The books listed on this page are an enormous
help to researchers. Most titles have been submitted by members of the
Irish in New York City mailing list.
Autobiograhies
Cagney, James. Cagney on Cagney
Doubleday; 1976
Jimmy Cagney discusses his life from poverty in Manhattan to the heights of
stardom in Hollywood.
Devoy, John. Recollections of an Irish Rebel
Young; 1929
Hard-to-find must-read autobiography of the famed ex-Fenian and Clan na Gael
leader who helped free Ireland.
Walling, George W. Recollections of a New York City Chief of Police
Caxton Book Concern Lmtd.; 1887
Police Chief George Walling talks of life on the street of New York City, as
witnessed by the police department. Out-of-print.
Biographies
Gribetz, Louis J. and Joseph Kaye Jimmie Walker, The Story of a Personality
L. MacVeagh, Dial Press; 1932
Early biography of New York City's most colorful mayor.
Fowler, Gene. Beau James: The Life and Times of Jimmy Walker
Viking Press; 1949
The definitive biography of one of New York City's most famous mayors.
Fuller, Hector. Abroad With Mayor Walker
Shields Publishing Co.; 1928
First-hand account of Mayor Walker's much lauded trip to Europe.
Golway, Terry. Irish Rebel: John Devoy and America's Fight for Ireland's Freedom
St. Martin's Press; 1998. ISBN 0312199031
Definitive biography of Clan na Gael head John Devoy. Details his amazing involvement in
the fight to free Ireland.
McCabe, James. Cagney
Knopf; 1997. ISBN 0393045528
Fascinating biography of New York City's own Jimmy Cagney.
Mitgang, Herbert. Once Upon a Time in New York: Jimmy Walker, Franklin Roosevelt
and the Last Great Battle of the Jazz Age
Free Press; 2000. ISBN 0684855798
Fascinating detailed account of how New York State Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt brought down
New York City Mayor James J. Walker.
O'Luing, Sean. John Devoy
Clo Morainn; 1961
Irish biography of Clan na Gael head John Devoy.
Walsh, George. Gentleman Jimmy Walker, Mayor of the Jazz Age
Praeger; 1974
In-depth bio of New York City Mayor James J. Walker.
Draft Riots
Barnes, David M. The Draft Riots in New York, July, 1863: The Metropolitan Police,
Their Services During Riot Week, Their Honorable Record
Baker & Godwin; 1863
This hard-to-find book details the actions of New York's Finest during one of the
city's darkest hours.
Bernstein, Iver. The New York City Draft Riots: Their Significance for American Society and
Politics in the Age of the Civil War
Oxford University Press; 1990. ISBN 0195050061
Scholarly discussion of the impact of the Draft Riots on America.
Cook, Adrian. The Armies of the Streets: The New York City Draft Riots of 1863
University Press of Kentucky; 1974. ISBN 0813112982
Another look at the street gangs that formed the mobs of the 1863 Riots.
McCague, James. The Second Rebellion: The Story of the New York City Draft Riots of 1863
Dial Press; 1968.
In-depth look at the forces behind the 1863 Draft Riots.
Stoddard, William O. Volcano Under the City: By a Volunteer Special
Fords, Howard & Hulbert; 1887
Once a private secretary to President Abraham Lincoln, Stoddard was a member of the volunteer
police force during the Draft Riots. This is his first hand account of that dreadful week.
Emigration & Immigration
Hoobler, Dorothy & Thomas. The Irish American Family Album
Oxford University Press; 1995. ISBN 0195081277
The story of Irish emigration and settlement of America is told through pictures, stories
and letters. The introduction is written by Joseph P. Kennedy II.
Miller, Kerby & Paul Wagner. Out of Ireland: The Story of Irish Emigration to America
Elliott & Clark; 1994. ISBN 1880216256
Lush photographs, personal stories and moving letters detail the sweeping story of Irish
emigration. Chapters are broken down by relevant time period. This is the companion book to
the PBS documentary, Out of Ireland.
Fiction
Carr, Caleb. The Alienist
Bantam Books; 1998. ISBN 0553572997
A serial killer stalks 1896 New York City. In-depth insight into people and places
of late 19th century New York.
Dormarunno, Rocco. The Five Points
iUniverse; 2001. ISBN 0595204465
Two stories of fictional families in New York's infamous Five Points.
Quinn, Peter. Banished Children of Eve: A Novel of Civil War
New York
Viking Penquin; 1995. ISBN 0140230033
The story of a group of lower-east side New Yorkers during the
height of the Civil War. Includes the Draft Riots.
Gangs
Asbury, Herbert. Gangs of New York: An Informal History of
the Underworld
Knopf; 1925
Paragon House; 1990
Avalon Publishing; 2001. ISBN 1560252758
Re-released to coincide with the Martin Scorcese movie, this book
details the violence of New York City as culled from police records,
criminals' memories, journalists and extensive research.
English, T.J. The Westies: Inside the Hell's Kitchen Irish Mob
St. Martin's Press; 1991. ISBN 0312924291
Inside look at the 20th century Irish mob, the Westies. Information taken
from gang members, lawyers and police records.
Hurley, John W. Irish Gangs and Stick-Fighting
Xlibris Corporation; 2002. ISBN 1401019811
A collection of stories written by a 19th century shillelagh fighter.
History
Bayer, Ronald H. The New York Irish
Johns Hopkins University Press; 1995. ISBN 0801851998
Sweeping story of Irish immigrants and their descendents, from
colonial New Amsterdam to the 20th century.
Brace, Charles Loring. The Dangerous Classes of New York and Twenty Year's
Work Among Them
Wynkoop & Hallenbeck; 1875
The controversial missionary's view of New York City's most impoverished. Out-of-print.
Burrows, Edwin G. Gotham: A History of New York City to 1898
Oxford University Press; 1998. ISBN 0195116348
Epic history of New York City from the first Native American
inhabitants to the 1898 consolidation of the boroughs.
Cantwell, Anne-Marie E. Unearthing Gotham: The Archaeology of New York
City
Yale University Press; 2001. ISBN 0300084153
Narrative of New York City's history as obtained from archaeological exacavations.
Dowling, Linda. Irish Immigrants in New York City 1945-1995
Indiana University Press; 2001. ISBN 0253338433
The untold story of post-World War II Irish immigrants in America.
McCabe, James D. Secrets of the Great City: The Virtues and the Vices, the
Mysteries, Miseries & Crimes of New York City
Jones Brothers Co.; 1868
In-depth accounts of some of New York City's most infamous crimes. Out-of-print.
Myers, Gustavus. History of Tammany Hall
Boni & Liveright Inc.; 1917
History of the most infamous city government in US history. Out-of-print.
Sante, Luc. Low Life: Lures and Snares of Old New York
Random House; 1992. ISBN 0679738762
Bird's-eye view of temptations in New York from 1840-1919.
Neighborhoods
Anbinder, Tyler G. Five Points: The 19th Century New York City
Neighborhood that Invented Tap Dance, Stole Elections and Became
the World's Most Notorious Slum
The Free Press; 2001. ISBN 0684859955
Thorough examination of this internationally known slum - the worst
in US history. Once home to many new immigrants, this area left an
indelible impression on both Abraham Lincoln and Charles Dickens.
Barnard, William F. Forty Years at the Five Points: A Sketch of the Five Points
House of Industry
The House; 1893
Missionary's account of his work at the Five Points House of Industry. Out-of-print.
The Old Brewery and the New Mission House at the Five Points by the Ladies of
the Mission
Stringer & Townsend; 1854
Account of the Methodist missionary society's works in cleaning up Five Points. The
stories within are bound to be controversial. Out-of-print.
Reference
Inskeep, Carolee. The Graveyard Shift: A Family Historian's
Guide to New York City Cemeteries
Available from Ancestry: 1-800-ANCESTRY
History and contact information for New York City cemeteries.
Transcriptions
Muscarella Ardolina, Rosemary. Old Calvary Cemetery:
New Yorkers Carved in Stone
Heritage Books, Inc.; 1996. ISBN 0788404539
Transcriptions of headstones of Irish born at Calvary Cemetery in Queens.
Contains 5,315 transcriptions as well as maps. Over 90% of
the headstones give a location in Ireland.
Silinonte, Joseph M. Tombstones of the Irish Born: Cemetery
of the Holy Cross, Flatbush, Brooklyn
Heritage Books, Inc.; 1994. ISBN 0788400770
Transcriptions of headstones of Irish born at Holy Cross Cemetery in Brooklyn.
Cross-referenced and includes maps.
Reilly, James R., C.G.R.S. St. Paul's Roman Catholic Church,
Brooklyn, New York, Baptism Registers (1839-1857), The Irish Parish
Redmond Press, Salt Lake City.
