The Irish Government and New York Attorney General’s Office have stepped in to stop the sale of the American Irish Historical Society’s landmark townhouse headquarters on Fifth Avenue.
According to New York Attorney General Letitia James, an interim board and executive director will work with members of the American Irish community, supported by Helena Nolan, Consulate General of Ireland, to revive the Historical Society as a cultural center and select a new board within six months. Additionally, the Government of Ireland has set aside up to 300,000 to help fund utility and service costs for the building.
The AIHS was founded in 1897, to honor the Irish and Irish-American contributions to nation-building throughout history. The Fifth Avenue townhouse was purchased in 1940 and has served as the organization’s headquarters and primary asset.
In recent years, the American Irish Historical Society (AIHS) has fallen into financial hardship and the mansion was listed for sale in order to settle financial obligations.
“Irish Americans have contributed so much to New York’s past and present,” said Attorney General James. “For decades, the American Irish Historical Society has been a home for the Irish American community to celebrate and honor their culture and traditions,” adding that an interim leadership team and interim board of directors, will bring critical oversight to help restore this important organization and ensure it thrives for generations to come.
John Keefe, an expert in non-profit management solutions, has been named as interim executive director. He spoke to the New York Times about the society’s potential, saying “[a lot more] can be done with this organization than has been done in the recent past.”
Consul General Helena Nolan expressed her gratitude to Attorney General James and her team for their support in finding a solution, saying “we are very pleased to see a plan in place to revitalize the Society and preserve the organization’s headquarters in New York City.”
Working alongside Keefe is Elizabeth Stack, Executive Director of the Irish American Heritage Museum in Albany, New York, and former Associate Director of the Fordham University Center for Irish Studies; John MacIntosh, Managing Partner at SeaChange Capital Partners, an organization that helps nonprofits work through complex challenges; and Gregory P. Pressman, Of Counsel at Schulte Roth and Zabel.
U.S. Rep Brian Higgins, a member of the Congressional Friends of Ireland Caucus, issued a statement saying: “Thanks go out to Attorney General Letitia James and her team for their commitment to maintaining the American Irish Historical Society, an effort that will help preserve these stories and continue to carry Irish cultural contributions forward.”
A very important article. Hopefully, communications with the Irish American Historical Society will be ameliorated in the future. In the past it’s been a disaster. It would also be nice to see a qualified and/or educated board be assigned.
I am just reading this “news,” (Richard and Yuzhen Zhou Rogars). Congratulations, to all involved, at being saved from closing. (It is surprising to hear something about New York Attorney General Letitia James, besides her “anti-Trump Crusade Activities)?” This is a positive activity. My Mother was Gloria Sullivan, (born and raised in The Riverdale Neighborhood, of The Bronx Borough; the best neighborhood of The Bronx). (On March 16th, 2021, after some difficulty in learning how I might be able to visit, I found the street-corner where she was born and grew up). (I believe that I am the only sibling that visited the street)? I am interested in learning the house street-number at Fieldston Road and 259th Street; where Mrs. Miller, (she re-married), and three generations of Sullivans, before her, were born, and grew up? (This has nothing to do with The Irish American Historical Society, but through books: “Our Fathers’ War,” by Tom Matthews; and “Soldier from the War Returning,” by Thomas Childers that her husband, our biological father, had “emotional damage,” on returning from military-combat-naval-service). There were years of separation. Only two of the siblings went back to Mrs. Miller, to renew a relationship with her. That’s more than you, Mam or Sir, wanted to “hear.” P.S. I, Richard, also worked at The Metropolitan Transportation Authority, (not a very functional organization), for twenty years, and am interested to read, and learn about Michael Quill, A founder of “The Transport Workers’ Union,” which he, and Irish-born employees of New York City Transit, fought, and were able to start an employee union to protect the workers. Thank You and, “a day at a time.”