Guide to the Workmen's Circle Records, Series IV


Title:
Workmen's Circle Records, Series IV
Repository:
Western Reserve Historical Society
Phone: 216-721-5722
http://www.wrhs.org
Creator:
Gift of Jack Greminger
Dates:
1927-2017
Quantity:
2.41 linear feet (3 boxes, including one oversized folder)
Abstract:
The Workmen's Circle, or Arbeiter Ring, is a secular Jewish fraternal organization founded to build a better world, foster cultural Jewishness, and offer friendships. Early on, the Circle was viewed as an organization of labor unionists, including Socialists, although there was no official connection. Members demonstrated for social security, unemployment compensation, child labor laws, workmen's compensation, and health security, and supported candidates who were in favor of these issues. The group also provided lectures, poetry readings, plays, shows, and concerts in Yiddish. Camp Vladek (called the Workmen's Circle Camp) in Rock Creek, Ohio was a summer resort for adults and a children's camp from 1950-1963, when it was sold and the proceeds were used to build a Workmen's Circle Educational Center at 1980 Green Road in 1964. The I. L. Peretz Workmen's Circle School first opened in 1918 and became a center for adult Yiddish classes and Yiddish cultural programming. Since the Holocaust, the Circle's emphasis has shifted to the preservation, promotion, and perpetuation of Yiddish language and culture. In 1995 there were 3 branches in Cleveland and 1 in Akron; membership totaled approximately 1,200. The Workmen's Circle Records, Series IV collection consists of agreements, applications, awards, booklets, budgets, bylaws, correspondence, a mortgage deed and plot plan for Camp Vladek, employee manual and forms, flyers, board meetings and minutes, music sheets, newsletters, newspaper clippings, a photograph, a poster, holiday programs, a school calendar, a sketch, a songbook, a syllabus, and a Yiddish textbook.
Identification:
MS 5456
Language:
The records are in English

Biography of Workmen's Circle

The Workmen's Circle, or Arbeiter Ring, is a secular Jewish fraternal organization founded to build a better world, foster cultural Jewishness, and offer friendships. Part of the national Workmen's Circle, started in 1900, the first Cleveland branch (#79) was chartered in 1904 to work for social legislation. Early on, the Circle was viewed as an organization of labor unionists, including Socialists, although there was no official connection. Members demonstrated for social security, unemployment compensation, child labor laws, workmen's compensation, and health security, and supported candidates who were in favor of these issues. The group also provided lectures, poetry readings, plays, shows, and concerts in Yiddish. At its height in the 1930s, Cleveland had 4 Yiddish-speaking branches. The first English-speaking branch, #1030, was founded in 1939. The group bought its own cemetery in 1920 in Parma. Camp Vladek (called the Workmen's Circle Camp) in Rock Creek was a summer resort for adults and a children's camp from 1950-1963, when it was sold and the proceeds were used to build a Workmen's Circle Educational Center at 1980 Green Road in 1964. The I. L. Peretz Workmen's Circle School first opened in 1918 on Scovill Avenue, and with the exception of 1 semester in 1952, has been in continuous operation. Originally established to educate members' children, the school became a center for adult Yiddish classes and Yiddish cultural programming. Since the Holocaust, the Circle's emphasis has shifted to the preservation, promotion, and perpetuation of Yiddish language and culture. A Russian-speaking branch for Russian immigrants was established in 1975. In 1995 Marilyn Fenton served as director and the Circle had 3 branches in Cleveland and 1 in Akron; and membership totaled approximately 1,200. As of 2017, Matt Greminger has served as executive director.

Scope and Content

The Workmen's Circle Records, Series IV collection consists of agreements, applications, awards, booklets, budgets, bylaws, correspondence, a mortgage deed and plot plan for Camp Vladek, employee manual and forms, flyers, board meetings and minutes, music sheets, newsletters, newspaper clippings, a photograph, a poster, holiday programs, a school calendar, a sketch, a songbook, a syllabus, and a Yiddish textbook.

Those who are interested in Jewish fraternal organizations will find this collection interesting. Additionally, those who have an interest in Jewish music and culture will find this collection valuable. Also, those who are interested in Jewish education for children and adults in Cleveland will want to consult this collection.

Statement of Arrangement

The Workmen's Circle Records, Series IV collection is arranged in two series: Series I: Workmen's Circle Administrative Records is arranged alphabetically by document type. Series II: Workmen's Circle Holiday Programs is arranged chronologically.

Restrictions on Use

None

Restrictions on Access

None

Indexing Terms

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

Subjects:

Camp Vladek (Rock Creek, Ohio)
Friendly societies -- Ohio -- Cleveland
Jews -- Ohio -- Cleveland -- Social life and customs -- 20th century
Jews -- Ohio -- Cleveland -- Societies, etc.
Working class -- Ohio -- Cleveland
Workmen’s Circle (U.S.) -- Ohio -- Cleveland

Preferred Citation

[Container ___, Folder ___ ] MS 5456 Workmen's Circle Records, Series IV, Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, Ohio.

Acquisition Information

Gift of Jack Greminger, 2017.

Processing Information

Processed by Allan Jaffe, Sean Martin and Jeffrey Zuckerman.


Detailed Description of The Collection



Series I: Workmen's Circle Administrative Records, 1927-2017 and undated

Box 1 / Folder 1
Agreement: East 147th Street, April 14, 1927




Box 1 / Folder 2
Applications, 1964-1968




Box 1 / Folder 3
Applications, 1970-1973




Box 1 / Folder 4
Awards and Certificates: Timothy McCormack, Cuyahoga County Auditor (original material moved to oversized folder 1), September 16, 1989




Box 1 / Folder 5
Booklet, New Building Dedication, 1964




Box 1 / Folder 6
Booklet, Nelson Grossman Bar Mitzvah Ceremony, June 15, 2002




Box 1 / Folder 7
Booklet, Ryan Silver Bar Mitzvah Ceremony, November 16, 2002




Box 1 / Folder 8
Booklet, Sharon Noreen Rosenblatt Greminger Bat Mitzvah, December 6, 2003




Box 1 / Folder 9
Booklet, Toby Lauren Lausin Bat Mtizvah, May 17, 2003




Box 1 / Folder 10
Budgets, 2004-2007




Box 1 / Folder 11
Bylaws, Financial Records, 1982, 2002, 2006




Box 1 / Folder 12
Correspondence, Camp Vladek, 1950-1967




Box 1 / Folder 13
Correspondence, Cemetery, March 3, 2003




Box 1 / Folder 14
Correspondence, Cesar Chavez, 1973




Box 1 / Folder 15
Correspondence, Dinner, March 2002




Box 1 / Folder 16
Deed, Mortgage, Camp Vladek, May 15, 1947




Box 1 / Folder 17
Employee Manual and Forms, 2014-2015




Box 1 / Folder 18
Flyers, 2000-2005




Box 1 / Folder 19
Handouts, Jewish National Fund Educational Material, undated




Box 1 / Folder 20
Minutes and additional material, Ohio, 2004-2006




Box 1 / Folder 21
Minutes, Board Meetings, 2008




Box 1 / Folder 22
Minutes, Board Meetings, 2009




Box 1 / Folder 23
Minutes, Board Meetings, 2010




Box 1 / Folder 24
Minutes, Board Meetings, 2011




Box 1 / Folder 25
Minutes, Board Meetings, 2012




Box 1 / Folder 26
Minutes, Board Meetings, 2013




Box 1 / Folder 27
Minutes, Board Meetings, 2014




Box 1 / Folder 28
Minutes, Board Meetings, 2015




Box 1 / Folder 29
Minutes, Board Meetings, 2017




Box 1 / Folder 30
Minutes, Board Meetings, Workmen's Circle School, 2002-2003




Box 1 / Folder 31
Music sheets, undated




Box 1 / Folder 32
Newsletters, 2006-2012




Box 1 / Folder 33
Newsletters, 2001-2005




Box 1 / Folder 34
Newsletters, Call, 1955




Box 1 / Folder 35
Newsletters, Call, 1957




Box 1 / Folder 36
Newsletters, Call, 1961




Box 1 / Folder 37
Newsletters, Call, 1962




Box 2 / Folder 1
Newsletters, Call, 1963




Box 2 / Folder 2
Newsletters, Call, 1964




Box 2 / Folder 3
Newsletters, Call, 1965




Box 2 / Folder 4
Newsletters, Call, 1966




Box 2 / Folder 5
Newsletters, Call, 1967




Box 2 / Folder 6
Newsletters, Call, 1968




Box 2 / Folder 7
Newsletters, Call, 1969




Box 2 / Folder 8
Newsletters, Call, 1970




Box 2 / Folder 9
Newspaper Clippings, 1979-1981




Box 2 / Folder 10
Newspaper Clippings, 1973-1974




Box 2 / Folder 11
Newspaper Clippings, 1971-1974




Box 2 / Folder 12
Newspaper Clippings, 1971-1973




Box 2 / Folder 13
Newspaper Clippings (original moved to oversized folder 1), 1972-1974




Box 2 / Folder 14
Photograph, undated




Box 2 / Folder 15
Plot Plan, Camp Vladek, June 17, 1947




Box 2 / Folder 16
Poster (original removed to oversized folder 1), July 9, 2000




Box 2 / Folder 17
Scholarship Endowment Fund, 1984-2005




Box 2 / Folder 18
School Calendar, 2002-2004




Box 2 / Folder 19
Sketch, unidentified, undated




Box 2 / Folder 20
Song Book, undated




Box 2 / Folder 21
Syllabus/Shule Guidelines, 1994




Box 2 / Folder 22
Yiddish Textbook for Beginners, undated





Series II: Workmen's Circle Holiday Programs, 1991-2011 and undated

Box 3 / Folder 1
Video, Yiddish Concert in the Park, July 7, 1991




Box 3 / Folder 2
Programs, Tu B'Shevat Seder, 1996




Box 3 / Folder 3
Programs, Shabbos Dinner, 1997




Box 3 / Folder 4
Programs, Purim, 1999




Box 3 / Folder 5
Programs, Sukkot, 1999




Box 3 / Folder 6
Programs, Passover Seder Dinner, 2001-2011




Box 3 / Folder 7
Programs, Cultural Shabbos Service, undated