{"id":73,"date":"2022-04-17T22:06:28","date_gmt":"2022-04-18T02:06:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/notsosecret\/?page_id=73"},"modified":"2022-04-29T15:29:22","modified_gmt":"2022-04-29T19:29:22","slug":"ancient-order-of-hibernians","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/notsosecret\/secret-societies-of-smith-college\/ancient-order-of-hibernians\/","title":{"rendered":"Ancient Order of Hibernians"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The Ancient Order of Hibernians (A.O.H) was founded in 1890 at Smith College. Their self-described goal was the \u201cmaintenance of devilish wit and promotion of hellish spirit in the college.\u201d <sup class='footnote'><a href='#fn-73-1' id='fnref-73-1' onclick='return fdfootnote_show(73)'>1<\/a><\/sup>\u00a0 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.<sup class='footnote'><a href='#fn-73-2' id='fnref-73-2' onclick='return fdfootnote_show(73)'>2<\/a><\/sup> <\/b>The A.O.H was based on an Irish Roman Catholic fraternal order of the same name, which dated back to 1500s Ireland.<sup class='footnote'><a href='#fn-73-3' id='fnref-73-3' onclick='return fdfootnote_show(73)'>3<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_137\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-137\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/notsosecret\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/802\/2022\/04\/Mock-Weddinng-final-AOH-pics.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-137 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/notsosecret\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/802\/2022\/04\/Mock-Weddinng-final-AOH-pics-300x243.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"243\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/notsosecret\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/802\/2022\/04\/Mock-Weddinng-final-AOH-pics-300x243.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/notsosecret\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/802\/2022\/04\/Mock-Weddinng-final-AOH-pics-192x156.jpg 192w, https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/notsosecret\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/802\/2022\/04\/Mock-Weddinng-final-AOH-pics.jpg 338w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-137\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">&#8220;Mock Wedding,&#8221; 1896, Record 4561, Photographs, 1894-1940, undated, Ancient Order of Hibernians Records, Box #3011.1, Smith College Archives, CA-MS-00023, Smith College Special Collections, Northampton, Massachusetts.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The Ancient Order of Hibernians was the biggest Irish fraternal order in the US and was made up by \u201cpracticing Catholics of Irish descent.\u201d<sup class='footnote'><a href='#fn-73-4' id='fnref-73-4' onclick='return fdfootnote_show(73)'>4<\/a><\/sup> In her recollections of the A.O.H, Alice Martin Turner \u201895, an original founding member stated that the group wrote to the National Ancient Order of the Hibernians \u201csuggesting that we join their organization,\u201d but were rejected as the Order only accepted men.<sup class='footnote'><a href='#fn-73-5' id='fnref-73-5' onclick='return fdfootnote_show(73)'>5<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n<p>Around the same time that Smithies boldly wrote this letter to the national A.O.H, the Ladies\u2019 Auxiliary of the Ancient Order of Hibernians (LAAOH) formed in 1894.<sup class='footnote'><a href='#fn-73-6' id='fnref-73-6' onclick='return fdfootnote_show(73)'>6<\/a><\/sup> 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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<p><div class=\"h5p-iframe-wrapper\"><iframe id=\"h5p-iframe-1\" class=\"h5p-iframe\" data-content-id=\"1\" style=\"height:1px\" src=\"about:blank\" frameBorder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" title=\"Ancient Order of the Hibernians Photographs\"><\/iframe><\/div> Image Credits.<sup class='footnote'><a href='#fn-73-7' id='fnref-73-7' onclick='return fdfootnote_show(73)'>7<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n<p>There could be 12 members from each class year in the A.O.H.<sup class='footnote'><a href='#fn-73-8' id='fnref-73-8' onclick='return fdfootnote_show(73)'>8<\/a><\/sup> 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.<sup class='footnote'><a href='#fn-73-9' id='fnref-73-9' onclick='return fdfootnote_show(73)'>9<\/a><\/sup> Then, there was the Walkin Delegate, a treasurer, Brides of the Blarney, Lampasters an\u2019 Pledges, and Mimbers.<sup class='footnote'><a href='#fn-73-10' id='fnref-73-10' onclick='return fdfootnote_show(73)'>10<\/a><\/sup> 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 <em>Smith College Associated News\u00a0<\/em>documenting their activities and the ensuing controversies about them.<sup class='footnote'><a href='#fn-73-11' id='fnref-73-11' onclick='return fdfootnote_show(73)'>11<\/a><\/sup> The group also held parades around campus during Halloween and had songs.<sup class='footnote'><a href='#fn-73-12' id='fnref-73-12' onclick='return fdfootnote_show(73)'>12<\/a><\/sup> Their color was green.<sup class='footnote'><a href='#fn-73-13' id='fnref-73-13' onclick='return fdfootnote_show(73)'>13<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n<p>New members signed in the A.O.H. book onto the following to join, &#8220;I swear everlastin&#8217; hatred of the Orange and everlastin&#8217; loyalty to the Green, so help me St. Pat.&#8221;<sup class='footnote'><a href='#fn-73-14' id='fnref-73-14' onclick='return fdfootnote_show(73)'>14<\/a><\/sup> New members also received new names.<sup class='footnote'><a href='#fn-73-15' id='fnref-73-15' onclick='return fdfootnote_show(73)'>15<\/a><\/sup> In 1907, these names were modifications of their given names that shortened first names and added &#8220;Mc&#8221; or &#8220;O'&#8221; to the front of their last names.<sup class='footnote'><a href='#fn-73-16' id='fnref-73-16' onclick='return fdfootnote_show(73)'>16<\/a><\/sup> This makes the names more closely resemble Irish last names.<\/p>\n<p>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.<sup class='footnote'><a href='#fn-73-17' id='fnref-73-17' onclick='return fdfootnote_show(73)'>17<\/a><\/sup> At the turn of the nineteenth century at Smith, out of 1133 students, 40 were Catholics.<sup class='footnote'><a href='#fn-73-18' id='fnref-73-18' onclick='return fdfootnote_show(73)'>18<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n<h3>Footnotes<a href=\"#_ftnref1\" name=\"_ftn1\"><\/a><\/h3>\n<div class='footnotes' id='footnotes-73'>\n<div class='footnotedivider'><\/div>\n<ol>\n<li id='fn-73-1'> Scrapbook, 1938-1966, Ancient Order of Hibernians Records, Box 3011.1, Smith College Archives, CA-MS-00023, \u00a0Smith College Special Collections, Northampton, Massachusetts. <span class='footnotereverse'><a href='#fnref-73-1'>&#8617;<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li id='fn-73-2'> Alice Martin Turner \u201995 to \u201cNan\u201d December 29, 1961, Correspondence, St. Patrick\u2019s Day Letters, 1926-1956, undated, Ancient Order of the Hibernians Records, Box 3011.1, College Archives, Smith College, Northampton, MA; Ancient Order of Hibernians Records, Box 3011.1, Smith College Archives, CA-MS-00023, Smith College Special Collections, Northampton, Massachusetts, accessed March 3, 2022, https:\/\/findingaids.smith.edu\/repositories\/4\/resources\/145.<b> <span class='footnotereverse'><a href='#fnref-73-2'>&#8617;<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li id='fn-73-3'> Ancient Order of Hibernians Records, Box 3011.1, Smith College Archives, CA-MS-00023, Smith College Special Collections, Northampton, Massachusetts, accessed March 3, 2022, https:\/\/findingaids.smith.edu\/repositories\/4\/resources\/145. <span class='footnotereverse'><a href='#fnref-73-3'>&#8617;<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li id='fn-73-4'> Tara M McCarthy, \u201cA Monumental Mission: The Ancient Order of Hibernians Women and the Construction of History, 1894\u20131918\u201d 16 (2021): 4. <span class='footnotereverse'><a href='#fnref-73-4'>&#8617;<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li id='fn-73-5'> Alice Martin Turner \u201995 to \u201cNan\u201d December 29, 1961, Correspondence, St. Patrick\u2019s Day Letters, 1926-1956, undated, Ancient Order of the Hibernians Records, Box 3011.1, College Archives, Smith College, Northampton, MA. <span class='footnotereverse'><a href='#fnref-73-5'>&#8617;<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li id='fn-73-6'> McCarthy, \u201cA Monumental Mission: The Ancient Order of Hibernians Women and the Construction of History, 1894\u20131918,\u201d 3. <span class='footnotereverse'><a href='#fnref-73-6'>&#8617;<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li id='fn-73-7'> Image Credits: \u201cGroup Photos in Carriages,\u201d 1894, Photographs, 1894-1940, undated, Ancient Order of Hibernians Records, Box #3011.1, Smith College Archives, CA-MS-00023, Smith College Special Collections, Northampton, Massachusetts; Group Photo from Madge Hovey Spencer, 1915, Record 4560 Photographs, 1894-1940, undated, Ancient Order of Hibernians Records, Box #3011.1, Smith College Archives, CA-MS-00023, Smith College Special Collections, Northampton, Massachusetts; Photograph of the A.O.H., undated, Photographs, 1894-1940, undated, Ancient Order of Hibernians Records, Box #3011.1, Smith College Archives, CA-MS-00023, Smith College Special Collections, Northampton, Massachusetts; &#8220;Yearbook Group Photo,&#8221; 1939, Photographs, 1894-1940, undated, Ancient Order of Hibernians Records, Box #3011.1, Smith College Archives, CA-MS-00023, Smith College Special Collections, Northampton, Massachusetts; &#8220;Yearbook Group Photo,&#8221; 1940, Photographs, 1894-1940, undated, Ancient Order of Hibernians Records, Box #3011.1, Smith College Archives, CA-MS-00023, Smith College Special Collections, Northampton, Massachusetts. <span class='footnotereverse'><a href='#fnref-73-7'>&#8617;<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li id='fn-73-8'> Scrapbook, 1938-1966, Ancient Order of Hibernians Records, Box 3011.1, Smith College Archives, CA-MS-00023, \u00a0Smith College Special Collections, Northampton, Massachusetts. <span class='footnotereverse'><a href='#fnref-73-8'>&#8617;<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li id='fn-73-9'> Scrapbook, 1938-1966, Ancient Order of Hibernians Records, Box 3011.1, Smith College Archives, CA-MS-00023, \u00a0Smith College Special Collections, Northampton, Massachusetts. <span class='footnotereverse'><a href='#fnref-73-9'>&#8617;<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li id='fn-73-10'> Marcia Damon, \u201cMembership In Hooded Society Insignificant Honor At Smith,\u201d Smith College Associated News (SCAN),\u00a0 November 6, 1954. Secret Societies, 1951, Student Clubs and Organizations records, Box #3004.6, Smith College Archives, CA-MS-00022, Smith College Special Collections, Northampton, Massachusetts. <span class='footnotereverse'><a href='#fnref-73-10'>&#8617;<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li id='fn-73-11'> Ancient Order of Hibernians Records, Box 3011.1, Smith College Archives, CA-MS-00023, Smith College Special Collections, Northampton, Massachusetts, accessed March 3, 2022, https:\/\/findingaids.smith.edu\/repositories\/4\/resources\/145. Examples: \u201cSecret Societies to Continue; To Take Only Upperclassmen,\u201d\u00a0<em>Smith College Associated News<\/em>, September 24, 1943, Vol 39, no 2 edition, Smith College Weekly 34 1943-1944 Bound; Smith College,\u00a0<em>Class of 1904 Classbook<\/em>\u00a0(Smith College, 1904), 67\u201369,\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/archive.org\/details\/class1904smit\">http:\/\/archive.org\/details\/class1904smit<\/a>. <span class='footnotereverse'><a href='#fnref-73-11'>&#8617;<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li id='fn-73-12'>Mary Stranahan Dutcher Class of 1904 on the A.O.H., 1959, General, 1949-1959, undated, Ancient Order of Hibernians Records, Box #3011.1, Smith College Archives, CA-MS-00023, Smith College Special Collections, Northampton, Massachusetts. <span class='footnotereverse'><a href='#fnref-73-12'>&#8617;<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li id='fn-73-13'> \u201cSecret Societies,\u201d Smithipedia, accessed February 23, 2022, <a href=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/blog\/smithipedia\/student-life\/secret-societies\/\">https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/blog\/smithipedia\/student-life\/secret-societies\/<\/a>. <span class='footnotereverse'><a href='#fnref-73-13'>&#8617;<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li id='fn-73-14'> Scrapbook, 1938-1966, Ancient Order of Hibernians Records, Box #3011.1, Smith College Archives, CA-MS-00023, Smith College Special Collections,\u00a0 Northampton, Massachusetts. <span class='footnotereverse'><a href='#fnref-73-14'>&#8617;<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li id='fn-73-15'> Ancient Order of Hibernians Records, Box 3011.1, Smith College Archives, CA-MS-00023, Smith College Special Collections, Northampton, Massachusetts, accessed March 3, 2022, https:\/\/findingaids.smith.edu\/repositories\/4\/resources\/145. <span class='footnotereverse'><a href='#fnref-73-15'>&#8617;<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li id='fn-73-16'> Smith College, <i>Class of 1907 Classbook<\/i> (Smith College, 1907), 86, <a href=\"http:\/\/archive.org\/details\/class1907smit\">http:\/\/archive.org\/details\/class1907smit<\/a>. <span class='footnotereverse'><a href='#fnref-73-16'>&#8617;<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li id='fn-73-17'> Tara M McCarthy, \u201cA Monumental Mission: The Ancient Order of Hibernians Women and the Construction of History, 1894\u20131918\u201d 16 (2021): 4. <span class='footnotereverse'><a href='#fnref-73-17'>&#8617;<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li id='fn-73-18'> &#8220;President&#8217;s Reports,&#8221; 1896-1910, CA-MS-01006, Volume 298, President&#8217;s Reports, Smith College Publications and Publications Records, Smith College Archives, Smith College Special Collections, Northampton, Massachusetts. <span class='footnotereverse'><a href='#fnref-73-18'>&#8617;<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Ancient Order of Hibernians (A.O.H) was founded in 1890 at Smith College. Their self-described goal was the \u201cmaintenance of devilish wit and promotion of hellish spirit in the college.\u201d 1\u00a0 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 &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/notsosecret\/secret-societies-of-smith-college\/ancient-order-of-hibernians\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Ancient Order of Hibernians<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1845,"featured_media":0,"parent":70,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-73","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/notsosecret\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/73","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/notsosecret\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/notsosecret\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/notsosecret\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1845"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/notsosecret\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=73"}],"version-history":[{"count":18,"href":"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/notsosecret\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/73\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":248,"href":"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/notsosecret\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/73\/revisions\/248"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/notsosecret\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/70"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/notsosecret\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=73"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}