Finding aid for the Cleveland Cultural Garden Federation Records

History of the Cleveland Cultural Garden Federation

The Cleveland Cultural Garden Federation was founded in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1925 by Leo Weidenthal as the Civic Progress League. A year later the organization changed its name to the Cleveland Cultural Garden League, and in 1952 the League adopted its present name, the Cleveland Cultural Garden Federation. The purpose of the League, as stated in Their Paths are Peace by Clara Wilson, was to "foster the spirit of good will and fellowship among men to weld harmony among Clevelanders of diverse origin, and to promote good citizenship."

Leo Weidenthal conceived the idea for what later became the Cultural Garden Federation in 1916 when he attended the dedication of the Shakespeare Garden in Rockefeller Park; he wished to establish a series of gardens, each having a central theme, concerning the history of a single nationality group in Cleveland. The Shakespeare Garden was later incorporated as part of the official cultural gardens chain.

The first garden established under the auspices of the newly formed Cultural Garden League was the Hebrew garden in 1926. The next gardens established were the Italian, German, Lithuanian, Slovak, and Ukrainian in 1930, followed by the Polish, Hungarian, Czech, and Yugoslav gardens in 1934. The American, Russian, Irish, Greek, and Syrian gardens were established in 1938. Since the 1930s, several gardens including the Rumanian, Estonian, African American, Latvian, Indian, Chinese, and others have been established.

Much of the work on the earlier gardens was done through a cooperative effort of the City of Cleveland and the Works Project Administration. This cooperation was predicated on the recognition of the gardens by the city in an ordinance passed on May 9, 1927. This ordinance set aside areas of Rockefeller Park adjoining the Shakespeare and Hebrew gardens for the development of similar gardens with ethnic themes.

During its period of prominence, the Cleveland Cultural Garden Federation played an active role in such events as the 1939 Seventh World Poultry Congress, the Second UNESCO conference held in Cleveland in 1949, and in establishing One World Day as an annual event in Cleveland beginning in 1945.

The Cleveland Cultural Garden Federation, less active than in the past, remains a viable organization dedicated to the promotion and distribution of knowledge concerning Cleveland's nationality groups.

click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for the Cleveland Cultural Garden Federation

Scope and Content

The Cleveland Cultural Garden Federation Records, 1916-1976 and undated, are an amalgamation of papers left by the late Leo Weidenthal (1889-1967) at the Cleveland Public Library and the records of the Cleveland Cultural Garden Federation. The records consist of the Articles of Incorporation, constitutions, minutes, correspondence, histories, speeches, financial records, proclamations, publications, newspaper clippings, scrapbooks, and miscellaneous material including membership lists, resolutions, press releases, certificates, programs, and invitations.

This collection provides valuable insight into the roles played by nationality and ethnic groups in Cleveland, Ohio, from the Great Depression era to the present. The correspondence and minutes contain information concerning the role of the Federation in the 1939 World Poultry Congress, the UNESCO Conference of 1949, and the establishment of One World Day as a traditional Cleveland event. These records also address the activities of the Works Progress Administration in helping to build the Gardens. The correspondence contains a number of letters from prominent local and national figures, including Senators Robert F. Kennedy and Robert Taft, Ohio governors Frank Lausche and James A. Rhodes, and Cleveland mayors Ralph Locher and Carl Stokes. The minutes and correspondence also include enclosures such as memoranda, activities outlines, and drafts of constitutional changes.

Statement of Arrangement

Restrictions on Access

None.

The researcher should also consult PG 183 Cleveland Cultural Garden Federation Photographs; MS 2161 Leo Weidenthal Papers; and MS 5080 Alexander L. "Sonny" DeMaioribus Papers.

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.

Subjects:

Preferred Citation

[Container ___, Folder ___ ] MS 3700 Cleveland Cultural Garden Federation Records, Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, Ohio

Acquisition Information

Gifts of the Cleveland Public Library and the Cleveland Cultural Garden Federation in 1977.

Processing Information

Processed by Roberta L. Hudson in 1978.

Other Finding Aid

A list of correspondents represented in this collection is available at the Reference Desk of the WRHS Research Library.

Detailed Description of The Collection