American Historical Association

“ Osgood, have been published in the last decade. I am sure that some one who is thoroughly familiar with all this work might write an instructive, an illuminating critical essay about it, noting the changing attitude of both British and American scholars toward our colonial history, and attempting to find an explanation for this change in those present-day conditions that are determining the trend of historical scholarship generally, and, more particularly, that are bringing about, in England and tho United States, a marked revival of interest in colonial policy. ”

“ They have erected the edifice; it is only left for us to maintain the structure. The work of this Society would be like a “Rope of Sand,” as my friend Clarke would say, unless we perpetuate our traditions and realize the anticipations of our forefathers.
73This Society needs a Chapter in every State of the Union, where semi-annual meetings should be held for the purpose of reading historical papers, and at the same time to draw closer and closer together our people. Bring your sons into our Society that they, too, may enjoy the glorious association of our kinsfolk. ”

“ I am very much pleased with the project and gratified to see that so many eminent gentlemen have become interested in the movement, and regret that official duties will prevent my attendance at the initial meeting. That the undertaking is needful and timely, the letter well demonstrates, and the broad foundation indicated will undoubtedly attract the moral and material support of all American citizens who want nothing but the truth recorded and preserved in the archives of history. May success attend the noble work of vindicating the worth and memory of a superior race! ”

“ All over the country, archives are reuniting citizens with their rights and helping historians research and tell the American story. Through the work of the National Historical Publications and Records Commission, we’ve helped fund documentary histories of Americans from Benjamin Franklin to Martin Luther King, from the records of the Florida everglades to the civic history of Los Angeles. ”

“ In the archives of such an old institution as that of the Historical Society of Massachusetts, whose treasures run to the beginnings of the Puritan colonization, the students cannot fail to find the evidence that a State Historical Society is a Book of Judgment wherein is made up the record of a people and its leaders. So, as time unfolds, shall be the collections of this Society, the depository of the material that shall preserve the memory of this people. Each section of this widely extended and varied nation has its own peculiar past, its special form of society, its traits and its leaders. ”

“ This Act may be cited as the “National Historic Preservation Act”.
(b) The Congress finds and declares that—
(1) the spirit and direction of the Nation are founded upon and reflected in its historic heritage; (2) the historical and cultural foundations of the Nation should be preserved as a living part of our community life and development in order to give a sense of orientation to the American people; (3) historic properties significant to the Nation’s heritage are being lost or substantially altered, often inadvertently, with increasing frequency ”

“ There are ages that are creative. At such times two classes of men are prominent and needed—one shackled to traditions, the other guided by visions. Thomas Jefferson belonged to the latter. In 1776 the American people not only broke the bonds binding them to old England, but forged other bonds which would bind them to a new political, social and industrial order, and of those who hammered these new ties into harmony with the longing and aspirations of men, Thomas Jefferson stands among the foremost Fathers. ”

“ You are yourself a constant reminder of its failure to provide you with all that you desire. You are yourself, as this pamphlet is published, witnessing how the ebb and flow of economic laws, decide your wages and working conditions for you. You have seen and can see, for yourself, how markets, panics, "good business" eras, and "hard times" whip you about like a straw in the wind, from work and temporary security, to unemployment and starvation, without your craft union or your insurance association, whichever it should properly be called, being able to solve your problems. ”

“ I congratulate the members on the increase in numbers, the continued prosperity of the Society, and urge all who can to contribute 28liberally to the publication fund, for spoken words are often but perishable things, and if the history of the part which our race and blood have borne in upbuilding the Republic is to be preserved, we can only keep alive the record of their sacrifices, their heroism and their patriotism by preserving them in the form of permanent memorials, books and publications of the Society. ”

“ 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, 41index and place it in the archives of the Society, where it may be referred to in a convenient form at any time. ”

“ From Continental Hall, too, will emanate the true spirit of the "diffusion of knowledge" for lectures on American History will be delivered in its auditorium to the general public. "The acquisition and protection of historical spots" has not been neglected by the society. In many localities throughout the country are valuable properties, replete with revolutionary and historic associations, owned or cared for by the Daughters of the American Revolution. Sites of battles are marked by boulders and by monuments ”

“ On every side there are signs of this new phase of western self-consciousness. In no part of the Union is there such an interest in local history. State-supported departments of history, State historical societies, county and city historical societies, even women’s clubs and public schools, and larger unions such as the confederation of the societies of the Ohio Valley and the Mississippi Valley Historical Association, are all active in collecting material for and exploiting western history. ”

“ As intimated in the last annual report of the Executive Committee, we have decided that it will be best for the Southern Historical Society to do in the future its own publishing, and we send out our first number with the firm conviction that those who are interested in vindicating the truth of Confederate History will sustain the enterprise and make it a complete success. ”

“ We have to compete to some extent with the great historical societies which have their splendid buildings and ample endowments, and we really do not know how friends of the South could more judiciously invest funds just now than by contributions to this Society, which has for its object the preservation of the records, and the vindication of the history of the Confederacy. ”

“ In this Bicentennial year, we have many opportunities to recall that the greatness of America is founded upon appreciation of our heritage and upon knowledge of the historic events that have shaped our national identity. ”

“ With the exception of the Atlantic seaboard, our country has been developed in an age pre-eminent for records and statistics; and there is scarcely a town or city in the land that has not its records and its public documents, its newspaper files and its Fourth-of-July orations,—all replete with information waiting for the historian. Nearly every State has its Historical Society, and Pioneer Associations are as plenty in our glorious West as was the fever and ague with which their members were baptized. ”

“ To accomplish this is the purpose of this organization; it is a work worthy of the sympathy and aid of every American who can rise above the environment of to-day and look into the broad future. Fidelity, 8truth, honor, are the watchwords of such a purpose, and under their noble influence should our work be done.
Article I.—Name. This organization shall be known as the American-Irish Historical Society. ”

“ On the proposition that history is both inspiration and energizer of a nation, the National Historical Commission through public lectures, publications, exhibitions, and historical conservation sought to imbue our citizens with a deeper historical sense. ”

“ The mere mention of these names that have come so conspicuously before the world is not calculated to signify that there are not many others of almost or quite equal note. Scholars, statesmen 146and soldiers are numerous among the Society’s officers and members. But in such a brotherhood as ours there are no caste barriers. In the common endeavor for the common good of seeing that American history is truly written, we meet and act upon common ground. ”

“ The aims and purposes of the society are purely patriotic, and it intends to perpetuate the memories of the men and women who achieved or helped to achieve American Independence in the Revolution of 1776, by the acquisition or protection of historic spots and their indication by means of permanent tablets or monuments ”

“ Americans history lives throughout the Nation by the surviving examples of our man-made heritage-not only along the streets of our cities and towns but also in our rural areas. An indispensable element of the strength, the freedom and the constructive world leadership of this Nation is the knowledge and appreciation of our history, of who we are, where we are, and how we arrived here. ”

“ Believing that the part taken in the settlement, foundation and upbuilding of these United States by the Irish race has never received proper recognition from historians, and inspired by love for the republic, a pride in our blood and forefathers and a desire for historic truth, this Society has met and organized. ”

“ Vice-President of the Society for Massachusetts.
111“In the year that has passed our Society has singularly suffered from the loss of many of its ardent and enthusiastic workers. These pioneers of our organization have been summoned from our midst, but the heritage they have left is beyond measure or computation. Their memory will always be fragrant with the sweetness of their lives, and, whilst we chant their requiem, may they enjoy the hosannas that are sung for them in their happier abode. ”

“ Murray:—It is with pleasure I acknowledge the receipt of your advice that the Annual Volume of our Historical Society is about ready for distribution to our members.
This will be the third volume so distributed, the series showing a constant increase in historical value and interest. We have undertaken a task and set a high standard, to which are attached great responsibilities, which must be maintained and continued. I trust the end of the twentieth century will find our society still vigorous. ”

“ Therefore, an organization such as the American-Irish Historical Society, if it had no other raison d’être, would accomplish a patriotic purpose if it served only as an incentive to the study of the deeds of Irishmen and their descendants in America. It has become almost a maxim in historical matters, that the history of events cannot be accepted as facts until the generation which lived at the time said events occurred has passed away. ”

“ The business session was well attended, several states being represented.
Thomas Hamilton Murray, secretary-general of the Society, presented the following annual report:
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL. The American-Irish Historical Society is on the threshold of its fourth year of existence. We are strong in numbers, representative in character and devoted to a patriotic work.
Our growth as an organization has been rapid, but not unstable; widespread, but healthy; vigorous, and of permanent value. ”

“ American local history should be studied as a contribution to national history. This country will yet be viewed and reviewed as an organism of historic growth, developing from minute germs, from the very protoplasm of state life. ”