Irish Center Club of New York Records
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Abstract
The collection contains correspondence, printed materials and membership information related to an effort to build an Irish Center in New York City in the 1940s. The purpose of the club was to promote Irish culture and arts.
Historical/Biographical Note
Founded in 1932 by Patrick J. (Joseph) Gillespie, as the Irish American National Club, later the Irish Centre Club (name changed in 1945) was envisioned as a place where, under one roof, Irish Americans could meet and direct various cultural, social, and athletic activities. Later, in 1945 along with the name change, the athletic component was dropped and the study of language, literature and history of Ireland added, along with promoting loyalty to the laws and government of the United States. The club stressed embracing their new home country while maintaining their cultural identity. The Club also became affiliated with the Federation of Irish Societies of New York. The alternative spelling of "Center" is found throughout the collection.
Included among its Board of Directors and Officers were Paul O'Dwyer, Rose Cosgrove, Mrs. P.J. Gillespie, and John J. Byrne.
Arrangement
Materials are organized alphabetically into one series.
Scope and Contents
The collection contains articles of incorporation, correspondence, programs, and membership information related to an effort to build an Irish Center in New York City in the 1940s. The membership cards provide researchers a picture of prominent Irish Americans in New York City at the time.
Subjects
Access Restrictions
Open for research without restrictions.
Use Restrictions
The Tamiment Library does not have information about who owns copyright to this collection. Materials in this collection are expected to enter the public domain beginning in 2065. The Tamiment Library is not authorized to grant permission to publish or reproduce materials from this collection.
Preferred Citation
Published citations should take the following form:
Identification of item, date; Collection name; Collection number; box number; folder number;
Archives of Irish America, Tamiment Library
Elmer Holmes Bobst Library
70 Washington Square South
New York, NY 10012, New York University Libraries.
Custodial History Note
The collection was donated to the Archives of Irish America by John Ridge in 2003. The material was given to Mr. Ridge circa 1998 by John Byrne, who had been a sports reporter with the Irish Echo. The accession number associated with this collection is 1997.045.
