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 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 Photographs, Series III, 1930-1995 and undated consist of approximately 850 images of the activities of the Workmen's Circle of Cleveland, Ohio, particularly Branch 671E and the I.L. Peretz School.
This collection is of value to researchers seeking illustrative material about ethnic and fraternal organizations in general, and in the Cleveland Jewish community in particular. The photographs primarily represent Branch 671E of the Workmen's Circle, one of several Cleveland-area branches. Researchers may also find the photographs of the I.L. Peretz School valuable, as they provide insight into the education of Jewish youths. The collection includes individual and group portraits of members and views of organization meetings, events, theatrical presentations, and activities at the I.L. Peretz School. Those interested in the role of Yiddish in the culture of Cleveland's Jewish community will find this collection useful.
The collection is arranged in five series.
The researcher should also consult MS 4026 Workmen's Circle of Cleveland Records; MS 4891 Workmen's Circle of Cleveland Records, Series II; MS 5088 Workmen's Circle of Cleveland Records, Series III; PG 317 Workmen's Circle of Cleveland Photographs; and PG 523 Workmen's Circle of Cleveland Photographs, Series II.
Processed by Sean Martin, Arthur Diamond, and Jessica Marra in 2011.
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[Container ___, Folder ___ ] PG 560 Workmen's Circle of Cleveland Photographs, Series III, Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, Ohio
Gift of Workmen's Circle of Cleveland in 2006.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.