Workmen's Circle/Arbeter Ring

Collection consists of black-and-white prints depicting the Milwaukee (Wis.) Jewish community during the first half of the 20th century. Subjects include national, state, and local Workmen's Circle groups; World War I soldiers; Americanization classes; Congregation Beth Hameorosh Hagodol; and the Liliner Society. Two of the Workmen's Circle photographs are tightly curled panoramas.

Legal records contain census, employment, marriage (including Ketubahs), and naturalization records for Rebecca (Rae) Drucker Kuttenplum (1896- ) and her husband Louis Kuttenplum (1892- ). Of interest is an application Rae Kuttenplum signed to maintain her citizenship with the United States, having married a British subject. Also included are the couple's Workmen's Circle membership certificates.

The National Committee for Labor Israel (NCLI) was an American fundraising organization closely associated with Israel’s federation of labor and trade unions (Histadrut). NCLI provided financial support for the Histadrut’s educational, health, and social programs in Israel through national and regional solicitation campaigns. Major donors included Labor Zionist organizations, American labor unions, and other Jewish community associations. Financial problems eventually led to the dissolution of NCLI, and the bulk of this collection documents its final decades of operation. A large portion of the records pertain to development projects in Israel during the 1960s -1970s.

Includes a program for "Heldishe yorn (Hirsh Lekert)" by H. Leivick, directed by Nahum Zemach, performed at David Kessler's Second Avenue Theatre, 1934; and two programs for revue/variety shows, at other venues, 1932. Two items indicate that the theater is under the auspices of Arbeter Ring (Workmen's Circle) Branch 555; on one item the performance is indicated as arranged by the "Amshol" Group.

Programs for dramatic and musical evenings in honor of David Pinski, Abraham Goldfaden, Joseph Opatoshu, and Jacob Gordin, respectively; and a program for a musical and dramatic concert of an Arbeter Ring school in the Bronx. Also includes a letter to supporters, 1928, concerning a graduation of the organization's teachers' seminary, and a concert ticket related to a women's club. The address given on the programs and letter is 175 East Broadway.

This collection contains the personal and professional papers of William Edlin, editor of The Day and a prominent Socialist. It includes correspondence with individuals and with organizations, newspaper clippings, manuscripts of works by Edlin and by others as well as translations done by Edlin, and some of Edlin’s personal documents. These materials relate to Edlin’s involvement with The Day, with the Socialist Party, the Workmen’s Circle, various labor and Zionist organizations, literary clubs and activities, and with music, art and drama.

This collection contains the minute book, in Yiddish, of the organization for the period Feb. 1948-May 1966, describing its activities, finances, and data about its membership. It includes information about its relations with other groups, such as the Workmen's Circle, the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, and other Radomer societies in Montreal, Toronto, Melbourne, and Israel, and particularly its numerous Zionist activities. The minutes also contain extensive eulogies for Albert Einstein and John Fitzgerald Kennedy.

This collection contains the administrative records of the Hebrew Actors’ Union (HAU), the professional union of Yiddish theater performers, which was based in New York City. Materials include correspondence, membership materials, financial records and members’ dues information, meeting minutes, and a great deal of sheet music and play scripts of performances from the Yiddish theater. A majority of these performances were in New York City, but there are also materials from Philadelphia, Chicago, Boston, Toronto, and Montreal, as well as various locations in Israel and South America.

The collection consists for the most part of records of the national administrative offices of the Workmen's Circle but also includes some internal records of local branches. Workmen's Circle constitutions and early documents, 1893-1911. Minutes of the National Executive Committee, NEC circulars, publicity materials. Minutes of the National Organization Committee and the National Administration Committee. Files of Executive Secretaries Joseph Baskin and Nathan Chanin and of Benjamin Gebiner, Assistant Executive Secretary. Correspondence and other materials of the Cemetery Department, Education Department, Workmen's Circle School Committee, Sanatorium Department, Benefit Committee, Grievance Committee. Membership records. Materials relating to Workmen's Circle annual conventions. Financial records. Records of Workmen's Circle Schools in New York, New Jersey, California, Illinois, Ohio, Massachusetts, Michigan, Washington D.C., Texas, Pennsylvania. Minutes, school programs, some class records, lists of students. Correspondence of the Folksbiene Theater. Materials on Workmen's Circle Home for the Eastern Zone. Some fragmentary materials on camps. Samples of Workmen's Circle publications. Internal records of local W.C. branches throughout the U.S., including minutes, financial records, correspondence.