Ancient Order of Hibernians

The Ancient Order of Hibernians (A.O.H) was founded in 1890 at Smith College. Their self-described goal was the “maintenance of devilish wit and promotion of hellish spirit in the college.” ¹  A member of the Class of 1895 who was an original member of the A.O.H stated that she believed the group was founded during her sophomore year of college, but the College Archives finding aid states the group was founded in 1890.² The A.O.H was based on an Irish Roman Catholic fraternal order of the same name, which dated back to 1500s Ireland.³

 

The Ancient Order of Hibernians was the biggest Irish fraternal order in the US and was made up by “practicing Catholics of Irish descent.”⁴ In her recollections of the A.O.H, Alice Martin Turner ‘95, an original founding member stated that the group wrote to the National Ancient Order of the Hibernians “suggesting that we join their organization,” but were rejected as the Order only accepted men.⁵

Around the same time that Smithies boldly wrote this letter to the national A.O.H, the Ladies’ Auxiliary of the Ancient Order of Hibernians (LAAOH) formed in 1894.⁶ Still, the Smith students sought to be a part of the A.O.H, they seemingly did not have an interest in being part of a women’s auxiliary. They were intent in their rebellion as an organization, operating as a secret society and as an unsanctioned branch of a group only for men.

Image Credits.⁷

There could be 12 members from each class year in the A.O.H.⁸ The Chafe Cooke was one of the leaders of the group. This person had to be a senior and elected by the rest of the group.⁹ Then, there was the Walkin Delegate, a treasurer, Brides of the Blarney, Lampasters an’ Pledges, and Mimbers.¹⁰ The A.O.H kept a scrapbook, conducted initiations for new members, and was seemingly well known at Smith as they appear in the yearbooks and there are articles about them in Smith College Associated News documenting their activities and the ensuing controversies about them.¹¹ The group also held parades around campus during Halloween and had songs.¹² Their color was green.¹³

New members signed in the A.O.H. book onto the following to join, “I swear everlastin’ hatred of the Orange and everlastin’ loyalty to the Green, so help me St. Pat.”¹⁴ New members also received new names.¹⁵ In 1907, these names were modifications of their given names that shortened first names and added “Mc” or “O'” to the front of their last names.¹⁶ This makes the names more closely resemble Irish last names.

It is unclear the role that Catholicism played in the A.O.H. In order to join the actual fraternal order, one had to be Irish and a practicing Catholic.¹⁷ At the turn of the nineteenth century at Smith, out of 1133 students, 40 were Catholics.¹⁸

Footnotes