Ancient Order of Hibernians Collection

Fonds

Identifier: AOH

Staff Only

Scope and Content

CD-ROMS containing images of pages from printed directories, including the 1884 Ancient Order of Hibernians Officer's Directory, the 1902-1904 AOH National Directory of Officers, the 1878 AOH Journal (Richmond, Virginia), the Hibernian Digest for 2002 and 2003, and History of the Ancient Order of Hibernians and Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians in Ohio: a Comparative Analysis (Univ. of Toledo, OH, M.A. thesis, May 2005, by Nicole M. Creech); CD-ROMS containing group photographs of Hibernians gathered for parade on St. Patrick's Day and at conventions or banquets, and "Hibernian Windows, a Legacy of Love", Volumes I and II (color photographs of stained glass windows donated by the AOH); also printed material, including the AOH General Rules (1930), the 68th AOH National Convention Proceedings (1956); and the 73rd National Convention Proceedings (1966).

Dates

Creation: 1847-2005.

Language of Materials

English.

Background

A fraternal organization of Catholic lay people of Irish extraction founded in New York in 1836 in response to the nativist agitation of the Know-Nothings. The AOH traces its remote origins to similar associations going back to the sixteenth century. It soon spread to Pennsylvania and other states and countries. It helped Irish immigrants in the nineteenth century and provided solidarity against American anti-Irish and anti-Catholic sentiments. By the first decade of the twentieth century the membership had grown to over 125,000 men. The AOH has a Ladies Auxiliary founded in Omaha, Nebraska, in 1894.