The first Congress of the Scotch-Irish Society of the United States of America met in Columbus, Tennessee in 1889. Robert Bonner, the first President greeted the assembly. A. C. Floyd, the first Secretary, then, got up to speak. The following is taken from his address.

“The Scotch-Irish people have been second to none in their influence upon modern civilization. Their impress upon American institutions has been especially strong. They have been leaders in every sphere of life, both public and private. They were the first to declare independence from Great Britain, and foremost in the revolutionary struggle; leaders in the formation and adoption of the Constitution, and its most powerful defenders; most active in the expansion of our national domain, and the hardiest pioneers in its development.”

The Scotch-Irish Society of the United States of America was founded to promote and preserve Scotch-Irish history and culture of America’s Scotch-Irish heritage and to keep alive the esprit de corps of the Scotch-Irish people.

Membership in the Society is available to United States citizens, and to legal permanent residents of the United States, who are of Scotch-Irish descent.