Guide to the Records of the Workmen's Circle #45, 1915-1987
- Repository
- Heinz History Center
- Title
- Records of the Workmen's Circle #45
- Creator
- Workmans' Circle (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
- Collection Number
- MSS #291
- Extent
- 0.5 cubic feet (1 box)
- Date
- 1915-1987
- Abstract
- The Workmen's Circle/Arbeter Ring is a social democratic Jewish fraternal organization, headquartered in New York City, chartered to provide mutual assistance to members and to promote Jewish culture and social justice. These materials include organizational minutes from 1957 through March 1983.
- Language
- The material in this collection is in English.
- 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 Workmen's Circle #45 (1904-1983)
The Workmen's Circle/Arbeter Ring is a social democratic Jewish fraternal organization with headquarters in New York City. The organization was chartered in 1900 to provide mutual assistance and to promote Jewish culture and social justice. The three hundred original members were immigrants from Eastern Europe. By 1924, there were 80,000 members in the United States and Canada.
Today, the Workmen's Circle/Arbeter Ring is the most prominent advocate in America for the preservation and dissemination of Yiddish culture. The Workmen's Circle/Arbeter Ring, as a progressive-liberal organization, is committed to advancing democracy, eliminating poverty, strengthening civil rights, promoting universal health care and opposing bigotry, tyranny and totalitarianism.
The Pittsburgh branch, Workmen's Circle #45, was established in 1904. At one time, Workmen's Circle had four local branches and six outlying branches in the tri-state area. By 1955, only two branches were left. Workmen's Circle #45 disbanded in 1983, at which time responsibility for the cemetery was assumed by the Jewish Cemetery and Burial Association.
In the 1930's, the national Workmen's Circle joined with the Jewish Labor Committee to combat the rise of Nazism. After the war, it helped to support children's homes and libraries in Israel. Locally, the organization responded to perceived needs as defined by the changing interests of the group. The list of organizations supported by Workmen's Circle #45 in the 1950's ranged from Jewish organizations (e.g., YIVO, National Jewish Hospital), to labor groups (e.g., National Child Labor Committee) and civil rights groups (e.g., SCLC). In the 1960's contributions reflected an interest in Vietnam. By the 1970's the focus was on Arab-Israeli relations; and in the 1980's contributions were made to benefit Soviet Jewry. In addition to supporting such social causes, the organization provided sick benefits and death benefits to members. Besides continuing identification with labor causes, Workman's Circle #45 was a strong supporter of Yiddish, sponsoring plays and speakers in the 1980's.
Scope and Content Notes
The materials include organizational minutes from 1957 through March 1983. These were kept in Yiddish until 1967. Also included is a speech given by Nathan Malyn at a dinner given in his honor in which he reviews the historical and social contexts of the rise of the labor movement.
Arrangement
The Workmen's Circle #45 records are housed in one archival box and are arranged chronologically.
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
These materials came in one accession in 1988.
Acc# 1988.0014 Gift of Bess Topolsky
Preferred Citation
Records of the Workmen's Circle #45, 1915-1987, MSS #291, Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania.
Processing Information
This collection was processed by Rae Barent and Susan Melnick on May 11, 1999.
Revision and rearrangement for the encoded version of the finding aid provided by Kimberly A. Tryka on February 4, 2000.
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.