Guide to the Concorida Club Photographs, 1919-2004
- Repository
- Heinz History Center
- Title
- Concordia Club Photographs
- Creator
- Concordia Club
- Collection Number
- MSP 434
- Extent
- 2 linear feet (1 box and 1 shelf volume)
- Date
- 1919-2004
- Abstract
- The Concordia Club, first located in Allegheny City, now Pittsburgh's North Side, and later in Oakland, was founded in 1874 by a group of mainly German-American Reform Jews. It served as a social center for the Jewish community of Pittsburgh until the end of 2009, when the Club voted to sell the historic building and close its doors after 135 years. The photographs depict events, primarily anniversary celebrations, groups, and the interior and exterior of the Concordia Club.
- Language
- The material in this collection is in English.
- Publisher
- Heinz History Center
- Address
- 1212 Smallman St.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222
library@heinzhistorycenter.org
URL: https://www.heinzhistorycenter.org
History
In 1874, a group of approximately forty Jewish men, primarily of German origin, met to organize an association, whose purpose, according to its charter, was "to promote social and literary entertainment among its members." The first president of the Concordia Club was Josiah Cohen, a prominent teacher, lawyer, and judge. Jacob Eiseman was president in 1884, when the club was chartered. The majority of the Club's early members and almost all of its early officers were members of Rodef Shalom Congregation.
The Concordia Club's first location was a rented home on Stockton Avenue in Allegheny City, now the North Side neighborhood of Pittsburgh. At that time more than 95 per cent of the Club's membership lived in Allegheny City. By the late 1870s the club had grown sufficiently to need a dance hall, which was created through renovation of the original structure. The Stockton Avenue clubhouse property was purchased by the club in 1890. During Enoch Rauh's presidency, a new building was erected on the same Stockton Avenue site, at a cost of proximately $75,000. At that time the club had 175 members.
During the next 20 years, the Concordia Club became a significant social institution for the Jewish community, even as the community's demographic center was shifting from Allegheny City to Pittsburgh's East End communities, particularly Squirrel Hill. By 1913, when the Concordia Club moved to its new location on O'Hara Street in the Schenley Farms district of Oakland, more than 95 per cent of the members lived in Squirrel Hill. Morris Kingsbacher was president and Philip Hamburger was the chair of the building committee when the new clubhouse was dedicated on December 25, 1913, with a gala banquet. The building contained a banquet hall, ballroom, library, lounges, sleeping quarters, billiard rooms, and bowling alleys.
The Club's entertainment committee had over the years staged elaborate themed dances, vaudeville performances, musical stage revues, amateur theatrical productions, "stags for the older men," and holiday parties. Private social functions of all sorts were held in the clubhouse, which continued to be a gathering place for Pittsburgh's Jewish community. After 135 years, the Concordia Club voted to sell the historic building to the University of Pittsburgh due to declining membership and financial shortages and closed its doors at the end of 2009.
Scope and Content Notes
The photographs of the Concordia Club include photographs of a variety of social events as early as 1919, with identifications for many of the individuals in the photographs. The most complete coverage is of the Club's 100th anniversary celebration in 1974. Also included in the photographs are Club events from the late 1990s through 2000s.
Arrangement
- The photographs of the Concordia Club are housed in one box and one shelf volume and are arranged alphabetically.
Conditions Governing Access
None
Immediate Source of Acquisition
These materials came in two accessions and were combined into one body in 2008. A third accession was incorporated into the collection in 2010. Another accession was added in 2014. Accessions #1995.0392 in August 1995, and #2010.0016 on January 5, 2010, were gifts of Foster Goldman, Jr., representing the Concordia Club. Accession #2000.0042 was a gift of Herbert Wertheimer on December 28, 2000. Accession #2004.0157 was a gift from Ellen Lehman in 2004
Preferred Citation
Concordia Club Photographs, 1919-2004, MSP 434, Rauh Jewish Archives, Thomas and Katherine Detre Library and Archives, Senator John Heinz History Center This collection has been previously cited as: Photographs of the Concordia Club, 1919-1974, MSP#434, Rauh Jewish Archives, Senator John Heinz History CenterGeneral
This collection has been previously cited as: Photographs of the Concordia Club, 1919-1974, MSP#434, Rauh Jewish Archives, Senator John Heinz History Center
Processing Information
This collection was processed by Martha L. Berg on October 27, 2008.
Additions to the collection and further processing by Theresa E. Rea on March 26, 2010.
Conditions Governing Use
Property rights reside with the Senator John Heinz History Center. Literary rights are retained by the creators of the records and their heirs. For permission to reproduce or publish, please contact the Thomas and Katherine Detre Library and Archives of the Senator John Heinz History Center.
Separated Materials
Two boxes and four shelf volumes of the Concordia Club Records have been separated, arranged, and described with the catalog designation of MSS#434.
One folder of oversize materials has been separated, arranged, and described with the catalog designation of MSO#434
One folder of oversize photographs has been separated, arranged, and described with the catalog designation of MSR#434.
Gilbert, Arthur and Oscar Tarcov. Your Neighbor Celebrates. New York: Friendly House Publishers, 1957 is located in the library.
The Concordia Club 120 Years. Videocassette. Directed by Nate Sherer. Pittsburgh, PA: Nate Sherer Video Productions, 1994 is located in the library.
The Concordia Club 130 Year Anniversary. Videocassette. Pittsburgh, PA, 2004 is located in the library.
Subjects
- Concordia Club (Allegheny, Pa.)
- Concordia Club (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
- Pittsburgh (Pa.)
- Allegheny City (Pa.)
- North Side, Pittsburgh (Pa.)
- Oakland, Pittsburgh (Pa.)
- Jews--Pennsylvania--Pittsburgh
- Social clubs--Pennsylvania--Pittsburgh
- Jewish business--Pennsylvania--Pittsburgh
- Jewish social life and cusoms--Pennsylvania--Pittsburgh
- Anniversaries--Pennsylvania--Pittsburgh