The Scotch-Irish Society of the United States of America

Founded 1889

Purpose:

• The preservation of Scotch-Irish history,
• Keeping alive the esprit de corps of the Scotch-Irish as a people,
• Promotion of social intercourse and fraternal feeling among its members.

The Society is first and foremost American. It believes that it can broaden, deepen and enlarge the principles from which the nation has drawn the sustaining power for its development by recalling past achievements, remembrances and associations.

"Born and naturalized citizens, we give ourselves anew in this organization to the land for which our fathers and friends gave their blood and lives. We are not a band of aliens, living here perforce and loving the other land across the sea. We belong to this land, and only recall the old that we may better serve the new, which is our own."

Rev. John S. MacIntosh, 1890

In 1949 the Society organized the Scotch-Irish Foundation, a Pennsylvania non-profit corporation, to collect and preserve for public, educational and research use, books, documents, family histories, letters, journals, and historical material relating to the origin and history of the Scotch-Irish people in the United States, Northern Ireland, Ireland, Scotland, and elsewhere. The Foundation is also empowered to receive gifts and legacies, which are tax deductible.

The Foundation's historical collection is maintained in the Balch Institute of Ethnic Studies, 18 South Seventh Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106. The Society and the Foundation do not conduct research on individual family trees; neither does the Balch Institute.

The Society is non-sectarian, and non-political, and welcomes into the Society individuals possessing the qualifications for membership.

Membership:

Membership in the Society is available to United States Citizens and legal permanent residents of the United States, who are of Scotch-Irish descent. The Scotch-Irish Society and the Scotch-Irish Foundation consider that the term "Scotch-Irish" generically designates those persons who are descended in either the male or female line from an ancestor, or ancestors, who emigrated to America, directly or indirectly, from Ulster, and whose families , hailing from Scotland, Britain, France and other places in Europe , had previously settled in Ulster about the year 1600 or thereafter.

Associate membership (non voting) is available to any person who does not meet the membership requirements but who, nevertheless, understands and supports the objectives of the Society.

The application fee is $15.00 and the annual dues are $20.00. Life membership is available by making a tax deductible contribution of $500 if under the age of 60, $400.00 if under age 70, and $300.00 if over the age of 70. Life memberships may be paid in two equal annual installments. Payment for life membership is made to the Scotch-Irish Foundation, whose Tax I.D. Number is 23-6345787. Life members do not pay annual dues.

Why Join?

• Receive a newsletter with information about Scotch-Irish history, current events of interest to the Scotch-Irish and opportunities to attend various educational and informational events throughout the United States.
• Obtain a referral to reputable genealogists known to the Society. The Society does not perform genealogical services and it does not receive any commission or payment from any genealogist for referrals or services performed by the genealogists.
• Assist in the promotion of scholarship in Scotch-Irish history through the efforts of the Foundation and The Society.
• Be able to form a local chapter in the area in which you live.
• Have a sense of belonging to a group of people who have made a difference in the history of the United States of America.

If you want more information about the Scotch-Irish Society of the United States, please write:

To apply for membership:

• Print out and complete the application.
• Forward application with a check for the application fee in the amount of $15.00, and annual dues of $20.00, made payable to the Scotch-Irish Society of the United States of America, to the Society address shown above.