Hamilton Fish III: Our Response
About This Page
The Desmond-Fish Public Library was founded in 1980 by Hamilton Fish III and his wife, Alice Curtis Desmond. Fish represented the Hudson Valley in Congress from 1920-1945.
Recent episodes of the podcast Ultra, hosted by Rachel Maddow, alleged actions and statements in the late 1930s by Hamilton Fish III that were in support of Hitler and his regime. Fish’s congressional office staff reportedly distributed propaganda on behalf of the German government.
The Board of Trustees of the Desmond-Fish Public Library developed a long-term response; this page details that response, both in the immediate and long term. Here you can see a timeline of our work, learn about our Name Review Working Group, and have access to relevant resources.
As individuals and as an institution, all of us associated with the Desmond-Fish Public Library, including descendants of Hamilton Fish III, strongly condemn all anti-Jewish actions, statements, and beliefs. As citizens of our community and stewards of the Library, we are dedicated to working actively against racism, bias, and discrimination in all forms.
Long-Term Response: Name Review Process
On Saturday, March 9, 2024, a majority of the Board of Trustees of the Desmond-Fish Public Library voted to retain the library’s official name: the Alice Curtis Desmond and Hamilton Fish Library.
The open meeting vote followed discussion during which trustees expressed a variety of points of view. The trustees thanked all the members of the community who have shared their thoughts over the past 15 months, including those who wrote letters, attended board meetings, participated in library conversations, completed a survey, and served on a name review working group. Despite divided opinions, the community has shown remarkable trust and engagement throughout the entire process.
In acknowledging the recommendations of the name review working group, the library will continue to host programming that is informative about the era; add to its substantial physical and online collection of books and other resources dealing with 20th century history, including that of Hamilton Fish III; and plan other actions with the goal of continuing to make the library a welcoming place for all members of the community. The executive committee of the board, led by first vice president George Lansbury and second vice president Libby Anderson and including other trustees and advisory council members, will direct the library’s response.
The name review working group met from August 2023 -January 2024, and presented a report to the DFPL Board at the January 27 board meeting. The name review working group’s report is available here. The report includes summary charts of some of the community survey questions. The (anonymous) comments in response to open-ended survey questions are here.
Resources & Reading Lists
As a library, our mission is to offer facts and research materials to our community members. To that end, we have created a list of resources regarding the national and global politics of the years from 1933 to 1941. In addition, we have assembled a reading list focusing on antisemitism in 20th century America, and its modern ramifications. In most cases, the works referenced are available at the Library or are free to read online.
A House Divided: Hamilton Fish III and American Isolationism 1933-1941
This list of resources explores the life and politics of our co-founder, Hamilton Fish III, with special focus on the years prior to the U.S. entry into World War II; it also provides contextual information on isolationism and interventionism in the pre-war years.
Past as Prologue: Isolationism and Antisemitism in 20th Century America, and Their Modern Consequences
This list of resources explores the issues of isolationism and antisemitism in the US from the early to mid 20th century, and their relationship to the current rise in antisemitism.
Community Book Discussions: Readings on Modern Issues
Inspired by current events, the Desmond-Fish Public Library’s Community Read is a place to read and discuss works of literature of special contemporary relevance in a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment. On each occasion, we will read one book of particular note, and discuss it both as a work of literature and as a text of relevance to contemporary social conflict.
The past series focused on modern readings in antisemitism, and was lead by Digital Services Librarian Ryan Biracree.
Hamilton Fish Sr. and the Politics of American Nationalism, 1912-1945
The role of Hamilton Fish III in twentieth-century American politics was the topic of a talk by Professor Anthony Troncone on Saturday, July 8th at 3pm at the Desmond-Fish Public Library.
Anthony Troncone is the retired professor of history and chair of the history program at Dominican College. This is the subject of his 1991 dissertation based on extensive research into the life of Hamilton Fish, available to read here.
On the video recording, the talk begins at 06:10.