The Ancient Order of Hibernians originated as a secret society in Ireland in the late 16th century.  It was established in the United States in 1836.  Now known as the Ancient Order of Hibernians in America, it is a fraternal benefit society open to those who are Irish and Catholic.  The Order provides insurance benefits to members and undertakes charitable and educational activities.

Applegate, Howard

Photographs, 1890-1910.  16 prints

Group portraits of Slavic workers and families, Pennsylvania German family group, Irish police sergeant, farm view, African American women and childern and westward-bound migrants; United States.  Gift of Howard Applegate.

Papers (photocopies), 1913-1973.  .5 ft.

Born in Derry, Ireland, William Bradley came to the United States in 1910.  He was president of Home Life Insurance Company in Philadelphia.  He was involved in several Irish American organizations and promoted independence for Ireland.  His son, William T., was also born in Derry and was the archdiocesan superintendent of schools in Santa Fe, New Mexico, 1944-64.  The collection contains correspondence to and from Bradley as secretary of the Irish-American Club and the Clan-na-Gael of Philadelphia and resolutions of these and other clubs.  There are also articles, newspaper clippings, and promotional materials regarding Irish nationalism.  Included are correspondence and editorials by Bradley's son and materials generated by historian Dennis Clark.  In English.  Register available.  Gift of Dennis Clark.

Brehon Law Society

Records, 1981-1989.  1.5 ft.

The Brehon Law Society was founded in Philadelphia in 1976.  The collection includes minutes, correspondence, membership materials, financial records, bylaws, agendas, and miscellaneous printed materials.  In English.  Inventory available.  Gift of the organization.

Papers, 1866-1989.  12 ft.

A historian and foundation administrator, Clark has written extensively on the Irish immigrant in urban society and Irish life in Philadelphia.  The collection consists primarily of research materials, including research papers, drafts of Clark's writings, articles and clippings, correspondence, manuscripts, book reviews, and cassettes.  Also present are materials relating to the Clan-na-Gael of Philadelphia.  The collection contains unprocessed additions.  Clark's diaries are available on microfilm.  In English.  Register and inventory available.  Gift of Dennis Clark.

Clark, Dennis

Photograph, n.d.  1 print.  Portrait of Joseph Garrity.  Gift of Dennis Clark.

Clucas (Phillips), Marybeth

Papers, 1979-1987.  4 folders.

Marybeth Clucas Phillips was founder and director of the Celtic Dance Troupe, which existed in Philadelphia 1973-1983.  She is active in local Irish American cultural events.  The collection includes correspondence, clippings, uncataloged photographs, and flyers and other printed materials relating to various Irish American organizations.  In English.  Inventory available.  Gift of Marybeth Clucas Phillips.

Papers, 1827-1874.  1.5 ft.

The collection consists of papers of the Costello(e) family, who came to Philadelphia from Dublin, Ireland, in 1833.  It contains correspondence dealing with real estate in Ireland and other business affairs, the American Civil War, Irish politics, and family affairs.  Also present are financial and legal papers, a recipe book, and unpublished poetry by James Costello of Tennessee.  In English.  Register available.

Papers, 1838-1905, 1926.  .25 ft.

The collection contains letters to John Curtis and his mother, Bridget, living in Philadelphia, from family members living in Belfast and Mountmellick, Ireland, which describe conditions during the famine in Ireland and discuss family news and plans for emigration.  Also included are a copy book and miscellaneous family documents.  In English.  Register available.  Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Raymond J. Flannery.

Donnelly, Ignatius (1831-1901)

Papers (microfilm), 1836-1943.  167 reels.

Donnelly was born in Philadelphia, the son of an immigrant from Fintona, County Tyrone, Ireland and a second generation Irish-American mother.  He was admitted to the bar in 1853 and entered politics in 1855.  In 1857 he and his wife, Katharine McCaffrey, moved to Nininger, Minnesota.  Donnelly had helped locate the townsite, which would remain his home, and organize an immigrant aid association to settle it.  He joined the Republican Party in Minnesota and was elected lieutenant governor (1859-1863) and then to the U.S. Congress (1863-1868).  Beginning in the 1870s he became involved in the agrarian reform movement, affiliating with the Grange and a succession of political parties, including the Anti-Monopoly, Greenback Labor, Alliance-Labor, and People's parties, and served several terms in the state legislature.  A writer of both fiction and non-fiction, he published two short-lived reform-oriented newspapers.  The collection includes correspondence and miscellaneous papers, literary materials, volumes and pamphlets, and scrapbook materials.  The original documents are in the collections of the Minnesota Historical Society.  In English.  Register available.

Manuscript, n.d.  1 folder.  Written for his grandchildren, the manuscript records Doyle's impressions and reminiscences of San Francisco between 1840 and 1850.  In English.  Register available.

Robin O'Brien Hiteshew Collection:

Irish Edition

Records, 1975-1991.  31.5 ft.

The Irish Edition was founded in Philadelphia in 1981.  It is an independent, regional Irish-American newspaper with a regional and national circulation.  The records include extensive reference files on Irish-American organizations; drafts of articles, press releases, and advertising materials; correspondence; clippings; and uncataloged photographs.  In English.  Inventory available.  Gift of Jane Duffin and Anthony Byrne.

Papers, 1799-1821.  6 folders.

Patrick Lynch (ca. 1782-1819) was born in Dublin and came to the United States ca. 1803, establishing himself as a merchant in Bennington, Vermont.  His wife Charlotte Gray Lynch (1789-1873) was born in the United States.  Lynch served in the War of 1812, possibly as topographer to General Swift.  The collection contains correspondence, primarily letters from Lynch to his wife; sheets from a journal he kept in 1814; and three maps of Ireland, two of which were drawn by Lynch.  In English.  Register available.

Magee Family

Photograph, 1895.  1 print.

Mounted print, portrait of family group.  Gift of Eileen Magee.

Magee Family

Papers, 1868-1986.  .5 ft.

Michael and Francis Magee came to the United States from County Leitrim, Ireland, in 1833, settling in Philadelphia.  The brothers became members of the Hibernian Society.  The collection contains materials relating to the family up to the present, and includes notes, correspondence, miscellaneous printed materials, documents, ephemera, and uncataloged photographs.  In English.  Inventory available.  Gift of Martin J.J Griffin, IV and Mr. and Mrs. John J. Tonklinson, IV.

Correspondence, 1908.  1 page.

In this letter to George E. Kirkpatrick of Philadelphia, Maguire inquires about a position as a watchman or usher.  In English.  Register available.  Gift of Maxwell Whiteman.

Martin-Clark Family

Photographs, 1895-1920.  4 prints.

Workplaces and portraits; United States.  Gift of Clare Clark.

McGovern Family

Photographs, 1904-1928.  4 prints.

Family group portraits; Philadelphia.  Gift of Peter B. McGovern.

Correspondence, 1774.  1 page.

A letter from Muir to an unidentified correspondent requests "a Taylor, who is a good workman" but adds that "Mr. Calvert has an objection to an Irish man, therefore be pleased not to send one of that Nation".  In English.  Register available.

Mulhern Family

Photographs, ca. 1910-1960s.  19 prints.

Individual and group family portraits; Ireland and United States.  Gift of John Joseph Mulhern

Papers, 1950.  1 folder.

The collection contains correspondence and memorabilia relating to the fiftieth anniversary celebration of O'Donnell's ordination to the priesthood and his work in the Philadelphia area.  Included are biographical sketches and original songs about Rev. O'Donnell.  In English.  Register available.  Gift of St. Charles Seminary, Philadelphia.

Philadelphia Ceili Group

Tapes, 1977-1989.  7.5 ft.

The Philadelphia Ceili Group was founded in 1958 to perform and teach precision Ceili dancing.  During the 1970s the group broadened its scope to include music and dance workshops, concerts, lectures, and plays in addition to continued involvement in competitive dance.  The collection consists of tape recordings of most events sponsored by the group between 1977 and 1989.  The tapes are available for review in the Balch Institute Library but may not be duplicated.  Copies are also held by the Folklife Center at the University of Pennsylvania; the originals are in the Library of Congress.  In English.  Register available.  Gift of the organization.

Correspondence, 1818.  2 pages.

Recently arrived in the United States, Polin sends news of family and friends in Ireland to William Bennett of Mercer County (Pennsylvania?).  He also describes the political situation and "revolutionary spirit" in Ireland.  In English.  Register available.  Gift of Thomas M. Fassett.

Quinn Family

Photographs, 1930-1975.  10 prints.

McLaughlin and Quinn family members; Philadelphia.  Gift of Timothy Quinn.

Quinn Family Album

Photographs, 1898-1919.  1 volume.

Informal portraits of family, friends, and co-workers, outdoor scenes; Philadelphia.  Bound in hand-painted album decorated by postal worker Charles A. Quinn.  Gift of John McCurry.

Southwark School

Photograph, 1918.  1 print

Group portrait in front of school; Philadelphia.  Gift of William J. Boccelli.

Souvenir Sketch of St. Patrick's Church, Philadelphia

Photomechanical reproduction,1842-1892.  15 prints.

Photos of the clergy and interior and exterior of the church building; Philadelphia.  Reproduced from above titled text available in Balch library.

Papers, 1927-1976.  3.5 ft., 2 reels film.

Patrick Stanton was born in County Cork, Ireland and came to Philadelphia in 1912.  In 1926 he began working as an announcer at radio station WIAD, where he created the "Irish Hour", which he broadcast on a succession of stations for nearly 50 years.  From 1948 to 1965 Stanton owned radio station WJMJ, which featured religious programs and devoted extensive time to foreign language broadcasting.  He also produced several Irish travel films.  Stanton served as press secretary to Philadelphia Mayor James Tate from 1968 to 1971.  The bulk of the collection documents Stanton's radio, film and charitable activties in regard to Ireland and the Irish-American community.  Also present are materials on Irish history and culture.  The collection includes correspondence, speeches, radio clippings, scrapbooks, certificates, biographies and songsheets.  In English.  Register available.  Gift of Mrs. Patrick Stanton.

Stanton, Patrick

Photographs, 1920s-1970s.  261 prints.

Radio personalities and groups, publicity activities, testimonial dinners, festivals and miscellany; Philadelphia.  Gift of Mrs. Patrick Stanton.

Turk Family

Photographs, ca. 1890-1955.  10 prints.

"Homestead" photos of the Love and Turk families and their properties.  Portraits, at work and on the beach; New Jersey, Delaware, and Pennsylvania.  Gift of James F. Turk.

SERIALS

Newspaper, 1903-1951.  23 reels.  Published weekly in New York by Gaelic American Publishing Company, 1903-1951.

Irish Citizen

Newspaper, 1867-1868.  1 reel.  Published weekly in New York, 1867-1872.  Editor, John Mitchel.

Irish Nation

Newspaper,1881-1883.  1 reel.  Published weekly in New York City by John Devoy, 1881-1885.

Irish World

Newspaper, 1870-1878.  3 reels.  Published weekly in Boston by Patrick Ford, 1870-1878.  Continued by the Irish World and American Industrial Liberator.

Irish World and American Industrial Liberator

Newspaper, 1878-1944.  36 reels.  Published weekly in New York by the Irish World and American Industrial Liberator Company, 1878-1951.  Continues the Irish World.

Irish-American

Newspaper, 1849-1915.  19 reels.  Published weekly in New York by Lynch, Cole and Company, 1849-1915.