The original copies were located in the World Museum of Mining. They are now located in the Butte-Silver Bow Archives. The Butte-Silver Bow Archives has reprocessed and rearranged the collection significantly. The originals have been re-processed by record series in chronological order.
The Ancient Order of Hibernians was formed during the sixteenth century in Ireland and three divisions were first organized in Butte in 1880. Its membership was limited to men who were born in Ireland and their sons. The A.O.H. was a strictly Catholic organization. Although loyal to the fight for Irish Independence, the A.O.H. was less revolutionary than many of the other organizations.
The Robert Emmet Literary Association was the Butte Branch of the Clan-na-Gael, a revolutionary organization devoted to the fight for Irish independence. The Clan-na-Gael was the American counterpart to the Irish Republican Brotherhood, which was located in Ireland. The R.E.L.A. was organized in Butte in 1881. This organization was steeped in secrecy, including keeping its members and officers secret. R.E.L.A. membership was open to all Irish-born, no matter what religious beliefs they held. The group prided itself on being a non-denominational organization. In 1905, Butte's R.E.L.A. was the second largest Clan-na-Gael in the United States.
Also found in the collection are records from the Patrick Pearse Club (the Butte branch) of the Friends of Irish Freedom. This organization was inspired by the Clan-na-Gael, however, the F.O.I.F. was a public group. Also unlike the Clan-na-Gael and the A.O.H., women were allowed to be members. The Friends of Irish Freedom were bitter rivals, nationally, of another organization found in this collection, the American Association for the Recognition of the Irish Republic. However, in Butte both groups worked well together in their support of Irish independence from the British. The Gaelic League was formed to educate American-born Irish about the Irish culture, focusing on the language, music, and dance. The Irish Volunteers were the "military arm" of the R.E.L.A.; they were the rifle company of the R.E.L.A. Although no information regarding the history of the Sunburst Club in Helena, Montana was found, it appears from the minutes in the collection that they were associated with the R.E.L.A. and the Clan-na-Gael. Both A.O.H. and R.E.L.A. members helped sponsor the Thomas Francis Meagher Memorial Fund, which was set up to erect a statue of Meagher in Helena. Meagher was an rebel who was exiled from Ireland and came to America. Here, he became a Civil War hero and was territorial governor of Montana.
This collection contains membership, financial, organization, and correspondence records from 1882 to 1935 of the A.O.H. (Divisions 1, 2, and 3), R.E.L.A, F.I.O.F., Gaelic League, Irish Volunteers of America, Thomas Francis Meagher Memorial Fund, American Association for the Recognition of the Irish Republic, and Sunburst Club in Helena.
The correspondence records contain communications between various members, the National A.O.H., the Ladies' Auxiliary Ancient Order of Hibernians, and many other Butte organizations. Members of the A.O.H. include the first four presidents of the Amalgamated (Anaconda) Copper Mining Company: Marcus Daly, John D. Ryan, Cornelius (Con) Kelley, and William Scallon. Because the members and officers of the R.E.L.A. were kept secret, each was assigned a number that was used to refer to the member in the minutes of every meeting. Like the R.E.L.A., members of the Sunburst Club are also referred to by number. The minutes from the first Sunburst Club meeting contain the names of original members and their corresponding numbers. This collection does contain some lists of R.E.L.A. members, along with their corresponding numbers. Documented members of the secret R.E.L.A. include long-time Butte judge, Jeremiah Lynch, (who also founded the Patrick Pearse Club of the Irish Volunteers) and Con Kelley and William Scallon (presidents of the Anaconda Company). Out of the other two of the first four presidents of the Anaconda Company, John D. Ryan was rumored to have been a member (never documented) and Marcus Daly was proposed for membership but never officially joined. The fact that these powerful men in the community were of Irish heritage and belonged to Irish organizations should not go un-noted. It shows the overwhelming preference of Irish in Butte.
The collection is divided into sixteen series:
Series I: General Correspondence, 2 reels, Butte-Silver Bow (BSB) Boxes 4-6, 1903-1929
Series II: Ancient Order of Hibernians, Minutes, 4 reels, BSB Boxes 1-6, Volumes, 1896-1932
Series III: Conferences and Conventions, 1 reel, BSB Boxes 4-6, 1898-1948
Series IV: Robert Emmet Literary Association, Financial Records, 5 reels, BSB Boxes 4-7, Volumes, 1884-1946,
Series V: Ancient Order of Hibernians, Financial Records, 5 reels, BSB Boxes 1-6, 1891-1939
Series VI: Reports, 2 reels, BSB Boxes 4-6, undated
Series VII: Organization, 1 reel, BSB Box 4, undated
Series VIII: Miscellaneous, 1 reel, BSB Box 4, undated
Series IX: Irish Volunteers of America, Minutes,1 reel, BSB Box 8, 1907-1915
Series X: Irish Volunteers of America, Financial Records, 1 reel, BSB Box 8, 1909-1913
Series XI: Irish Volunteers of America, Miscellany, 1 reel, BSB Box 8, 1913
Series XII: Friends of Irish Freedom, Organization, 1 reel, BSB Box 8, 1916, 1921
Series XIII: American Association for the Recognition of the Irish Republic, Miscellany, 1 reel, BSB Box 8, 1921-1922
Series XIV: Robert Emmet Literary Association, Minutes, 5 reels, Volumes,1882-1925
Series XV: Sunburst Club, Helena-Camp 182, Minutes, 1 reel, BSB Box 8, 1896-1900
Series XVI: Unidentified Organization, Financial Records, 1 reel, BSB Box 8, 1893-1902
Researchers must use collection in accordance with the policies of Archives and Special Collections, the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, and The University of Montana--Missoula.
Researchers are responsible for using in accordance with 17 U.S.C. and any other applicable statutes. Copyright not transferred to The University of Montana.
[Name of document or photograph number], Butte Irish Collection, Archives and Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana--Missoula.
Filmed from the originals at the World Museum of Mining in Butte by the University of Montana in March 1983.
The original copies were located in the World Museum of Mining. They are now located in the Butte-Silver Bow Archives. Since this microfilm was produced, the Butte-Silver Bow Archives has reprocessed and rearranged the collection significantly. The originals have been re-processed by record series in chronological order. In 1999, the microfilm collection at the University of Montana was re-described and matched up to correspond with the original records in Butte as much as possible.
This series contains correspondence between divisions of the Ancient Order of Hibernians on both a local (Butte) and a national level. There is also correspondence between other organizations, such as the Robert Emmet Literary Association, the Ladies' Auxiliary Ancient Order of Hibernians, and various other local organizations.
This series contains minutes of meetings of Divisions One and Three of the Ancient Order of Hibernians in Butte, MT. Also included are minutes of meetings of the board of trustees of Hibernia Hall, which was co-owned by the Ancient Order of Hibernians and the Robert Emmet Literary Association.
Contained within this series are the proceedings of several conventions with the Ancient Order of Hibernians. Proceedings of the 1948 convention of the Ladies Auxiliary Ancient Order of Hibernians are also found in this series.
This series contains financial records of the Robert Emmet Literary Association. These records include term reports, cash books, membership and dues ledgers, and roll books.
This series contains financial records of the Butte divisions of the Ancient Order of Hibernians. Quarterly, biennial, and annual treasury reports of the various divisions are found in this series. It also contains a Sickness and Death Report of its members and various other information concerned with this report. There are records of the per capita assesments, general assessments, and receipts of the secretaries and treasurers in this series. Like the R.E.L.A. financial reports, membership and dues ledgers and cash books are included. Information about the Board of Directors of Hibernia Hall and rent ledgers from the hall are found in the A.O.H. financial records.
Reports from Ancient Order of Hibernians and Robert Emmet Literary Association committees are found in this series.
Contained within this series are the constitutions and by-laws of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, the Robert Emmet Literary Association, and the Friends of Irish Freedom. It also includes membership applications to these organizations, along with transfers of memberships.
This series contains miscellaneous items regarding the Ancient Order of Hibernians, the Robert Emmet Literary Association, and the Friends of Irish Freedom.
Minutes from meetings of the Irish Volunteers of America, the military branch of the Robert Emmet Literary Association, can be found in this series. Also included is a roll call from a R.E.L.A. meeting in 1897.
Located within this series are financial records from the Irish Volunteers of America. These records include a membership ledger and a ledger from the Fife and Drum Band.
This series contains rifle range scores from members of the Irish Volunteers of America.
Constitutions and by-laws of the Friends of Irish Freedom are located in this series.
Miscellaneous papers from the American Association for the Recognition of the Irish Republic can be found in this series.
This series contains minutes from meetings of the Robert Emmet Literary Association.
Minutes from the Sunburst Club-Camp 182 in Helena, Montana are found in this series. The minutes date back to the first meeting of the club on November 23, 1896.
Located in this series are financial records from unidentified organizations. No reference to any organization can be found on the documents. However, they do include a ledger and two day books from one or more Irish organizations in Butte.