S6E12: Elizabeth Stack - Revitalizing the AIHS
This episode of Irish Stew features an in-depth discussion with Dr. Elizabeth Stack, the Executive Director of the American Irish Historical Society (AIHS).
Dr. Stack discusses her journey from Listowel, County Kerry, to her academic career in history and her role in developing the Irish American Heritage Museum in Albany and revitalizing the AIHS.
Recorded at the AIHS's historic Fifth Avenue headquarters in New York, the conversation delves into the importance of preserving Irish American history, the challenges of maintaining the society's landmark building, and the efforts to engage younger generations in Irish heritage. Dr. Stack also reflects on the broader themes of immigration and community integration, emphasizing the continuing relevance of these issues today.
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Elizabeth Stack
American Irish Historical Society
00:00 - Introduction
03:30 - First AIHS Experience
07:36 - Remembering Immigrant Experiences
12:14 - Listowel Origins
17:32 - Why History as a Career?
22:35 - Division and the Contemporary Scene
27:01 - Albany and The Irish American Heritage Museum
31:42 - Transitioning to the AIHS
35:55 - Making the Past Present
38:01 - Irish Cultural Institution Interaction
41:51 - Staying True to American Irish History
45:14 - Learning From Other NYC Institutions
48:26 - Rebuilding Support for the AIHS
52:21 - How the Irish Bought a Fifth Ave Mansion
55:18 - John and Martin Recap
56:09 - Credits
Elizabeth Stack
Executive Director
Dr. Elizabeth Stack hails from Listowel in County Kerry, Ireland, a town renowned for its writers and a deep-seated appreciation for history. Growing up next to the iconic John B. Keane's pub, Stack was steeped in a culture of storytelling and historical preservation. Her love for history blossomed early, encouraged by a town that lives and breathes its heritage.
Private tutoring from eminent historians at University College Dublin (UCD) further fueled her passion. Dr. Stack obtained a doctorate in history from Fordham University in New York, studying the intertwined fate of Irish and German immigrants between 1880 and 1924. This led her to a profound understanding of immigration patterns and the challenges faced by early settlers.
Before her current role, Dr. Stack transformed the Irish American Heritage Museum in Albany, New York. She expanded the museum from a small storefront to a larger space with a theater and exhibition area, significantly increasing its revenue and contributions. Reflecting on her tenure, Stack emphasized the challenge of engaging multiple generations in the narrative of Irish heritage.
With a rich historical preservation and public education background, Dr. Stack's appointment at the AIHS comes at a crucial time. The AIHS, located in a beautiful Gilded Age mansion on Manhattan's Fifth Avenue, was purchased in 1939 and funded by the Irish Palace Building Association. This association consisted largely of immigrant maids and construction workers who pooled their resources to buy the property.
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