Thomas Paine National Historical Association
An American historical association established to preserve Thomas Paine’s legacy, commemorate his life, and promote public understanding of his ideas.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
The Thomas Paine National Historical Association is an American historical organization based in New Rochelle, New York, devoted to preserving and interpreting the legacy of Thomas Paine, the political writer and revolutionary associated with the American and French revolutions. The organization was organized on January 29, 1884, the anniversary of Paine’s birth, and is described as one of the oldest historical associations in the United States. Its work has centered on memorialization, public ceremonies, historical collections, and the preservation of places and objects associated with Paine and the history of New Rochelle. The association’s first elected president was Moncure D. Conway, a writer, abolitionist, and confidant of Abraham Lincoln. Conway later produced the first comprehensive biography of Paine, published in 1892, helping establish a substantial documentary and interpretive foundation for the association’s mission. The organization also played a prominent role in the development and rededication of the Thomas Paine Monument in New Rochelle. It held a major gathering in May 1899 in connection with the installation of a bronze bust of Paine, which remains mounted on a marble base. On October 14, 1905, the association organized an elaborate rededication ceremony after the monument had been moved to its present position in the center of Paine Avenue. The event included speeches, a parade, and a thirteen-gun salute representing the thirteen original American states. In 1906, the organization was reorganized and incorporated under New York law, adopting the name Thomas Paine National Historical Association. Its institutional activities later expanded through the Paine Memorial Building, constructed in New Rochelle beginning in 1925 under the direction of association president William van der Weyde. Thomas A. Edison participated in the groundbreaking by turning the first shovel of earth. The building served as a museum containing Paine-related artifacts and other items of local historical interest. In 1943, an additional wing was constructed to house the Hufeland Memorial Library, a collection of several thousand materials concerning the history of Westchester County assembled by Otto Hufeland. The Paine-related collection was subsequently housed at Iona College, while the Hufeland collection was placed on loan to the Westchester County Historical Society. The association is distinct from the Thomas Paine Cottage Museum, which is owned and maintained by the Huguenot and New Rochelle Historical Association and was founded in 1886. Both organizations are based in New Rochelle and represent separate institutional approaches to Paine’s legacy: the National Historical Association has emphasized commemoration, historical advocacy, collections, and public interpretation, while the cottage museum focuses on the preservation and interpretation of a historic site. In 2025, the United States-based Thomas Paine National Historical Association merged with the United Kingdom-based Thomas Paine Society to form the Thomas Paine Historical Association. This merger connected two organizations dedicated to Paine’s memory on opposite sides of the Atlantic and marked a new institutional phase for the association. Publicly available reference material does not provide a complete current list of officers, detailed financial information, or a standalone official website for the organization.
History
The association was organized in New Rochelle, New York, on January 29, 1884, the anniversary of Thomas Paine’s birth. Its founding purpose was to perpetuate Paine’s memory and promote recognition of his contribution to political thought and revolutionary history. The first elected president was Moncure D. Conway, a prominent writer and abolitionist who had been associated with Abraham Lincoln. Conway’s later 1892 biography of Paine became an important early comprehensive account of Paine’s life. The association became involved in the creation and maintenance of public memorials. On Memorial Day in 1899, it held a large public meeting connected with the erection of a bronze bust of Paine. The bust was placed on a marble base and remains associated with the Paine monument in New Rochelle. On October 14, 1905, the organization conducted a formal rededication after the monument was moved to its current location in the center of Paine Avenue. The ceremony combined civic spectacle and historical commemoration, including addresses, a parade, and a thirteen-gun salute honoring the thirteen original states. In 1906, the association was reorganized and incorporated under New York law. This reorganization established the institutional form associated with the name Thomas Paine National Historical Association. Its activities subsequently included the development of a dedicated memorial and museum facility. Construction of the Paine Memorial Building began on May 30, 1925, under the leadership of president William van der Weyde. Thomas A. Edison took part in the groundbreaking. The building functioned as a museum containing Paine memorabilia and materials relating to local history. A 1943 extension provided space for the Hufeland Memorial Library. The library contained several thousand items on Westchester County history collected by Otto Hufeland of Mount Vernon, New York. Over time, the Paine collection was housed at Iona College in New Rochelle, while the Hufeland collection was placed on loan with the Westchester County Historical Society. These later collection arrangements illustrate the association’s relationship with larger educational and archival institutions rather than a purely standalone museum model. The organization is one of two historically significant Thomas Paine-related bodies based in New Rochelle. The other is the Thomas Paine Cottage Museum, operated by the Huguenot and New Rochelle Historical Association, which owns and maintains the Paine Cottage and was founded in 1886. The two entities should not be treated as the same organization. In 2025, the association merged with the Thomas Paine Society, an organization based in the United Kingdom. The combined body took the name Thomas Paine Historical Association, extending the association’s commemorative mission across the United States and United Kingdom. Available reference material does not identify a current officer roster, detailed operating structure, or independent official website after the merger.
- 2025
Merged with the Thomas Paine Society
[1]The United States association merged with the United Kingdom-based Thomas Paine Society to form the Thomas Paine Historical Association.
- 1943
Hufeland Memorial Library wing added
[1]An extension was added to the Paine Memorial Building to house the Hufeland Memorial Library and its Westchester County historical materials.
- 1925
Paine Memorial Building construction begins
[1]Construction began on the Paine Memorial Building in New Rochelle under president William van der Weyde, with Thomas A. Edison participating in the groundbreaking.
- 1906
Reorganized and incorporated
[1]The association was reorganized and incorporated under New York law, adopting the name Thomas Paine National Historical Association.
- 1905
Thomas Paine Monument rededicated
[1]After the monument was moved to Paine Avenue, the association held a public rededication featuring speeches, a parade, and a thirteen-gun salute.
- 1899
Bronze bust commemorated
[1]The association held a major Memorial Day meeting connected with the installation of a bronze bust of Paine.
- 1892
Moncure D. Conway publishes a comprehensive Paine biography
[1]The association’s first elected president, Moncure D. Conway, published the first comprehensive biography of Thomas Paine.
- 1884
Organization established
[1]The association was organized in New Rochelle on January 29, the anniversary of Thomas Paine’s birth.
Products and positioning
A civic and historical-preservation organization focused on commemorating Thomas Paine and encouraging public engagement with his political, intellectual, and revolutionary legacy.
Marketing campaigns
- 1905Thomas Paine Monument rededication
United States
The association staged a public rededication ceremony after the Thomas Paine Monument was moved to its present location on Paine Avenue.
Outcome. The event reinforced the monument’s role as a civic site of Paine commemoration and included a parade, speeches, and a thirteen-gun salute.
- 1899Thomas Paine bronze bust commemoration
United States
The association organized a large public meeting on Memorial Day in connection with the erection of a bronze bust of Thomas Paine in New Rochelle.
Outcome. The bust was installed on a marble base and became part of the city’s Paine memorial landscape.
Brand decisions
2025
Merger with the Thomas Paine SocietyM&ABackground
The American association and the United Kingdom-based Thomas Paine Society both maintained organizations dedicated to preserving Paine’s legacy.
Action taken
The two organizations merged to form the Thomas Paine Historical Association.
Aftermath
The merger created a combined organization linking Paine commemoration in the United States and the United Kingdom. Further operational details are not provided in the available reference material.
1906
Formal incorporation under New York lawStrategyBackground
After more than two decades of commemorative activity, the organization underwent a formal reorganization.
Action taken
It incorporated under New York law and adopted the name Thomas Paine National Historical Association.
Aftermath
The incorporation established the association’s long-term institutional identity.
Sources1 sources
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