| Repository: | Western Reserve Historical Society |
| Creator: | Workmen's Circle of Cleveland |
| Title: | Workmen's Circle of Cleveland Records, Series II |
| Dates: | 1939-2002 |
| Extent: | 2.02 linear feet (2 containers and 2 oversize folders) |
| Abstract: | 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 descendants 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 collection consists 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. |
| MS Number | MS 4891 |
| Location: | closed stacks |
| Language: | The records are in English |
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.
click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for Workmen's Circle of Cleveland
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.
None.
Related MaterialThe 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.
Separated MaterialAll photographs have been removed to PG 523 Workmen's Circle of Cleveland Photographs, Series II.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
[Container ___, Folder ___ ] MS 4891 Workmen's Circle of Cleveland Records, Series II, Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, Ohio
Workmen's Circle of Cleveland, 2002
Processed by Stanley Lasky in 2003
Series I: Branch 1030 1939-2001 undated |
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| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 1 | 1 | Correspondence, Cemetery Committee 1967 1974 ca. 1980-2001 undated | |||||||||
| 1 | 2 | Correspondence, General Correspondence 1957 1982-2001 undated | |||||||||
| 1 | 3 | Correspondence, History and Future, correspondence between Marilyn Cagin and Frank Stern 1998 | |||||||||
| 1 | 4 | Correspondence, National Office 1966 1978 1981-2001 | |||||||||
| 1 | 5 | Financial reports 1978-2000 | |||||||||
| 1 | 6 | Flyers ca. 1948 ca. 1954 1988 ca. 1990 | |||||||||
| 1 | 7 | Forms 1980 undated | |||||||||
| 1 | 8-13 | Ledgers (two originals stored in Oversize Folder 1 and Oversize Folder 2) 1939-1995 | |||||||||
| 1 | 14-18 | Membership cards 1949-ca. 1999 undated | |||||||||
| 1 | 19-20 | Membership lists ca. 1956 ca. 1980-1993 1999-2001 | |||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 2 | 21 | Minutes 1972-2001 | |||||||||
| 2 | 22 | Newsletters, Echo #671 ca. 1946 1956-1957 | |||||||||
| 2 | 22 | Newsletters, I.L Peretz School 1956-1957 | |||||||||
| 2 | 23-25 | Newsletters, Information 1941-1960 | |||||||||
| 2 | 26 | Newspaper clippings 1979 ca. 1980-ca. 1999 | |||||||||
| 2 | 27 | Programs, anniversary 1950 1979 1984 1989 | |||||||||
| 2 | 28-30 | Receipt books 1977-1982 | |||||||||
| 2 | 31 | Record book 1960-1977 | |||||||||
| 2 | 32 | Scrapbook, reprints 1939 | |||||||||
| 2 | 33 | Services, prayer service scripts undated | |||||||||
| 2 | 34 | Speeches 1993 ca. 1997 | |||||||||
Series II: Regional and National Records 1940-2001 |
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| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 2 | 35 | Great Lakes Region, correspondence and reports ca. 1990-ca. 1999 | |||||||||
| 2 | 36 | Michigan District, flyers and newsletters 1998 | |||||||||
| 2 | 37 | National Office, constitution 1990 1996 | |||||||||
| 2 | 38 | National Office, correspondence 1973 1981-2001 | |||||||||
| 2 | 39 | National Office, minutes 1998-2001 | |||||||||
| 2 | 40 | National Office, program, anniversary 1940 | |||||||||
| 2 | 41 | National Office, reports, including The Membership Crisis of the Workmen's Circle/Arbeter Ring 1997 | |||||||||
| 2 | 41 | National Office, reports, including Where We Stand 1994-2001 | |||||||||
| 2 | 42 | Ohio District, correspondence, minutes, and reports 1997-2001 | |||||||||