcome. Addresses were also made by Hon. Charles E. Gorman of
Providence; by Rev. Louis J. Deady, a Catholic rector of Newport; by
City Solicitor Brown of Newport; by Dennis H. Tierney of Waterbury,
Conn.; by Hon. John C. Linehan of Concord, N. H., and other
gentlemen.
At the Boston meeting, President-General Gargan presided, and there
were addresses by Hon. Patrick A. Collins of Boston and a number of
others.
Nor, during the year, has the Society been idle in the field of
research. Of our members: Mr. Edward Fitzpatrick, Louisville, Ky.,
has contributed a paper on “The Irish Settlers of Kentucky”; Mr.
Daniel M. O’Driscoll, Charleston, S. C., has written on “David
Hamilton, an Irish Soldier of the American Revolution”; Mr. Thomas
F. O’Malley, Somerville, Mass., has devoted much investigation
relative to “The Early Transportation of Irish Men, Women and
Children to the West Indies, to Virginia, and to New England”; Hon.
John C. Linehan, Concord, N. H., has prepared a paper “On the Irish
Pioneers of Texas”; Mr. M. E. Hennessy, Boston, Mass., on “Men of
Irish Birth or Extraction Who Have Attained Distinction in American
Journalism”; and Mr. Joseph Smith, Lowell, Mass., on “The Irish
Brigade of Rochambeau’s Army in the American Revolutionary War.” Mr.
Thomas Carroll, Peabody, Mass., a member of our Society, recently
delivered an historical address at a church anniversary in that
place.
Two of the leading works by our members during the year are those of
Rev. John J. McCoy of Chicopee, Mass., and Rev. James H. O’Donnell
of Watertown, Conn. The former has written a history of the Catholic
diocese of Springfield, Mass., and the latter of the Catholic
diocese of Hartford, Conn. Both these productions are rich in
reference to early Irish settlers, that of Rev. Father O’Donnell
being practically a history of the Irish in Connecticut.
The annual bound volume of our Society is now in press. It will be
larger than the book we issued last year, will be illustrated and
will contain many papers, addresses and other matter of historical
and literary value.
At our last annual meeting, the matter of a publication fund was
discussed and referred to the council of the Society for action. The
council subsequently decided to issue a circular letter inviting
contributions to said fund.
It was decided to send out these circulars immediately after some
important gathering under the auspices of the Society, when they
would be likely to attract special interest. The launching of the
United States torpedo-boat _O’Brien_, at Elizabeth, N. J., was
finally decided upon as such event.
Owing to unavoidable delay, however, this launching has not yet
taken place, and thus a desirable opportunity has not, up to this
time, presented itself to formulate the circular. I would suggest,
however, that this meeting possesses the desired prominence as a
Society event, and that the circular can now be sent out within the
next week or two.
During the year, Dr. Thomas Addis Emmet of this city has voluntarily
subscribed $100 toward the publication fund, and four New York
gentlemen—Mr. Myles Tierney, Mr. Stephen J. Geoghegan, Mr. James
McGovern and Mr. John J. Lenehan—have each forwarded a check for $50
in payment of life membership fee. Mr. William Gorman of
Philadelphia, Pa., has also become a life member.
In April next, the historic town of Lexington, Mass., is to have a
great celebration of the anniversary of the battle of April 19,
1775, and our Society has been invited to be represented on that
occasion.
Some months ago, a Franco-American Historical Society was organized
at Boston, at which an official of our Society was present and made
an address of congratulation. The new organization will devote
itself to the French chapter in American history.
In conclusion, I desire to say that the correspondence of the
Society has already become of considerable volume. Inquiries from
all sections of the country are being constantly received. The
writers seek information or data of an historical nature relative to
the Irish and their descendants in the United States. These
inquiries are promptly answered, and, in return, we receive much
valuable material.
Respectfully submitted,
THOMAS HAMILTON MURRAY,
_Secretary-General_.
The foregoing report was accepted and adopted.