s0237 VORWAERTS WORKINGMEN'S SINGING SOCIETY (1888-1981)
RECORDS, 1895-1977
79 FOLDERS

STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MISSOURI RESEARCH CENTER-ST. LOUIS
UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI-ST. LOUIS

This collection is stored off site. Please allow 3-5 business days for retrieval.

Fritz and Marie Lubsch donated the vorwaerts records to the Joint Collection-St. Louis in December 1982.

German immigrants formed the workingmen's singing society, Arbeiter Gesangverein "Vorwaerts" in 1888 to maintain their musical heritage and to promote the political and economic interests of the working class. vorwaerts presented regular concerts and eventually grew into one of the largest male choruses in the St. Louis area. In 1927, they joined the newly organized Federation of Workers' Singing Societies of the United States of America. In contrast to the other national organization (the North American Singers' Union), the Federation existed for political as well as cultural reasons. Members subscribed to a Declaration of Principles which recognized "the progressive movement of the wage worker in economic as well as in political matters and supportedeed] the class struggle against capital." Many members of Vorwaerts were socialists or active in labor union work, such as Ed Petrikovitsch and Walter Hoops. The organization itself supported Camp Solidarity, a workers' summer camp and compound in Pacific, Missouri and the work of the German committee, Save the Children Federation. In general, however, Vo-rwaerts pursued cultural activities. A women's auxiliary, Damenchor Vorwaerts was formed in 1928. The two groups often sang together as the Vorwaerts Mixed Chorus.

During World War II, vorwaerts continued to perform, despite anti- German sentiment, by opening each concert with the Star Spangled Banner and by printing their programs in English. In 1948, Vorwaerts hosted the Song Festival for the West Lake District of the Federation; in 1934 and again in 1964, the National Song Fest of the North American Singers' Union was held in St. Louis. Walter Hoops of Vorwaerts edited the Saenger Zeitung, the monthly journal of the Federation, from 1967-1977. By the late 1970s, however, membership was down to a handful of elderly men and they formally disbanded in 1981.

SCOPE AND CONTENT

The Vorwaerts Records are arranged into four series: protocol books,financial ledgers and correspondence of the Workingmen's Singing Society(1895-1977); protocol books for the Damenchor Vorwaerts (1928-1967); Concert Programs (1928-1977); and Saenger Zeitung (1931-1966). Advertising requests,bank statements, cancelled checks and duplicates were discarded. Topics covered include concerts, song fests, other organizations, cultural and social activities, such as German American Day, Camp Solidarity outings, editorial work on the Saenger Zeitung, and fund raising. In German and English.

See also: sl 184 Camp Solidarity, Inc., 1937-

SERIES DESCRIPTION

SERIES 1 - WORKINGMEN'S SINGING SOCIETY, 1895-1977, 35 folders

This series contains two protocol books (1895-1948); six membership, dues, and financial ledgers, 1899-1972; two certificates, one of membership in the Federation of Workers' Singing Societies and one commerating the vorwaerts' Jubilee; 23 folders of correspondence and secretary's files, 1940-1965; and three folders of correspondence and questionnaire responses for the editor of Saonger-Zeitung, Walter Hoops (1967-1977). Prominent members included Toni Bauer, Fred Becker, Elmer Berger, Kurt Braune, George Eckhardt, Bill Eggert, Klaus Haake, August Heinrich, Robert Hilzer, August Joos, Nick Jost, Fred Juette,, Clarence Ketzner, Eugene Leiter, Fritz Lubsch, Carl Mink, Adam Mueller, Henry Mueller, Eugene Nothacker, Edward Petrikovitsch, Fred Petrikovitsch, George Reim, Robert Zwieselbauer.

SERIES 2 - DAMENCHOR VORWAERTS (1928-1967), 5 folders

The vorwaerts Ladies Chorus records consist of four protocol books, which include minutes of meetings, membership rosters, financial reports, and a photograph. Also included is a certificate of membership in the Federation of Workers' Singing Societies. Most of the members were wives of Vorwaert's members.

SERIES 3 - CONCERT PROGRAMS (1928-1977), 7 folders

This series includes concert programs for Vorwaerts and Damenchor Vorwaerts, other local singing groups, such as the Liederkranz Club, song fests of the West Lakes District and the National Saengerfest of the North American Singers' Union.

SERIES 4 - Saonger-Zeitung, (1931-1966), 32 folders

Contains copies of the monthly journal (incomplete) of the Federation of Workers' Singing Societies.

FOLDER LISTING

BOX 1 (032327)

1. Protocol book, 1895-1905, Jacob Gabelmann, W.,Weibusch
2. Protocol book,, 1914-1948, Arbeiter Gesangverein
3. 1899-1917 Membership and Dues book, Financial ledger, 1908-1926
4. Dues book, igo6-1919
5. Dues book, 1924-1972
6. Membership book, 1934-1964
7. Dues book, 1958-1971
8. Financial ledger, 1954-1972
9. Certificate of membership in the Federation of Workers' Singing Societies of the U.S.A. (and Jubilee Certificate, bound)
10. 1940-49 Correspondence, minutes, finances
11. 1949 Secretary's File, August Joos, secretary
12. 1950 Secretary's Correspondence book, (1885 ), Harmonie Singing Society, Gemischter Chor vorwaerts, Workingmen's Singing Society "Vorwaerts, Schwaben Singing Society, August Meintrup, secretary
13. 1951 Secretary's File, August Joos, secretary
14. 1951-1953 Secretary's File, Correspondence, August Joos, secretary
15. 1952 Secretary's File, August Joos, secretary
16. 1953 Secretary's File, Elmer Berger, secretary
17. 1954 Secretary's File, Elmer Berger, secretary
18. 1955 Secretary's File, Elmer Berger, secretary
19. 1956 Secretary's File, Elmer Berger, secretary

BOX 2 (032778)

20. 1957 Secretary's File, Elmer Berger, secretary
21. 1958 Secretary's File, Elmer Berger, secretary
22 1959 Secretary's File, Elmer Berger, secretary
23: 1960 Secretary's File, Correspondence, Elmer Berger, secretary
24. 1961 Secretary's File, Correspondence, Elmer Berger, secretary
25. 1962 Secretary's File, Elmer Berger, Camp Solidarity
26. 1962-65 Secretary's File, Correspondence, North American Singers' Union
27. 1963 Secretary's File
28. Publicity File, 45th National Songfest
29. Planning file for 45th National Songfest, St. Louis, 1964 45th Nationale Saengerfest, sponsored jointly by North American Singers' Union and the Arbeiter Saengers of America
30. 1964 Secretary's File, Elmer Berger, secretary
31. 1965 Secretary's File
32. 1972-1976 Correspondence
33. Questionnaire Responses, 1967 Saenger Zeitung
34. Correspondence, 1967-10775, Saenger Zeitung, Hoops editor
35. Correspondence, 1967-1977, Saenger Zeitung, Hoops editor
36. Damenchor Vorwaerts Protocol book, 1928-1934
37. Damenchor Vorwaerts Protocol book, 1934-1940
38. Damenchor Vorwaerts Protocol book, 1941-1947
39. Damenchor Vorwaerts Protocol book, 1947-1967
40. Damenchor vorwaerts Certificate of membership with the Federation of Workers' Singing Societies
41. Concert Programs, 1928-1977, vorwaerts and Damenchor vorwaerts and local choruses,, includes photograph Vorwaerts Men's Chorus, 1963
42. Programs, Federation of Workers' Singing Societies and Song Festivals, St. Louis,, 1888-1948
43. Programs, Federation of Workers' Singing Societies and West Lake District Song Festivals, St. Louis, 1950-1956
44. Programs, Federation and West Lake District Song Festivals, St. Louis, 1958-63
45. Programs, 45th National Saengerfest of the North American Singers' Union, 1964

BOX 3 (033330)

46. Programs, Federation and West Lake District Song Festivals, St. Louis, 1965-68
47. Programs, Federation and Eastern Lake District, 1970-1977
48. Saenger-Zeitung, 1931
49. Saenger-Zeitung, 1932
50. Saenger-Zeitung, 1933
51. Saenger-Zeitung, 1934
52. Saenger-Zeitung, 1935
53. Saenger-Zeitung, 1935
54. Saenger-Zeitung, 1937
55. Saenger-Zeitung, 1938
56. Saenger-Zeitung, 1939
57. Saenger-Zeitung, 1940
58. Saenger-Zeitung, 1941
59. Saenger-Zeitung, January-December, 1942
60. Saenger-Zeitung, 1944
61. Saenger-Zeitung, October-December, 1948
62. Saenger-Zeitung, August, September, November, December, 1949
63. Saenger-Zeitung, 1950
64. Saenger-Zeitung, 1951
65. Saenger-Zeitung, 1952
66. Saenger-Zeitung, 1953
67. Saenger-Zeitung, 1954
68. Saenger-Zeitung, 1955, January, February, July, October, November, December
69. Saenger-Zeitung, 1956, June and December missing
70. Saenger-Zeitung, 1957, April, May, August missing
71. Saenger-Zeitung, 1958, February missing
72. Saenger-Zeitung, 1959, June and August missing
73. Saenger-Zeitung, 1960, January, February, June and December missing
74. Saenger-Zeitung, 1961, January missing

BOX 4 (033441)

75. Saenger-Zeitung, 1962
76. Saenger-Zeitung, 1963
77. Saenger-Zeitung, 1964, July and August missing
78. Saenger-Zeitung, 1965, July and August missing
79. Saenger-Zeitung, 1966, July and August missing

INDEX

Beeneman, Meta, f. 37
Berger, Elmer, f. 16-25, 30
Bromat,, William, f. 2
Brockmeir, B., f. 2
Camp Solidarity, f. 12, 17, 1811 25
Chouteau Valley Mannerchor (St. Louis) f. 11, 13
Civil Rights Congress, f. 12
Damenchor Germainia (Peoria, Illinois) 31 f. 20-22, 249 25, 27, 30, 31
Doran, Anna,, f. 38
Deutsche Worchenschrift, f. 11-21, 25, 27
Deutsch Arbeiter Ungarischer Mannerchor, f. 22
Eckhardt, Eleanore, f. 39
Eden Club Male Chorus, f. 219 25, 35
Freie Gemeinde Von St. Louis, f. 21, 25
Gabelmann, Jacob, f. 1
German-American Central Society (Peoria, Illinois), f. 22, 25, 27, 30, 31
German Cultural Society, f. 32
German School Society, f. 31, 35
German Singing Society, f. 12, 16, 21-25, 27, 30-32
Heinemann, Conrad, f. 2
Hindlmayer,, Max,, f. 41
Hoops, Walter, f. 33-35
The House of Maret, f. 32
Joos, August, f. 11-15, 189 25, 26, 309 31
Joos, Irmgard, f. 129 15, 19-21, 39
Ketzner, Else, f. 37-39
Kiesling, Robert, f. 41
Kobelt, Emile, f. 37
Lehman, Alfred,, f. 1
Liederkranz Club, f. 17, 209 32, 41
Leill Joseph, f. 2
Leiter, Catherine, f. 37-39
Leiter, Eugene, f. 2, 3
Meintrup, Aguust, f. 12
Meintrup, Elizabeth, f. 37
Meiss, C., f. 1
Meramec Sport Club, f. 17, 18, 20
Music5l f. 1-79
Norsch, F.W., f. 41
North American Singers's Union, f. 11, 26-30, 32, 41-47
Poinachl, Marie, f. 36
Petrikovitsch, Edward, f. 25
Petrikovitsch, Fred, f. 41
Rudolf, Jul., f. 1
Saenger Zeitung, f. 22, 25, 33-35, 48-78
St. Louis Bakers' Singing Society, f. 17
St. Louis Bayern Verein, f. 21
St. Louis House, Inc.,, f. 11-12, 18-19
St. Louis Major Soccer League, f. 24, 32
St. Louis Master Bakers' Singing Society, f. 17
Sangund Kiang, f. 46
Schneider,, Elas, f. 39
Schmitz,, Madga, f. 36
Schwaben Singing Societies, f. 12, 13, 25, 30
Swieselbauer, Robert, f. 41
Swiss American Benevolent Society, f. 11
Swiss Hall, f. 12, 16, 23
Swiss Ladies' Chorus, f. 27
Swiss Male Chorus, f. 12, 18, 201) 41
United Male Chorus,, f. 129 185, 20, 41
United Workers' Sinsing Societies, f. 41
Vereinigte Mannechore (United Singers of St. Louis), f. 15-18, 25, 32, 41
Vorwaerts Mixed Chorus,, f. 12, 15, 26, 41
Walter, Charles, f. 1
Weibusch,l W., f. 1
Winters, Mark,- f. 33-35
Workingmen's Singing Society (Springfield, Illinois), f. 11-19, 22-24, 27, 31
Workmen's Benefit Fund, f. 22

STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MISSOURI RESEARCH CENTER-ST. LOUIS
222 THOMAS JEFFERSON LIBRARY
UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI-ST. LOUIS
ONE UNIVERSITY BOULEVARD
ST. LOUIS, MO 63121

(314) 516-5143

whmc@umsl.edu