ANCIENT ORDER OF HIBERNIANS DIVISION 1 (Bristol, Pennsylvania)

1 ft.

MSS 112

December 1992

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

The Ancient Order of Hibernians originated as a secret society in Ireland in the late sixteenth century.  It was established in the United States in 1836.  Now known as the Ancient Order of Hibernians in America, it is a fraternal benefit society open to those who are Irish and Catholic.  The order provides insurance benefits to members and undertakes charitable and educational activities.

Division 1 of the AOH was organized in 1883 in Bristol, Pennsylvania.

PROVENANCE

The collection was donated by the organization in 1992.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

The collection consists of eight volumes of minutes, which document the division's activities and relationships with other divisions.  Most of the volumes also include some financial accounts.  The minutes are less informative after 1935.  These materials may be of particular value in comparing the activities of Philadelphia-area divisions, as the span of minutes included in this collection is unusually complete.