Part 3
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.
I may, however, say briefly that when we took up the work of the Membership Committee in October a year ago, we found the roll contained about 545 members, of whom perhaps 100 were somewhat inactive, being remiss in their dues and not taking all the interest they might have taken in the affairs of our Society; so that substantially the active membership was about 450.
Inside of fourteen months we have brought the membership up to nearly 1,000, including many life members. We introduced them into our circle from all over the United States and even further, for they included members from such far distant points as the Hon. Thomas J. O’Brien, American Ambassador to Japan, and Richard Bradshaw of Fort Pickens, Florida. United States Senators, Congressmen, generals, bankers, merchants—the best men throughout the land have joined our ranks.
It required hard work; but, as the Treasurer-General has pointed out, we brought in about 400 members and nearly $2,000 in money at a cost of approximately $700, which, as a business venture, has the endorsement of a bank president, our Treasurer-General.
The great advantage of this increase is that, if we have 500 new members and they pay us $2,500 a year, while there is no further expense in connection with those members, they return each year an annual dividend of $2,500, which will readily equal the dividends paid by any good, working trust. So much for the genius of the race.
The work progresses splendidly. This morning’s receipts, for example, consisted of five names. I have just handed them to the Secretary-General in the form we always pursue, but it will give you an idea of the membership we get and the way they come in if I read them to you: