About
The American Irish Historical Society is the custodian of an invaluable archive and collection of Irish and Irish-American history and literature. You are welcome to attend our events, conduct research in our archives, and help support our historical and cultural mission. Founded in Boston and in continuous operation since 1897, the Society has been non-partisan and non- sectarian since its inception.
History Of The Society
On January 20th, 1897, fifty men of Irish nationality or descent met in the old Revere House in Boston where they adopted a Constitution and By-Laws that brought into being the American Irish Historical Society. The primary goal of the Society was to raise awareness of the accomplishments of the Irish in America, because at the time many historians mistakenly believed that there were no Irish in America until the 1830s. Thus, the founders of the AIHS placed special emphasis on the role of Irish-Americans in the American Revolution. Thomas Hamilton Murray became the first Secretary-General and Thomas Bonaventure Lweler was the Librarian-Archivist. Original members included Augustus Saint-Gaudens, Theodore Roosevelt, William Bourke Cockran, Thomas Hamilton Murray, Justice John Goff, Judge Daniel F. Cohalan, John Devoy, historian Michael J. O' Brien, Fr. Francis Duffy, George M. Cohan, Victor Herbert, and James McGurrin.
The Society moved its headquarters to New York City in the early 20th century, to offices in the old Manhattan Hotel at 42nd Street and Madison Avenue. In 1908, the society moved to the old Waldorf-Astoria Hotel at 34th Street and Fifth Avenue. Finally, in 1921, the society moved into its first permanent home of its own - a four-story home and basement brick building at 132 East 16th street, which had been bequeathed to it by the late Dr. John T. Nagle, a board member. In these surroundings, the Society continued to grow its holdings and it was found necessary to build an addition to the building to house everything. By then, the Society had amassed large collections of books, pamphlets, and papers, and members and students used the reading room five days a week. Nineteen years after moving in, the society moved again, for the last time.
On April 14, 1940, it moved into its handsome new home at 991 Fifth Avenue on Millionaire Mile, now known as Museum Mile. The society continued to serve its membership by offering free and public events and by extending use of the library and archives to researchers, writers, and scholars.
Mission Statement
The American Irish Historical Society was founded in Boston in 1897 to document, commemorate, and interrogate the story of the Irish in America. In the years since, it has become a national center of scholarship, conversation, and culture. From its home on New York’s Fifth Avenue, across from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Society serves as a focal point of the contemporary transatlantic Irish experience, a place where current public issues are explored, where the story of the American Irish is studied and reviewed, and where the great renaissance in Irish culture is celebrated in lectures, concerts, performances, and art exhibits. Non-partisan and non-sectarian since its inception in 1897, it maintains the most complete private collection of Irish and Irish American literature and history in the United States.
Core Values of the American Irish Historical Society
AIHS follows our mission and our core values to the best of our ability. This diligence is reflected in our board members, staff, interns, and volunteers. We seek to engage our partners and audiences in a pursuit of knowledge and deep care for the study of Irish American history, through the following values.
Accessibility
AIHS seeks to ensure all programming and collections are as accessible as possible. We welcome visitors to our building, while also working hard to create access for our global audiences.
Authenticity
AIHS was founded to investigate the history of Irish America and educate the masses. As such, our work always falls in this vein, and we work carefully to preserve our mission. By evolving our practices into the modern day, we guarantee this history is presentable for future generations.
Curiosity
The original founding members of our society refused to accept that the American story was finished. They knew there were voices missing from the narrative. We therefore encourage our patrons to approach our collections with curiosity, moving forward with an eagerness to learn more.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity
We at AIHS believe Irish American history should be brought to all audiences and are committed to the fair treatment of our global community.
Integrity
We are dedicated to our mission and values, learning from our past to set us in good standing for the future. Taking guidance from our founding officers, we seek to build a legacy of research and education.
Knowledge
An eagerness for the pursuit of knowledge. Those who visit AIHS need not have any background of formal study to be welcomed. We support a desire to learn and grow from the education provided by our society, and do our best to facilitate this work wherever possible.
Stewardship
Most importantly, AIHS is dedicated to the long-term preservation of our collections. Our materials and their safety is our top priority. We want to facilitate access not only for our present audience, but for generations to come.