American Irish Historical Society

What American Irish Historical Society does

The American Irish Historical Society (AIHS) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit cultural and educational organization founded in 1897 and headquartered at 991 5th Avenue on Museum Mile in New York City. The society maintains what is described as the most complete private collection of Irish-American historical materials in the United States, including the first edition Bedell Bible (1685), the Easter 1916 Tricolour Flag, Robert Emmet broadsides, Charles Stewart Parnell letters, manuscripts, newspapers, textiles, and personal effects spanning medieval to contemporary periods. It operates with a small team of 16 staff, anchored by Lead Archivist Marcus Lindenburg (MA, MSLIS) and Curator Aishling Connaughton Edwards.

The society's core offerings include guided tours of its headquarters (offered Monday through Thursday at 12pm, 1pm, and 2pm), rotating exhibitions (Treasures of the Archives, Irish Gothic, Grace Kelly: Drumilra's Irish-American Princess), a family research and genealogical support service, a cultural events program featuring lectures, galas, theatrical performances, and an annual golf outing, and the undergraduate research journal An Cartlann Gael-Mheiriceánach (published via NYU Manifold). Distribution is primarily physical at the NYC venue, supplemented by a website, blog, and active social presence on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok.

The revenue model is a community-led nonprofit mix: recurring membership dues and tax-deductible donations, tiered event sponsorships ($2,500-$10,000), individual event tickets ($10-$300), tour fees, and operational support from the Government of Ireland's Emigrant Support Programme. The society also channels portions of fundraising proceeds to charitable partners including the Emerald Isle Immigration Center and West Side Campaign Against Hunger. There are no technology products, AI capabilities, or APIs — the institution's value creation rests on its physical archival assets, venue location, and human-curated programming.

Name

American Irish Historical Society

Legal name

American Irish Historical Society

Website

https://aihsny.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The American Irish Historical Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1897 and based on Museum Mile in New York City, preserving the most complete private collection of Irish-American historical materials in the United States and serving the Irish-American community, genealogy researchers, academic scholars, and cultural visitors through tours, exhibitions, family research services, and cultural events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Heritage and Cultural Institution Services

NAICS

Museums (712110), Historical Sites (712120)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

History Museums (THAJADAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cultural Heritage Institutions (Archives, Historic Houses, Monuments Foundations) (THAJADAI), Museums & Heritage Sites (History, Science, Specialty) (BPAGAHAA)

Keywords

• Irish-American historical archives
• Cultural heritage tours
• Genealogy research services
• Museum exhibitions
• Heritage membership programs

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership & Donations: Annual membership program with various tiers offering access to events, archives, and society benefits. Accepts tax-deductible donations.
2. Event Fundraising: Annual fundraising events including Golf Outing and Dinner ($2,500-$10,000 sponsorships), gala celebrations, and award ceremonies. Proceeds support society operations and charitable beneficiaries.
3. Event Tickets: Revenue from paid events including lectures ($10), award ceremonies ($300 tickets), and theatrical performances.
4. Tour Fees: Tours of the society's headquarters offered at 12pm, 1pm, and 2pm Monday through Thursday, bookable online or by phone/email.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The American Irish Historical Society preserves and presents Irish and Irish-American heritage through guided tours of its Museum Mile headquarters, rotating exhibitions of its private archive, a recurring calendar of lectures and cultural events, and genealogy/family research support for the public. Programming is sustained by an annual membership program, tax-deductible donations, and ticketed/sponsored fundraising events.

Product overview

The American Irish Historical Society operates as a cultural and educational organization offering in-person and informational services centered on Irish and Irish-American heritage preservation. Its core offerings include guided tours of its historic Upper East Side headquarters at 991 5th Avenue, rotating exhibitions displaying artifacts from its archival collection (such as the Easter 1916 Tricolour Flag and the first edition Bedell Bible), genealogical and family research support services, a regular events program featuring lectures and theatrical performances, and the An Cartlann journal of undergraduate research. The society maintains extensive archives including newspapers, letters, manuscripts, and historical objects, and operates a membership program supporting its preservation mission.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• An Cartlann Gael-Mheiriceánach: Journal of undergraduate research published by AIHS

Products and services

• Guided Tours of AIHS Headquarters Guided in-person tours of the AIHS headquarters at 991 5th Avenue on New York's Museum Mile, offering visitors access to the building's architecture, marble busts, and rotating exhibitions. Available to the general public at fixed time slots Monday through Thursday.
• Rotating Exhibitions Program Temporary and rotating exhibitions showcasing items from the AIHS archival collection. Current examples include Treasures of the Archives (featuring the Easter 1916 Tricolour Flag, Bedell Bible, and Charles Stewart Parnell artifacts) and Irish Gothic (focused on Anglo-Irish literary traditions). Open to the general public.
• Family Research Services Genealogical research support for individuals tracing Irish ancestry. Provides guidance on Irish records, county origins, and authoritative external resources such as the National Archives of Ireland, PRONI, and IrishGenealogy.ie.
• Cultural and Educational Events Program Cultural and educational programming including lectures on Irish and Irish-American history, theatrical performances (e.g., John Bull's Other Island), annual galas (Origin Theatre Gala, Robert Briscoe Awards), and the Annual Golf Outing and Dinner. Open to members, sponsors, and the public with tickets sold via Eventbrite, Zeffy, and direct reservations.
• Archives Collection Access On-site access to AIHS's extensive archival holdings documenting Irish and Irish-American history, including letters, newspapers (such as The Shamrock of New York), paintings, manuscripts, personal effects, and rare books such as the first edition Bedell Bible in Irish. Available for academic and genealogical research under the society's Archival Policies.
• An Cartlann (Journal of Undergraduate Research) An Cartlann (An Cartlann Gael-Mheiriceánach) is a journal of undergraduate research produced by AIHS interns, publishing scholarly papers on Irish and Irish-American history, culture, and genealogy. Distributed digitally via NYU Manifold.
• Membership and Donations Program Annual membership program and tax-deductible donation opportunities supporting AIHS's mission to preserve and share Irish-American heritage. Members receive benefits including event access and tour priority.
• AIHS Blog (Archival Highlights Series) Regularly published articles exploring Irish-American history, archival discoveries, biographical profiles, and cultural topics. Includes the weekly 'Archival Highlights' series written by AIHS staff, archivists, and interns.

Quantifiable outcome

• Exhibition 'Treasures of the Archives' opened July 28, 2025 to showcase collection items including the Bedell Bible, Easter 1916 Tricolour Flag, and historical manuscripts.
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• West Side Campaign Against HungerminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 20 July 2026A portion of proceeds from the Annual Golf Outing fundraiser goes to The West Side Campaign Against Hunger, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit distributing healthy food to families across NYC.
• Origin Theatre CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 June 2026Origin Theatre Company partners with AIHS to host the annual Origin Theatre Gala celebrating Irish playwrights. The society serves as venue host while Origin manages the theatrical celebration. Enda Walsh was honored at the 2026 gala as 'Ard Seanchaí' (Chief Storyteller).
• Ambassador Geraldine Byrne NasonminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 June 2026Ambassador Geraldine Byrne Nason provided remarks at the 'Grace Kelly: Drumilra's Irish-American Princess' exhibit launch as part of AIHS' Irish-America 250 Program. This diplomatic partnership supports cultural programming.
• Emerald Isle Immigration CentercoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 18 May 2026Proceeds from the 2026 Robert Briscoe Awards benefit Emerald Isle Immigration Center's critical operating costs for Bronx and Queens offices. The society hosts the award ceremony to support immigrant services.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration: National Park Service-operated museum at Ellis Island dedicated to American immigration history. Compares to AIHS through shared immigrant-heritage mission but operates at significantly larger scale as a federally administered site.
• The Metropolitan Museum of Art: Premier NYC Museum Mile institution with vast collection, ticketed exhibitions, and educational programming. Comparable as a Museum Mile neighbor competing for the same tourist audience, but operates at vastly larger scale with a much broader collection scope.

Direct peers

• Lower East Side Tenement Museum: NYC immigrant-heritage museum with ticketed guided tours, exhibitions, and storytelling programs focused on immigrant and migrant history. Comparable to AIHS in its community-led GTM motion, tour-driven revenue, and immigrant heritage thematic focus.
• Fraunces Tavern Museum: Historic NYC building museum in Manhattan operating exhibitions, ticketed tours, and educational programming from a landmark site. Comparable to AIHS as a small-staffed historic-house museum with similar event and tour revenue structure.
• New-York Historical Society: NYC-based history museum on the Upper West Side operating exhibitions, archives, educational programming, and ticketed tours. Closest operating peer to AIHS in terms of combining a New York history focus, archival collections, and dual exhibition/research mission.
• Museum of the City of New York: NYC-focused cultural museum on Museum Mile (1220 Fifth Avenue) offering exhibitions, public programs, and educational events centered on the city's history. Highly comparable structure to AIHS given shared Museum Mile footprint and exhibition-driven model.
• Irish American Heritage Museum: Irish-American heritage museum based in Albany, NY with exhibitions, archives, and cultural programming. Direct thematic peer to AIHS with shared Irish-American diaspora mission and similar nonprofit operating structure.
• National Nordic Museum: Seattle-based heritage museum dedicated to Nordic immigration and culture with exhibitions, educational programming, and special events. Comparable operating model to AIHS as an ethnic-diaspora heritage museum with similar tour and exhibition offerings.
• American Swedish Institute: Ethnic heritage museum in Minneapolis operating from a historic building with exhibitions, tours, events, and cultural programming serving the Swedish-American community. Direct structural peer to AIHS as a diaspora heritage museum with tours, events, and membership-based revenue.
• Museum of the American Revolution: Philadelphia-based American history museum with extensive archival collection, ticketed exhibitions, and educational programming. Comparable to AIHS as a focused American-history museum with similar exhibition, education, and tour revenue mix.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/AmericanIrishHS
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/american-irish-historical-society
• Instagraminstagram.com/aihsnewyork
• TikToktiktok.com/@aihsny

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about American Irish Historical Society