American Turner Societies, 1880-1930

Presenter Information

Lucas Prpich

Document Type

Oral Presentation

Campus where you would like to present

SURC 137A

Start Date

17-5-2012

End Date

17-5-2012

Abstract

My research examines late nineteenth- early twentieth-century German-American Turnvereine(gymnastic clubs) in the United States, focusing more on a comparison between the societies in Seattle and Chicago. I had sought to find out just how similar these clubs were. Each was part of a national association that had given guidelines on how to start and operate such a society. Using published contemporary documents from Chicago and primary sources held at the University of Washington Special Collections, I was able to determine that although these two clubs were, on paper, identical, the Chicago club held working class Germans and generally operated as an organ of the labor movement. The Seattle society in turn had a more middle and upper class membership, which used the club as a place for leisure and recreation.

Faculty Mentor(s)

Jason Knirck

Additional Mentoring Department

History

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May 17th, 12:40 PM May 17th, 1:00 PM

American Turner Societies, 1880-1930

SURC 137A

My research examines late nineteenth- early twentieth-century German-American Turnvereine(gymnastic clubs) in the United States, focusing more on a comparison between the societies in Seattle and Chicago. I had sought to find out just how similar these clubs were. Each was part of a national association that had given guidelines on how to start and operate such a society. Using published contemporary documents from Chicago and primary sources held at the University of Washington Special Collections, I was able to determine that although these two clubs were, on paper, identical, the Chicago club held working class Germans and generally operated as an organ of the labor movement. The Seattle society in turn had a more middle and upper class membership, which used the club as a place for leisure and recreation.