In the midst of the chaos that is Fifth Avenue and Museum Mile, it is easy to forget about the American Irish Historical Society and the treasures that it houses. Over the past month, however, Aishling Connaughton Edwards, Marcus Lindenburg and a plucky team of interns have been working tirelessly to reintroduce the AIHS to the world.

Last Monday, July 28th, the Society reopened its doors with an exlusive look at Aishling Connaugton Edwards’ first exhibition in her role as curator; “The Treasures of the Archives”. Following impassioned speeches from newly appointed archivist Marcus Lindenburg and Connaughton Edwards, and emboldened by refreshments served by Rosie, Ella and Venus, guests were invited to tour the exhibition for the first time.

The exhibition, impressively pulled together over just two weeks by the AIHS team, charmingly displays items both newly discovered in our archives and objects very familiar to the American Irish community. One of the most recognizable pieces in our collection, ‘The Proclamation of the Irish Republic’, is well known for many with an interest in Irish history. Other items in this exhibition, like our first edition Bedell Bible, has been locked in our archives for decades without being displayed to the public. With items that reflect both the history of Ireland and the history of New York, Aishling and Marcus have perfectly struck the balance of Irish American identity.

The work that went into this project was no small feat, and guests were quick to tell both staff and interns how impressed they were with the revitalization of the space. What was once a storage cupboard connecting two rooms has been transformed into a cozy nook where visitors can sit for a while and read old copies of ‘The Recorder’, the AIHS newsletter between the 1910s and 2017. As one attendee wrote in our guestbook, “This place is a pot of gold. Dig it up.” With many more exhibitions planned for the future, that is exactly what we intend to do.

“The Treasures of the Archives” exhibition can be viewed on one of our tours, offered at 12pm, 1pm and 2pm, Monday through Thursday. Tickets can be booked Here, or can be booked over phone or email.

Uncovering The Treasures of the Archives

Archiving The AIHS