FAQs

How do I book a tour?

You can book a tour through our website! Follow this link to learn more and schedule your tours. These are guided and suited for large and small groups or individuals. We will gear your tour to your needs.

How can I work with your archives?

Our archives are currently in a process of repair and surveying. As such, we take requests slowly as we inventory our materials, to ensure we can fit your request as best as possible. The more specificity you have in your request, the better (i.e., “I want to research John Devoy’s correspondences from 1920-28” rather than “Can you tell me about John Devoy?”). Either way, we will do our best to help you. If you wish to visit materials in person, we will assess your request to pull specific boxes for you from our collections and set you up in our reading room. Collections spaces are locked and only available to archival staff.

What kind of research can I conduct?

Research in our archives is not only for academics. Anyone is able to engage with our materials! Our scope of collections is Irish American heritage materials, but falls primarily into 19th and early 20th century Irish history in New York, Boston, and the greater Northeast. Subjects include newspapers, genealogical resources (limited scope), Irish and American revolutionary history, Irish Language materials, and many other focuses. Please note that given our active repair work, you may be unable to access materials at this time. Photos or finding aids may be provided in lieu of physical access.

Is your building for sale?

991 5th Avenue is not planned for sale. Originally purchased by our society in April 1940 with the assistance of President Theodore Roosevelt, we continue to utilize our space to preserve the history of Irish America and welcome our community in.

Can I rent your space for a private event?

Yes! AIHS rents 991 5th Avenue to private rentals. This can be events (birthday parties, weddings, etc.) or photo and video shoots, depending on your needs. Please contact us via our website, email, or phone number to arrange details. Note that exhibition spaces and archival storage are closed to such events for the safety of our priceless collections.

What are your hours of admission? Can I just drop by?

We are open Monday through Thursday from 11am to 5pm EST, with additional tours available on Sundays at request. Generally, tours occur at noon and 2pm, although we are flexible to your schedule given appropriate staffing. You may drop by at any hour during this time frame, and we should be able to accommodate tours. Tours cost $15 per person, $50 for groups of four or more.

What do I do if I have a general research question? What if I don’t know where to start?

Research can be overwhelming, no matter your experience. You can contact our Archivist directly through the link provided in our archives webpage, and he will do the best to accommodate your request and guide you through our collections. In the meantime, consider perusing our preview catalog, where you can filter through and get a sense of what materials we have.

Can I donate materials?

We are not currently accepting donations of materials to our archives, as we are still completing ongoing repairs of our current collections. If you want to see our accessions procedures, please visit our Archival Policies webpage.

How can I help? Can I volunteer my time?

We are grateful for the support of our volunteers and community. For our archives, we are currently only accepting help through interns, who are given proper education to handling and archival processes. If you are interested in helping generally, we accept volunteers primarily for events. Please contact us for volunteering via our volunteer page here.

We are currently undergoing a process of widening our volunteer tasks. Please stay tuned for more!

Purchase your tickets now for Our Grand gala event on October 30th.

Preserving Irish-American Legacy

Founded in 1897, the American Irish Historical Society stands as a beacon of cultural preservation, dedicated to celebrating the rich tapestry of Irish and Irish-American history. Our mission is to foster an appreciation of this heritage through our extensive archives, educational programs, and public events. As a non-partisan and non-sectarian institution, we invite you to explore our collections, participate in our events, and join us in our ongoing efforts to honor and preserve this vibrant cultural legacy.