unanimous vote, was accepted and placed on file:
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL.
It is with much pleasure I present the report of my office for 1909,
which has been to the Society a year of success, prosperity and great
advancement.
At the commencement of my term of office as Acting Secretary-General in
September, 1908, there were 538 members enrolled on the books. Many of
these had not paid dues for a number of years, and had lost all interest
in the Society and its objects, while others had deceased and no record
had been kept of them because word had not been communicated to the
Secretary-General.
A general house-cleaning took place, and a list of members in arrears
for two years and more was prepared and submitted to the Executive
Council, which ordered extra notices sent to every delinquent in order
that each member in arrears might know the extent of his obligations.
The Committee on Delinquent Members appointed January 16th, 1909, sent
out printed notices, through this office, urging the necessity of prompt
payment of dues, and in short every reasonable means to stimulate
payment and activity was taken. Some responded, but the majority did not
and their names have been stricken from the roll of the Society.
January 16th, 1909, the date of the last annual meeting, the Society had
687 members, 149 applicants having been admitted since September, 1908.
During the year 1909, 239 members were admitted, largely through the
energy and recommendations of the Committee on Membership, of which John
J. Lenehan, Esq., is chairman and active head. During the year we lost 7
by death, 13 by resignation, and 23 by order of the Executive Council
for non-payment of dues. This leaves the membership of the Society in
good standing at present as follows: Life members, 74; annual members,
828; total, 951.
Although the membership is satisfactory in numbers and the Committee on
Membership has performed a wonderful work during the past year, the
Society is not as large as it should be. Efforts should be made to
ascertain the names of those Americans prominent in all walks of life,
in whose veins Irish blood flows and who are interested in seeing that
the history of our country chronicles and credits the doings of fellow
citizens of Irish blood equally with those of other nationalities, and
each member should constitute himself a committee to act in conjunction
with the Membership Committee and obtain an addition to the Society
wherever he can, always assuring himself that the applicant he presents
is of good character and intelligence and interested in the work for
which the Society is organized.
There are few distinguished families in the United States that are not
partially of Irish ancestry, and since our Society has become so well
known throughout the country it has stimulated those who have never
cared, for reasons best known to themselves, to cause it to be known
that Irish blood flowed in their veins, not only to admit the fact but
really and truly to assert it, and willingly to accept the credit that
comes from such ancestry. Many men whose entire time and energy are
devoted to extensive business will take little time to inform themselves
of the doings of our Society, unless members in different localities
will take it upon themselves to seek out just such men, inform them of
the work we are doing, and enlist their hearty coöperation in it.
We are the largest and most prominent society of our kind in the United
States, and cover a field that until we were organized had been
practically untouched. The influence of our work for the last few years
has been marked, and the average chronicler of American history will
think twice in recording events before he permits any bigotry or outside
influence to prevent him from giving the American of Irish ancestry his
share of credit for deeds performed. The magazines and newspapers bear
evidence of this, for, as soon as an attack is made upon the
American-Irishman or failure to give him his just due is discerned,
there are those who, stimulated by the influence of our Society in
different parts of the country, will immediately bring the erring party
to bar and suggest the proper corrections.
An illustration of this spirit may be gained from a recent event in
Providence. A book called “The Modern City” was published and circulated
by Professor Kirk of Brown University, and pretended to be a history of
Providence as it was and is, with sufficient general reference to
surrounding subjects to make it generally a complete history of that
city. Among the contributors were Professor William MacDonald, who
occupies the chair of American history and whose work as an historian is
highly regarded both here and abroad, Professor Dealey, Professor Poland
and others.
It was noticed upon an examination of this book that failure to give
credit to whom credit was due among our race was most marked, and
immediately the authors of these articles and Professor Kirk himself
were called to account by members of our Society, the truth properly
exhibited and demonstrated, and the evil effect of the book as a work of
history dissipated as far as Rhode Island and the city of Providence
were concerned. The members of our Society took hold of this matter with
a will, and the articles written and circulated with the purpose of
correcting the work of these professors and stating fully and truthfully
what they failed fairly to state, are now in the archives of the Society
and open to the inspection of those who may be interested.
* * * * *
On several occasions I have suggested to the Society the advisability of
having a more complete and less perfunctory business meeting. Until the
annual meeting of 1909 it had been the custom to transact all of the
business of the Society between the hours of six and seven in the
evening, and have all our scientific papers read at a dinner, which, by
reason of them, would be prolonged to an unseemly hour. Opportunity to
consider and digest excellent papers was lacking, and no time whatever
was given for the discussion of them.
At our Washington meeting we transacted all of the Society’s business,
with the exception of the reading of certain papers, during the
afternoon, so that we had the entire evening for the dinner and the
presentation of four important papers. This year the Executive Council
decided that the business meeting should commence at two o’clock in the
afternoon, and from that hour until five or half past we could present a
number of scientific papers, elect our officers, read the monographs on
deceased members, and transact the other business of the Society.
This, in my opinion, is a step in the right direction, but not a
sufficient one. There should be a session of at least two days, at which
members from all over the country would be earnestly solicited to attend
and for whom the railroads would give round-trip rates to our place of
meeting for one and one-third single fares. The first morning should be
devoted to the reading of two or three historical papers, followed by
discussion. A luncheon should take place, given by some member of the
Society or by some organization affiliated with it or having some
connection with it. The afternoon session could be devoted to more
historical papers and discussion, and in the evening a lecture should be
given by some person of international reputation on subjects connected
with our work. The next day could be similarly used, and in the
afternoon of the second day the officers of the Society for the ensuing
year might be elected; and that night the annual dinner of the Society
would take place, which, instead of being carried out with a studied
programme filled with scientific literary matter, would be truly “a
feast of reason and a flow of soul,” where our members would have an
opportunity to pass an evening of real sociability and pleasure, which
would be restful after two days’ work.
Such a convention would attract the greatest attention; our doings would
be reported in the public press, and our papers, carefully prepared by
men of ability, would in all probability be published, in part or in
full, thus doing more toward bringing the Society to the attention of
the American people in general than any other medium could possibly do.
While it might be impossible for all of our members to attend two days,
we could have more of them present at some time during the convention
than attend the dinner at present.
The movement encouraging the attendance of ladies at our dinner has
received hearty congratulations on all sides. There is no reason why
women should not be interested in American history equally with men. The
other historical societies encourage women to become members, and a step
in the right direction has been inaugurated during the past year, when
not only were two leading Chicago women admitted as members of the
Society, but the Executive Council voted that our members could invite
ladies as guests.
DONATIONS.
The Society is very much in need of endowments and donations. A fund
should be established, the income of which would be sufficient not only
to maintain a proper building of modest proportions, in which the
archives of the Society could be kept and the general headquarters
maintained, but to compensate historians and writers for work and
research on lines that would be dictated by a committee having that
branch of our work in charge, as well as to furnish competitive prizes
for historical essays.
If a substantial fund for these purposes were at hand we might reduce
the dues from five dollars per annum to three dollars, leaving the life
membership fee as at present, and place on sale copies of our
publications under the direction of a librarian, who would have charge,
with his other duties, of this branch.
All of the leading historical societies have substantial sums in their
treasury, contributed by interested members. Yet the American-Irish
Historical Society, nine-tenths of whose members are men of more or less
wealth, has never, as far as I can see from an examination of the
Society’s records, received a single dollar for these purposes, and the
Society has done its work on its own meagre revenue, with no assistance
save the dues of its members.
Contemplating the liberal endowment of other historical and antiquarian
associations, the American-Irish Historical Society may justly be proud
of its record; but this will not be a sufficient answer to the next
thousand members that join our ranks. We must have suitable
headquarters, a suitable library and a proper place for our archives;
establish an exchange list with other libraries and institutions, and
solicit additions not only of books, prints and engravings, but other
articles that are of historic interest; and all these should be under
the management of a librarian or custodian, by whom the large
correspondence now entailed on the Secretary-General should be conducted
and fostered.
It will take money to do these things, but not as large an amount as, at
first blush, one would think. The Society having been incorporated in
Rhode Island, its headquarters must necessarily be there, and it is
fitting that the centre of the work of this Society should be somewhere
in New England. Massachusetts and Rhode Island have many historical and
antiquarian societies, and nowhere in the whole United States is the
spirit of historical research and pride of ancestry more strongly
developed than in these two states.
It is possible for an investment of less than five thousand dollars to
purchase a lot and erect a building sufficient for our needs for many
years to come, within the shadow of Brown University on College Hill,
which has for so many years been regarded as the seat of learning in
Rhode Island. This amount is mentioned after thoughtful consideration of
the needs of the Society, and would equip the building to contain a
substantial library as well as the entire present equipment,
paraphernalia and archives of the Society.
In looking over the newspaper accounts of the wills of various members
of the Society who have deceased within the past two years, I have noted
no bequest to our Society, yet many bequests to other public and private
institutions. I cannot help but believe that if our needs were brought
forcibly to the attention of the members, as I am striving to do in this
part of my report, it might stimulate a bequest from those of our
members who are able and interested enough to make one, for outside of
the charitable institutions there is no organization more worthy of
staunch support than is the American-Irish Historical Society, nor one
which would put a gift to better use.
ADMINISTRATION EXPENSES.
No officer or member of this Society drawls any salary, but each officer
does the work allotted to him with a good heart and for love of the
cause. We are under no charges for rent and pay nothing for the
excellent articles which appear in our annual volume, the writers of
these coöperating with the officers and furnishing the time, energy and
ability necessary to make the researches entailed without any
compensation.
The entire expense outlay of the Society is for the printing, binding
and circulation of the annual volume, the printing of circulars,
stationery, etc., and postage, and a small sum for a stenographer in
conducting the correspondence of my office, keeping track of the dues
and other details; but I can easily see opportunities for the
dissemination of knowledge and an enlarged application of the purposes
for which our Society was incorporated if we should have at our disposal
the modest sum of money herein mentioned. The members of the Society
residing in Rhode Island will gladly contribute in accordance with their
means, and I embody this matter in my report at this time for the
purpose of bringing it sharply for the first time to the attention of
our members.
* * * * *
Although repeated at other times heretofore, I beg to make the following
suggestions to our members, not only for their benefit, but for the
convenience of the Society’s administration as well:
1. Annual dues should be paid promptly because upon these and the life
membership fees we depend for the payment of our obligations.
2. Biographical sketches should be furnished when requested by the
Secretary-General, and a member should not permit any feelings of
personal modesty to interfere with the desire of the Society to have in
its archives as complete a statement of the life and works of each
member as he or his friends can give to it.
3. Upon learning of the decease of any member, immediate notice should
be sent to the Secretary-General by telegraph, in order that the
attention of the President-General may be called and a committee
appointed to attend the funeral of the deceased member or to do whatever
may be needful or advisable under the circumstances.
4. Current local history is as much part of the work of the Society as
is the delving into ancient records, and any newspaper clipping or
account of any public or private affair that, in the opinion of any
member, is of interest to the Society or its work should be promptly
sent to the Secretary-General, who will gladly receive, index and place
it in the archives of the Society, where it may be referred to in a
convenient form at any time.
5. It is intended that the correct address of every member shall be
recorded in our files, and when a member changes his address he is
respectfully requested to notify the Secretary-General of that fact, so
that future communications may not be misdirected.
6. Suggestions as to the management and improvement of the Society in
its membership, line of work or in any other way are most earnestly
solicited, and any such suggestions, if sent to this office, wall be
brought before the Executive Council, which meets frequently, and
carefully considered by it.
7. State Vice-Presidents are strongly urged to recruit in their
respective states the ranks of the Society, and to this end they will
find active and hearty coöperation. Vice-President Moloney of Illinois
set the pace this year in obtaining fifty-one applications for
membership, all from persons who have made their mark in life and with
whom it is a pleasure for us to associate. Vice-President McCaffrey of
Pennsylvania, Vice-President O’Hagan of South Carolina, Vice-President
Corbett of North Carolina, Vice-President Connolly of California, and
Vice-President McCarrick of Virginia have all done notable work and set
a good example, while Georgia, under the guidance of Vice-President
Flannery and Dr. J. Lawton Hiers of the Executive Council, proposes to
return a significant number of applications within a very short time.
* * * * *
In conclusion, I take this opportunity of paying a heartfelt tribute to
the efficiency and earnestness of President-General Quinlan,
Treasurer-General Dooley, Chairman Lenehan of the Membership Committee,
and the members of the Executive Council, all of whom have the best
welfare of the Society continually at heart and whose courtesy and great
kindness have rendered my own shortcomings less marked and the work of
the Society a pleasure.
Mr. Michael F. Dooley, Treasurer-General of the Society, presented the
following report, covering the period from January 15, 1909, to January
1, 1910, and the same was adopted by unanimous vote:
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE TREASURER-GENERAL.
PROVIDENCE, R. I., January 1, 1910.
PERMANENT FUND—AMERICAN IRISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
1910.
Jan. 1. Amount of deposit with the
National Exchange Bank,
Providence, R. I. $129.20
AMERICAN IRISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Balance on hand at last report, January 15, 1909 $2,438.51
RECEIPTS.
1909.
Jan. Balance remaining from 1909
dinner account $47.00
Jan. Membership fees 615.00
Feb. Membership fees 710.00
March Membership fees 820.00
April Membership fees 490.00
May Membership fees 85.00
June Membership fees 180.00
July Membership fees 516.00
Aug. Membership fees 154.80
Sept. Membership fees 265.00
Oct. Membership fees 255.00
Nov. Membership fees 605.00
Dec. Membership fees 250.00
————————— $4,992.80
Dec. From Western News Company for
one Journal 2.00
Exchange and Rebates .57
Interest on Bank Account 69.15
—————————
Total Receipts 5,064.52
—————————
$7,503.03
DISBURSEMENTS.
1909.
Jan. 16. Mrs. Murray, salary and telephones $51.50
Jan. 21. Akerman Co., record book,
Secretary-General 7.85
Jan. 23. Viola Follis, expenses as stenographer 42.20
Jan. 27. Snow & Farnham Co., printing for
Secretary-General 16.25
Jan. 29. Library Bureau, files and cards for
Secretary-General 72.55
Feb. 1. Viola Follis, clerical services,
Secretary-General office 40.00
Feb. 2. John J. Lenehan, expenses, New Members
Committee 78.49
Feb. 5. Mrs. Murray, expenses to Sea View 5.00
Feb. 18. Snow & Farnham Co., postage $40;
Secretary-General office printing
$18.98 58.78
Feb. 18. Postage, Treasurer-General 1.00
Feb. 25. Reynolds Stamp Works, stamps,
Secretary-General 2.30
March 2. John J. Lenehan, expenses New Members
Committee 41.75
March 4. Library Bureau cards, Secretary-General 5.50
March 4. Snow & Farnham Company, stamped
Envelopes, Secretary-General 22.99
March 4. Snow & Farnham, general printing,
Secretary-General 12.50
March 4. Reynolds Stamp Works, Secretary-General
office 2.00
March 8. Mrs. Murray, expenses to Sea View and
postage 6.00
March 10. Viola Follis, clerical help,
Secretary-General office 20.00
March 10. Stenographer’s services, Committee on
Revision of Constitution 4.00
March 10. Expenses of Secretary-General office 56.22
March 12. Remington Printing Company, printing,
Secretary-General’s office 5.75
March 15. E. L. Freeman Company, books,
Secretary-General’s office 1.30
March 29. John J. Lenehan, expense New Members
Committee 132.50
March 29. John J. Lenehan, expense New Members
Committee 66.00
April 6. Library Bureau cards, Secretary-General 3.00
April 15. Providence Linotype Composing Company,
printing by-laws 20.00
April 16. Expenses, Secretary-General office 127.45
April 20. Viola Follis, clerical help,
Secretary-General office 20.00
April 29. Howard W. Damon, expressing 20.00
May 3. John J. Lenehan, expenses New Members
Committee 84.00
May 4. A. J. Tally, publication of death notice 9.20
May 3. John J. Lenehan, expenses New Members
Committee 61.00
June 16. Viola Follis, clerical help, Secretary’s
office 50.14
June 19. Sun Printing Co., stamped envelopes and
printing same 24.99
June 29. General Treasurer, state of R. I.,
articles of association 5.00
June 30. Secretary of State of Rhode Island,
articles of association 1.00
July 1. John J. Lenehan, expenses New Members
Committee 57.75
July 24. Kinsley-DeFelice studio, 200 parchment
life membership certificates 262.71
July 24. Remington Printing Company, printing,
Secretary-General’s office 7.50
July 26. Rumford Printing Company, printing and
shipping 1500 Journals 1,550.19
Aug. 2. Expenses, Secretary-General’s office 41.31
Aug. 9. Viola Follis, clerical help,
Secretary-General’s office 45.00
Aug. 12. Transportation for Executive Committee 20.00
Sept. 11. T. C. Marceau 2.50
Sept. 18. Kinsley-DeFelici studio .75
Sept. 21. John J. Lenehan, expenses New Members
Committee 18.00
Sept. 27. Expenses, Secretary-General’s office 16.44
Sept. 27. Viola Follis, clerical help,
Secretary-General’s office 20.00
Oct. 15. Snow & Farnham Printing, Secretary’s
office 5.00
Oct. 16. Remington Printing Company, stamped
envelopes 47.50
Nov. 1. John J. Lenehan 194.11
Nov. 10. Dr. Quinlan, newspaper notice 4.40
Nov. 23. Expenses, Secretary-General’s office 41.06
Nov. 27. Viola Follis, clerical help,
Secretary-General office 45.00
Dec. 10. John J. Lenehan, expense Committee on New
Members 32.98
Dec. 31. Remington Printing Company, printing for
Secretary-General 46.00
—————
Total Disbursements $3,636.41
Balance on hand Jan. 1st, 1910 3,866.62
—————
$7,503.03
SUMMARY OF RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS.
From January 15, 1909, to January 1, 1910.
Balance on hand, January 15, 1909 $2,438.51
RECEIPTS.
Membership fees from old members $2,736.00
Annual fees from 236 new members 1,189.80
Life membership fees from old members 220.00
Life membership fees from 16 new members 800.00
Balance remaining from 1909 dinner
account 47.00
For one Journal 2.00
Exchange and rebates .57
Interest from bank 69.15
—————————
Total receipts $ 5,064.52
—————————
$7,503.03
DISBURSEMENTS.
Mrs. Murray, salary and expenses $62.50
Printing Journal and shipping charges 1,550.19
Expenses of Committee on New Members 766.58
Expenses of Treasurer-General, postage 1.00
Expenses of Secretary-General’s Office:
Books $9.15
Cards and files 81.05
Printing 127.46
Clerical 282.34
Postage 120.00
General and incidental expenses 289.08
————————— $909.08
Stenographers for Committee on Revising
Constitution $4.00
Printing by-laws 20.00
Expressing 20.00
Publication of death notices 13.60
Expense of articles of association 6.00
Life membership certificates 263.46
Executive Committee transportation 20.00
—————————
Total disbursements $3,636.41
Balance in National Exchange Bank of Providence, R. I.,
January 1, 1910 $3,866.62
—————————
$7,503.03
MICHAEL F. DOOLEY,
_Treasurer-General_.
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON MEMBERSHIP.
The following report was presented by Chairman John J. Lenehan in behalf
of the Membership Committee, and was accepted by unanimous vote:
MR. LENEHAN: Mr. President, I did not expect to be called upon for any
report, and therefore am quite unprepared, and this particularly so
because my work is necessarily confined to action rather than
expression. We have an eloquent President-General, and a
Secretary-General who is surpassed by no one, either in eloquence or in
ability; wherefore it behooves those of us who labor behind the
machinery to work hard and say little.