The journal of the American-Irish Historical Society, Vol. VI, 1906

In Short

This book is the sixth annual collection of records, historical essays, and membership rolls published by the American-Irish Historical Society in 1906. It functions as both an archive and a manifesto, intended to counter contemporary narratives that minimized the Irish role in American development. By documenting the professional, military, and civic achievements of people of Irish ancestry—from colonial schoolmasters to captains of industry—the publication seeks to assert a central place for this ethnic group within the broader American historical consciousness.

The Story

The journal opens with the administrative machinery of the Society, detailing the annual meeting and the inauguration of its 1906 leadership. It establishes a tone of serious, institutional purpose, positioning itself as a vital repository for historical facts that the editors argue have been neglected or unfairly suppressed by mainstream, often "Anglo-Saxon" focused, historiography. This introductory section sets a defensive yet proud argumentative arc: the Irish were not late-coming arrivals, but foundational participants in the American experiment.

The narrative moves from organizational business into specific, localized historical research. These papers explore the maritime links between Rhode Island and Irish ports, the influence of Irish schoolmasters in colonial Pennsylvania, and the documented presence of Irish individuals in New York’s Dutch records during the seventeenth century. By excavating these granular details, the book seeks to prove that Irish influence was pervasive long before the mass migrations of the nineteenth century.

The scope then widens to address the Revolutionary War and the Civil War, cataloging military commanders, chaplains, and common soldiers of Irish descent. This section is structured to demonstrate constant, patriotic service. It explicitly connects historical figures to modern-day professionals—financiers, railroad builders, and public officials—to show that the "Irish element" is not a static relic of the past but a dynamic force in the modern American business and political world.

The book concludes by pivoting from the general to the individual, providing an extensive membership roll that lists the biographies and professional affiliations of its members. This index serves as a living census of the "solid men" of the community, ranging from merchants and surgeons to lawyers and clergy. By memorializing its own members, the journal closes the loop on its primary argument: that the Irish in America have successfully ascended to positions of civic and social influence, thereby validating the historical legitimacy the Society fought to define throughout the volume.

How It Unfolds

The organizational baseline The volume begins by establishing the society’s structure, listing officers and detailing the proceedings of the annual dinner. It provides a formal framework to ensure the reader understands that this is a professional, institutional effort to preserve heritage.

The historical excavation Essays provide evidence of Irish commerce in Rhode Island and the prevalence of Irish schoolmasters in early Pennsylvania. These chapters use specific names and dates to challenge the idea that the Irish were merely unskilled laborers.

The military catalog A significant section focuses on the roles of Irish-descended soldiers and officers in the American Revolution and the Civil War. It lists regiments and commanders to emphasize that the Irish have always been on the front lines of American defense.

The modern testament The book transitions to a contemporary survey of prominent Irish-American figures in finance and industry. This illustrates the progress of the community, linking past pioneers to modern builders like James J. Hill.

The final roll call The journal concludes with a comprehensive list of its members, complete with their professional titles and achievements. This serves as a final, tangible proof of the community's integration into the highest tiers of American society.

The People

The book focuses on the "pathfinders" and "pillars" of the American-Irish community. Thomas Hamilton Murray, the Secretary-General, acts as the primary curator, using his research to link historical figures like the colonial carpenter Thomas Lewis—who was recorded in Dutch New York as "Thomas the Irishman"—to the modern, wealthy members of the society.

The figures highlighted are presented as archetypes of success. James J. Hill, the railroad magnate, is lauded for his role in opening the American Northwest, representing the quintessential self-made immigrant success story. Similarly, the military leaders mentioned—like General Philip Sheridan—are held up as proof of unwavering national loyalty. The volume also immortalizes the "gentle Irish girl" Elephell (Fitzgerald) Slocum, whose domestic history and long line of descendants in Rhode Island serve to domesticate and anchor the Irish presence in early colonial soil. The members listed in the final roll call, such as the real estate broker John F. Doyle, act as contemporary evidence of this legacy, showing how the descendants of 1798 revolutionaries evolved into the professional class of 1906.

In Its Own Voice

"As we progress with our researches, even we ourselves are quite astonished at the facts brought to light, facts showing in a far greater degree than anticipated, how tremendously important was the part taken by the Irish element in American colonial life and in the early and subsequent career of the republic itself."

This statement from the introductory note captures the Society's core mission to uncover and publicize a neglected history.

"While Irish blankets and Kilkenny rugs were mercantile commodities in New Hampshire before King William of 'glorious and immortal memory' had trigged the wheels, Irish butter was a most desirable article in Boston."

The author uses this vivid detail to illustrate the long-standing, mundane commercial ties between Ireland and the American colonies.

What It's Really About

At its heart, the book is a study in identity formation and historical reclamation. It is an argument against the "Anglo-Saxon hobby"—the tendency of contemporary historians to view America as an exclusively English-derived civilization. The authors are deeply concerned with legitimacy; they seek to prove that the Irish were present at the creation of the nation and have remained indispensable to its success. The book grapples with the tension between being "American" and being "Irish," arguing that the two are not contradictory but rather that the latter is a vital, if under-recognized, component of the former. It is a work of defensive pride, attempting to cement a place for the Irish within the traditional American narrative.

Why Read It Today

Readers interested in the history of immigration or the social history of the United States will find this volume fascinating, though it requires a specific kind of patience. It is essentially a piece of historical advocacy written in a style that is formal, earnest, and occasionally combative toward the "aristocratic trend" of its time.

The book is not a traditional history; it is a compilation of records, and at times it reads like an extended, highly detailed ledger. You will encounter the names of dozens of obscure schoolmasters, merchants, and soldiers, which can be repetitive. Furthermore, the reader should be prepared for the period’s specific prejudices; the authors hold a dim view of those they label "Anglo-Saxon" historians and often use a combative, rhetorical tone to assert their own importance. However, for those who want to understand how Irish-Americans in 1906 viewed their own past—and how they built organizations to protect their legacy—this volume is an essential primary source. It captures a moment when a group was actively constructing its own place in the American story, and that drive for recognition remains as palpable today as it was over a century ago.