History, Natural History & the Arts
In the 1830s, anti-Catholic attitudes inflamed by conspiracy theories were reaching a fevered pitch, especially in New York and Massachusetts where attacks on the homes of urban Irish immigrants occurred with some regularity.
In 1834 the bigotry turned particularly violent. Its greatest instigator was Samuel B. Morse who whipped his Protestant brethren into a fury. [Read more…] about ‘Monkish Traditions’: 1830s Hatred of Irish Immigrants
Although there had always been Irish immigrants to the colonies of the Americas, in the 1830s the pace of immigration of unskilled Irish quickened in the United States. (In 1820, only 21 percent had been unskilled laborers; by 1836 nearly 60 percent were.)
These newcomers were mostly Catholic. [Read more…] about Anti-Irish Sentiment In New York Before The 1830s
In 1868, Anthony Comstock authored a comprehensive New York State statute prohibiting the distribution of “immoral” books and images. Five years later he founded the New York Society for the Suppression of Vice.
Acting as its secretary until his death in September 1915, he sought to become the arbiter of corruption and was handed legal authority to burn indecent books, destroy printers’ stocks, and enter galleries demanding that vile paintings be removed under threat of prosecution. For his enemies Comstock symbolized licensed bigotry; for his supporters he stood firm in defense of decency.
In 1895, the New York Times introduced the term “comstockery” to describe his zealous moral campaign. [Read more…] about Donleavy, Comstockery and Irish Smut
In his memoir, That Further Shore: A Memoir of Irish Roots and American Promise, (Fordham University Press, 2020) John D. Feerick shares his life story, from his humble beginnings born to immigrant parents in the South Bronx.
He went on to practice law, participating in framing the Constitution’s Twenty-Fifth Amendment, serving as dean of Fordham Law, President of the New York City Bar Association and chair of State Commissions on government integrity. [Read more…] about A Bronx Memoir: Irish Roots And Fordham Law
The Ticonderoga Historical Society is set to open for their 2020 season on Friday, March 27 with “The Singing of the Green, The Irish in American Musical Theater,” a presentation by Diane O’Connor. [Read more…] about Ti Historical Opening With ‘Singing of the Green’
It has long been the conventional wisdom that the Irish in America trend Democratic in their voting tendencies. This was more true in the late 19th Century and in the 1880s, Republican Party election committees were hell-bent on mitigating that trend.
The large Irish population, concentrated as it was in several northeastern cities, made it relatively easy for political parties to ‘segment the market’ and target voters. New York State, with its 36 electoral college votes, was seen as the make-or-break state – a strategic objective for campaign planners.
By the campaign of 1880 senior Irish American Republicans were determined to facilitate an ‘Irish bolt’ from the Democratic party. In New York State, Republican party operatives were especially challenged in this as they had to confront the formidable power of Tammany. Dirty campaign tactics, muckraking, and bigotry contributed to the voter coercion and vote manipulation widely practiced by both parties. [Read more…] about Collections Mystery: The Emancipator Newspaper in 1888
In his new book Dagger John: Archbishop John Hughes and the Making of Irish America (Cornell University Press, 2019) biographer John Loughery tells the story of John Hughes, son of Ireland, friend of William Seward and James Buchanan, founder of St. John’s College (now Fordham University), builder of Saint Patrick’s Cathedral on Fifth Avenue, pioneer of parochial school education, and American diplomat. [Read more…] about Dagger John: Archbishop John Hughes and Irish America
On The Historians Podcast with Bob Cudmore, Roger Higgins, author of Billy Gogan Gone Fer Soldier, tells about his historical novel concerning an Irish immigrant to America and his experiences in the Intervención estadounidense en México, the Mexican War, in the 1840s. [Read more…] about A Historical Novel of the Mexican War
Christopher Klein, author of When the Irish Invaded Canada, is set to share the incredible true story of the Civil War veterans who fought for Ireland’s freedom on Monday, May 13 at 7 pm, at the Irish American Heritage Museum in Albany.
When the Irish Invaded Canada tells the story of a band of Irish-Americans who fled the Great Hunger in Ireland, fought on both sides of the Civil War, and then united to undertake one of the most fantastical missions in military history — to kidnap the British province of Canada, hold it hostage, and ransom it for Ireland’s independence. With the tacit support of the U.S. government, the self-proclaimed Irish Republican Army attacked Canada not just once, but five times between 1866 and 1871 in what are collectively known as the Fenian Raids. [Read more…] about Irish Fenian Raids Talk Set for Albany Monday
Much like the ‘information wanted’ ads that appeared in 19th Century Irish American newspapers I am posting this notice seeking information on an Irish American living in New York City in the late 19th Century. His name was Michael J. Kerwin, formerly of Philadelphia, and usually was identified either as Colonel or General Kerwin.
I am researching General Kerwin from my home in Sammamish, WA for an article about him for the New York Irish History Roundtable’s annual journal. I have access to digitized historical newspaper archives and have scoured the internet.
Kerwin was commented on frequently in the New York City newspapers from the mid-1880s until 1900, but I have found no collection of personal papers, there is no file on him at the National Records Administration archives in St Louis and I have found just two images of him. Given his higher visibility and notoriety in the papers of his day, I’m hoping materials exists about his time in New York from 1870 to 1912, tucked away somewhere in New York.
[Read more…] about Information Wanted: Irishman General Michael Kerwin, 1870-1912