The American-Irish Historical Society was founded on the evening of Jan. 20, 1897, at a meeting called for that purpose, and held in the Revere House, Boston, Mass. Over forty gentlemen were present. The Hon. Thomas J. Gargan, of Boston, presided. Thomas Hamilton Murray, then editor of the _Daily Sun_, Lawrence, Mass., was secretary of the meeting. The provisional committee that had attended to the preliminary work included Mr. Murray, just mentioned; Mr. James Jeffrey Roche, editor of the Boston _Pilot_; Mr. Joseph Smith, Secretary of the Police Commission, Lowell, Mass.; Mr. Thomas B. Lawler, of the publishing house, Ginn & Company, Boston, Mass.; and Hon. John C. Linehan, State Insurance Commissioner, Concord, N. H. Four states—Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island—were represented among those in attendance. Letters conveying good wishes were received from Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, South Carolina, Georgia, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, and the District of Columbia. _Objects and Purposes._ The society is organized for the special study of the Irish element in the composition of the American people; to investigate and record the influence of this element in the up-building of the nation, and to collect and publish facts relating to and illustrating that influence. People of Irish blood have been coming to this continent, voluntarily and otherwise, since the date of its earliest settlements. While they have been a valuable addition to colony and republic in all departments of human activity, their work and contributions have received but scant recognition from chroniclers of American history. Whether this omission springs from carelessness, ignorance, indifference, or design is now of little moment. The fact that such a condition does exist makes it imperative that it should be remedied. The society purposes to remedy it. _More in Detail._