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Workmen's Circle Records

 Collection
Identifier: LR000048

Scope and Content

Materials include correspondence, clippings, flyers, nursery school announcements and descriptions, meeting agenda, conference programs, reports, meeting announcements, memos, handwritten notes, newsletters, and programs for events.

Dates

  • 1984 - 2014
  • Majority of material found within 1985 - 2000

Creator

Language of Materials

Material mostly in English, including some material in Yiddish.

Access

Collection is open for research.

Use

Refer to the Walter P. Reuther Library Rules for Use of Archival Materials. Restrictions: Researchers may encounter records of a sensitive nature – personnel files, case records and those involving investigations, legal and other private matters. Privacy laws and restrictions imposed by the Library prohibit the use of names and other personal information which might identify an individual, except with written permission from the Director and/or the donor.

History

The Workmen's Circle, or Der Arbeter Ring, is a Jewish nonprofit organization, which promotes social and economic justice, Jewish community and education. The Workmen's Circle began in 1900 and reached its peak in membership in the 1920s, with roughly 84,000 members nationwide. While New York City is the base location of the organization, hundreds of branches have spread across the United States, at one point reaching 700 in the U.S and Canada. Membership declined after World War II, however, and took an even greater dive after the implementation of the federal Medicare program in 1966. Today, Workmen's Circle continues to operate its summer camp, sponsor holiday and community events, manage its branches around the country and partner with Jewish school programs. The Circle also continues to push its social justice activism. The Workmen's Circle placed itself as a front in social justice issues, such as separation of church and state, elderly and eldercare rights, union and wage labor rights, U.S.-Israeli relations, and a number of humanitarian and environmental rights.

Extent

.25 Linear Feet (1 MB)

Abstract

The Workmen's Circle is a Jewish nonprofit organization based heavily in New York City, with a number of branch organizations around the country, including Detroit, Michigan. Workmen's Circle, today, focuses on social justice activism and the promotion of Yiddish culture and education.

Arrangement

Folders in this series are simply listed by their location within the box.

Acquisition

Materials were deposited at the Walter P. Reuther Library by Selma Goode on September 16, 2015.

Related Materials

Julius Bernstein Papers

Processing History

Processed and finding aid written by Mark Prindiville on March 22, 2018.

Creator

Title
Guide to the Workmen's Circle Records
Status
Completed
Author
Processed by Mark Prindiville.
Date
2018-03-22
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the Walter P. Reuther Library Repository

Contact:
5401 Cass Avenue
Detroit MI 48202 USA