The Workmen's Circle of Cleveland (f. 1904) is a secular Jewish fraternal organization formed in the United States to perpetuate Yiddish language and culture, support and promote the liberal political agenda, offer both health and death benefits, and provide a meeting place for fellowship. Its Yiddish cultural programming includes lectures, readings, concerts, third Passover seders, and the I. L. Peretz Workmen's Circle School, a supplementary program for children. Branch 1030, one of a number of Cleveland, Ohio, branches, was the first English speaking branch and was founded in 1939.
Following World War II and the Holocaust and the continuing acculturation into American life of the descendents of its Yiddish-speaking Jewish immigrant founders, the Workmen's Circle, in Cleveland and nationwide, has been experiencing significant and continuous loss of membership. The Workmen's Circle's group health plan and death benefits, both of which are available on a non-sectarian basis, are the major source of membership. These programs have had difficulty attracting members since the proliferation of health maintenance organizations and health insurance plans.
The Workmen's Circle of Cleveland Records, Series II, 1939-2002, consist primarily of correspondence, ledgers, membership lists, minutes, and newsletters relating to Branch 1030. Also in the collection are regional records, and national office constitutions, correspondence, and reports.
This collection is of value to researchers studying ethnic groups and institutions in the United States in general, and in Cleveland, Ohio, in particular. Of interest are the responses made by the organizations to the acculturation and assimilation into the United States society of their members and their descendents. Also of interest is the correspondence between Marilyn Cagin and Frank Stern regarding the history and the future of the Workmen's Circle. Genealogists may find the membership records of value.
The collection is arranged in two series.
All photographs have been removed to PG 523 Workmen's Circle of Cleveland Photographs, Series II.
The researcher should also consult MS 4026 Workmen's Circle of Cleveland Records; MS 5088 Workmen's Circle of Cleveland Records, Series III; PG 317 Workmen's Circle of Cleveland Photographs; PG 523 Workmen's Circle of Cleveland Photographs, Series II; and PG 560 Workmen's Circle of Cleveland Photographs, Series III.
Processed by Stanley Lasky in 2003
None.
[Container ___, Folder ___ ] MS 4891 Workmen's Circle of Cleveland Records, Series II, Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, Ohio
Workmen's Circle of Cleveland, 2002
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.