The Hibernian Society of Baltimore was organized in 1803 and incorporated in 1818 to do all such...as shall be necessary, for the purpose of affording charitable assistance and advice to such emigrants from, or natives of Ireland arriving at, or residing in any part of the State of Maryland, as may be in want and deemed worthy.

The Society meets annually on St. Patrick's Day, and holds regularly scheduled meetings throughout the year. The St. Patrick's Day meeting has evolved into a lavish Anniversary Dinner to which are in invited state, local and national political figures.

In 1823 John Oliver, a former President of the Society, died and bequeathed $20,000 to the Society for the purpose of establishing a free school in Baltimore... for the education of poor children of both sexes, one at least of whose parents must be Irish... And should it ever happen that said school should not have sufficient number of scholars of Irish parentage as aforesaid, it is my wish that it should be fitted with poor children... and no distinction is ever to be made in the school as to the religious tenets of those that may apply for admission. In 1824 the Oliver Hibernian Free School opened and in 1827 the school moved into its new building on North Street, which it occupied until 1904 when the property was sold. The advent of the public school and the development of parochial schools caused a decline in the number of pupils and in 1893 day classes were suspended. The school then became a Free Night School at which the rudimentary branches were taught as well as skills such as book-keeping and stenography.

In 1937 the Society changed its educational policy and began a scheme of awarding scholarships to local students to attend colleges in the Baltimore area. This Scholarship Program continues to the present. The Society's major fund -raising activity for this program is its Annual Deluxe Luncheon usually held in November or December.