Guide to the Records of the Monongahela Turners (Pa.), 1894-1945

Repository
Heinz History Center
Title
Records of the Monongahela Turners (Pa.)
Creator
Monongahela Turners (Pa.)
Collection Number
MSS#232
Extent
2.0 cubic feet 4 boxes
Date
1894-1945
Abstract
The Monongahela (Pa.) Turn und Gesang Verein Eintracht (Exercise and Singing Union or Society) was organized in 1890 as a German social and fraternal organization dedicated to promoting patriotism and good citizenship through physical fitness and cultural endeavors, or "a sound mind in a sound body," as per the National Turner Organization's motto. These records include minutes, constitutions and bylaws, financial materials, membership registers, and other miscellaneous materials. The records provide some documentation of the club's social and charitable activities for the first half of the twentieth century, especially during the first twenty years of the club's existence, and through the first World War.
Language
The material in this collection is in English.
Author
This guide to the collection was originally prepared by: Karen Hockenson on August 16, 1996. Revisions occurred to the finding aid as a part of the encoding process in Fall, 1999.
Sponsor
This finding aid has been encoded as a part of the Historic Pittsburgh project a joint effort of the University of Pittsburgh and the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania. Funding for this portion of the project has been donated by the Hillman Foundation.
Publisher
Heinz History Center
Address
1212 Smallman St.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222
library@heinzhistorycenter.org
URL: https://www.heinzhistorycenter.org

History of the Monongahela (Pa.) Turners

The Monongahela (Pa.) Turn und Gesang Verein Eintracht (Exercise and Singing Union or Society) was organized in 1890 as a German social and fraternal organization dedicated to promoting patriotism and good citizenship through physical fitness and cultural endeavors, or "a sound mind in a sound body," as per the National Turner Organization's motto. As part of the Pittsburgh District of the National Organizations of American Turners, the Monongahela Turners, located in Washington County (Pa.), was one of approximately 100 Turner Societies throughout the United States. The Pittsburgh District included societies located across Southwestern Pennsylvania, as well as in Steubenville and East Liverpool, Ohio, and Wheeling, West Virginia.

When the Monongahela society was first established, the club required that all business and proceedings be conducted in German, except for the most important issues, which were discussed in both German and English so that all members could participate. In all other cases, non-German-speaking members were excluded from voting due to the fact that they could not understand the discussion. After the meetings, time was allowed for English-speaking members to ask questions. This German language requirement was dropped some time around 1920. In 1938, the National Organization's name was officially changed from American Turnerbund to American Turners, reflecting this change from a strictly German fraternal organization to one that included Americans of all nationalities who wished to become better citizens. In 1943, the Monongahela club formally became the Monongahela Turners.

While many Turner societies were only superficially (if at all) dedicated to physical fitness and personal improvement, but rather were more concerned with being social clubs, the Monongahela Turners kept the National Turners motto and principles uppermost on their agenda. The club had an active and well-maintained gymnasium with physical education classes for all members and their families, as well as a Singing Society and other cultural events designed for the purpose of developing good citizenship in its members. While there were also many purely social events, and an active social room (where alcoholic drinks were served), fund-raisers often included charitable endeavors such as raising money for starving children in Germany and monetary gifts to the Associated Charities of Monongahela.

The Monongahela Turners were also active in the National Tournaments, held annually at various Turner clubs across the country. These tournaments included participation in mass physical exercises for men, women and children, as well as various educational and cultural demonstrations. The Turners also supported a school for training physical education instructors, called the Normal College of the American Gymnastic Union, at Indiana University in Indianapolis, and many clubs had paid gymnastic and physical education instructors on staff.

Scope and Content Notes

These records include minutes, constitutions and bylaws, financial materials, membership registers, and other miscellaneous materials. Although these records are not comprehensive, they do provide some documentation of the club's social and charitable activities for the first half of the twentieth century, especially during the first twenty years of the club's existence, and through the first World War. Records also show this club's dedication to the Turner motto of "a sound mind in a sound body" through physical education classes.

The records provide insight into the workings of the club for the first fifty years, and include reports of athletic classes, summaries of club activities and issues discussed, income and expense reports, and the meeting minutes for both the Board of Directors meetings and the general membership meetings. Along with the National Turners records, the Minutes are also a strong reference tool for determining the leadership of the Monongahela Turners, as well as a primary resource for information on the Turners physical fitness activities. The Entertainment Committee Records include documentation of specific musical organizations hired for social programs, and financial records of fundraisers, especially of raffle sales. The 1911-1917 Entertainment Committee ledger also includes committee meeting minutes for those years, providing additional information about the club's social activities. Throughout this collection, Treasurer's Ledgers are frequently combined with Minutes and Member Accounts, while the finances of the club's entertainment and beverage accounts are grouped together under Financial Materials. Miscellaneous Financial Materials consist mostly of lists of expenses or member dues. Of special interest is additional miscellaneous documentation found on the back of these lists, which give insight into the workings of the club, as well as the political stand of the national organization of American Turners. An excellent example of this is a letter dated 1918, which states the Turners National Executive Committee's political position in Central Europe with regard to the overthrow of the monarchy in Germany and Austria after World War I, located on the reverse of an expense list and filed at the rear of the Financial Miscellaneous folder.

Many of the earlier records are written in German only , especially the constitutions, member accounts and earliest editions of club minutes, a club requirement which was not lifted until 1920. Some records c1920 are written in both German and English. Of note is the Admittance Register (1900-1902), which includes at the top of each sign-in page, the club's Rules of Order written in both languages. Of further interest, the By-Laws for the Monongahela Turners German Singing Society is written in English, and is found at the back of the 1894-1895 Constitution ledger.

Arrangement

The Monongahela Turners Records are housed in four archival boxes and are arranged alphabetically by folder title, with National Turners Records arranged to the rear.

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

These materials were received in one accession. Acc# 1994.0063 Gift of Katja Rampelmann (Archivist, American Turner HistoricalRecords Survey Project at Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis). 1994

Preferred Citation

Records of the Monongahela Turners, 1894-1945, MSS#232, Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Karen Hockenson on August 16, 1996

Conditions Governing Use

Property rights reside with the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania. Literary rights are retained by the creators of the records and their heirs. For permissions to reproduce or publish, please contact the curator of the Archives.

Subjects

    Corporate Names

    • Monongahela Turners (Pa.)
    • American Turners (Organization)

    Geographic Names

    • Monongahela (Pa.) -- Societies, etc.
    • Monongahela (Pa.) -- Athletics.
    • Monongahela (Pa.) -- Recreation.
    • Pennsylvania -- Athletics.
    • Pennsylvania -- Recreation.
    • Pennsylvania -- Societies, etc.
    • Washington County (Pa.) -- Athletics.
    • Washington County (Pa.) -- Recreation.
    • Washington County (Pa.) -- Societies, etc.

    Other Subjects

    • Athletic clubs -- Pennsylvania -- Monongahela.
    • German Americans -- Pennsylvania -- Monongahela.
    • German Americans -- Pennsylvania -- Washington County.
    • German Americans -- Pennsylvania -- Washington County -- Societies and clubs.

Container List

National Tournament Program, 1941
Containers
Box 4, Folder 1
National Turners Annual Report, 1945
Containers
Box 4, Folder 2
Miscellaneous - Blotter Paper, no date
Containers
Box 4, Folder 3