Ancient Order of Hibernians

The Ancient Order of Hibernians is a Catholic, Irish-American fraternal organization founded in New York City in 1836. Inspired by the Irish organization of the same name created in the 16th Century to sustain the Catholic faith in the face of English opposition, the American Hibernians sought to protect clergy and church property from Anti-Catholic 'Nativist' Americans and their followers. Similarly, the vast influx of Irish Catholic immigrants fleeing the famine in the 1840s prompted the growth of various social societies, the largest of which was and continues to be the Hibernians. It remains active today aiding newly arrived Irish immigrants, both socially and politically, and is at the forefront of issues such as immigration reform, economic incentives, human rights, right to life, and peace in Ireland.

From the description of The Ancient Order of Hibernians collection. 1905-2003. (Catholic University of America). WorldCat record id: 166229402

Coxsackie, N.Y. organization.

From the description of Records, 1883-1911. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 155505140

The Ancient Order of Hibernians, Cuyahoga County Divisions (f. 1871) was founded in Cleveland, Ohio, to provide social gatherings, cultural events, and charitable opportunities for the Irish American community in northeast Ohio. The Ancient Order of Hibernians began in 1520 in Ireland as a reaction to the efforts of Henry VIII to become head of the church in Ireland. The group's main purpose was to protect the Catholic Church and priests especially during the 17th century in Ireland when the existence of Roman Catholic priests was illegal according to Oliver Cromwell's legislation. According to the 1949 Ancient Order of Hibernians program, the Cleveland group was dedicated to the ideals of "Friendship, Unity, and True Christian Charity". The Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH) was established in the United States in the 1830s in reaction to the mounting wave of religious bigotry, discrimination, mob action, and violence against Irish immigrants. The organization was started in New York City on May 4, 1836. The organization began in Ohio in 1850 in Cincinnati. The first Cleveland division was started in 1871. It grew quickly, and by 1875, four divisions were active in Cleveland. The first charter for the Ladies Auxiliary of the Ancient Order of Hibernians in Ohio was granted to AOH wives in Dayton in 1896. The first Ladies Auxiliary in the Cleveland area was organized at St. Colman's Church on the West Side of Cleveland in 1908. Around 1987 the Ladies voted to leave out the "Auxiliary" and call themselves the Ladies Ancient Order of the Hibernians. In the early 20th century the AOH focused mainly on social gatherings and raising money for a scholarship endowment for Trinity College and local charities. By the late twentieth century, the focus shifted to historic preservation, fund raising for Catholic-based charities, promotion of Irish culture, and financial assistance to families of political prisoners who were jailed by the British government and assistance to Catholic schools in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

From the description of Ancient Order of Hibernians Cuyahoga County divisions records, 1880-2011. (Rhinelander District Library). WorldCat record id: 760305569

The Ancient Order of Hibernians, Cuyahoga County Divisions, (f. 1871) is an organization that supports Irish heritage and Roman Catholic charities in Cuyahoga County and Cleveland, Ohio. For a more complete historical sketch, see the finding aid to MS. 5096, Ancient Order of Hibernians Cuyahoga County Divisions Records.

From the description of Ancient Order of Hibernians Cuyahoga County divisions photographs, 1951-ca. 1970s [graphic]. (Rhinelander District Library). WorldCat record id: 760307835

The Ancient Order of Hibernians was founded in New York City in 1836 to assist new immigrants, keep the Irish culture alive and promote a political solution to Ireland's problems. The Order is open to men of Irish Catholic descent. The Order came to Montana in the late 1870s with the influx of Irish miners. The Anaconda order was established in 1885 among smelter workers of Irish descent. The Anaconda order is the only one of the Montana AOH's to have survived into the present. Beginning in 1982, however, there has been a revival of interest in the Order, and a statewide group the Thomas Francis Meagher Division is thriving. The Anaconda AOH Ladies Auxiliary was formed about 1900 and survived for eight years.

From the description of Ancient Order of Hibernians, Ladies Auxiliary, Anaconda, Montana, Records 1900-1908 (Montana Historical Society Library). WorldCat record id: 310422471

The Ancient Order of Hibernians was formed during the sixteenth century in Ireland and three divisions were first organized in Butte in 1880. Its membership was limited to men who were born in Ireland and their sons. The A.O.H. was a strictly Catholic organization. Although loyal to the fight for Irish Independence, the A.O.H. was less revolutionary than many of the other organizations.

The Robert Emmet Literary Association was the Butte Branch of the Clan-na-Gael, a revolutionary organization devoted to the fight for Irish independence. The Clan-na-Gael was the American counterpart to the Irish Republican Brotherhood, which was located in Ireland. The R.E.L.A. was organized in Butte in 1881. This organization was steeped in secrecy, including keeping its members and officers secret. R.E.L.A. membership was open to all Irish-born, no matter what religious beliefs they held. The group prided itself on being a non-denominational organization. In 1905, Butte's R.E.L.A. was the second largest Clan-na-Gael in the United States.

Also found in the collection are records from the Patrick Pearse Club (the Butte branch) of the Friends of Irish Freedom. This organization was inspired by the Clan-na-Gael, however, the F.O.I.F. was a public group. Also unlike the Clan-na-Gael and the A.O.H., women were allowed to be members. The Friends of Irish Freedom were bitter rivals, nationally, of another organization found in this collection, the American Association for the Recognition of the Irish Republic. However, in Butte both groups worked well together in their support of Irish independence from the British. The Gaelic League was formed to educate American-born Irish about the Irish culture, focusing on the language, music, and dance. The Irish Volunteers were the "military arm" of the R.E.L.A.; they were the rifle company of the R.E.L.A. Although no information regarding the history of the Sunburst Club in Helena, Montana was found, it appears from the minutes in the collection that they were associated with the R.E.L.A. and the Clan-na-Gael. Both A.O.H. and R.E.L.A. members helped sponsor the Thomas Francis Meagher Memorial Fund, which was set up to erect a statue of Meagher in Helena. Meagher was an rebel who was exiled from Ireland and came to America. Here, he became a Civil War hero and was territorial governor of Montana.

From the guide to the Butte (Mont.) Irish Collection, 1882-1935, (Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library Archives and Special Collections)