Milwaukee Turners Foundation Records, 1848-2010


Summary Information
Title: Milwaukee Turners Foundation Records
Inclusive Dates: 1848-2010

Creator:
  • Milwaukee Turners Foundation
Call Numbers: Milwaukee Mss BM; PH Milwaukee Mss BM

Quantity: 17.3 cubic feet (22 archives boxes, 12 volumes, and 1 oversize folder) and 2.1 cubic feet of photographs (5 archives boxes and 1 oversize folder)

Repository:
Archival Locations:
UW-Milwaukee Libraries, Archives / Milwaukee Area Research Ctr. (Map)

Abstract:
Records of a social and political organization founded as the Socialer Turnverein by German immigrants, embodying their liberal beliefs. Turners' activities consisted of gymnastics, literary contests, drama, and social events such as picnics and band concerts. Collection includes correspondence; minutes, reports, and financial materials; printed histories, including anniversary materials, newsletters, newsclippings, and scrapbooks; member and membership information; records from groups within the organization; ballroom preservation and building renovation and restoration information; and photographs and slides.

Language: English, German

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-mil000bm
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Biography/History

The Milwaukee Turners, an outgrowth of the German Turner movement, was founded in July 1853, as the “Socialer Turnverein.” The organization in its early years was composed almost entirely of German immigrants, who left their homeland after the failures of the Revolution of 1848. The social and political beliefs of these early refugees were incorporated into the Turners organization, and gave the society a liberal character, especially in reference to the rights of freedom of conscience and free political association. Traditionally the membership rolls have included many of Milwaukee's progressive civic and political leaders.

The Milwaukee Turners, as a social club, have offered their members a wide variety of activities including gymnastics, literary contests, drama, and numerous social events, such as picnics and band concerts.

In more recent years, the organization's structure was set up so that the Milwaukee Turner Foundation owned the property and operated the gymnasium, while the Fourth Street Corporation managed the bar and restaurant and subsidized the Foundation's gymnastics programs and building operations and maintenance.

Scope and Content Note

The Milwaukee Turners records contain a variety of materials documenting the history of this organization, their festivals and activities, and their historic building in downtown Milwaukee. The collection contains printed histories, including anniversary materials, newsletters, newsclippings, and scrapbooks.

The scrapbooks contain a variety of items created by and about the Turners. Unfortunately items within often have little chronological order. Also in the collection are President Olga Wiedemann's notebooks which contain a wide variety of items including correspondence, minutes, reports, event fliers, and clippings.

In addition to administrative correspondence from the President, the Foundation, and the Fourth Street Corporation, the collection contains minutes, reports, and financial materials. Included are minutes of the financial secretary, minutes of the recording secretary, and minutes of the corresponding secretary. The collection also contains committee reports, and financial statements and ledgers. Also included are files documenting ballroom and building preservation and landmark status.

The collection also contains membership information and membership rolls, as well as biographical information on some well-known Turners.

Records from groups within the organization document the activities of the Bearettes, “Bimbos,” and the Ladies Auxiliary. Records from the Ladies Auxiliary, in particular, are fairly extensive.

Photographs and slides largely consist of images of the building, and events, activities, and exhibitions, including the Turners' involvement in Milwaukee's annual German Fest.

Administrative/Restriction Information
Acquisition Information

Presented by the Milwaukee Turners, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, through the courtesy of Michael Bronshlegel, April 1966. Additional materials were donated by the Milwaukee Turners (accession M2011-079), E. J. Brumder (M2011-075), and Eugene Gilbert (M2011-076) in 2011.


Processing Information

Processed by D. Cady, January 1967. Christel Maass (Milwaukee ARC), with help from student interns, processed accessions M2011-075, M2011-076, and M2011-079 from August 2014 to January 2015. Julie Kamikawa (nee Bokelman) did some preliminary processing of the additions on site at Turner Hall as part of a fieldwork assignment in 1993.


Contents List
Milwaukee Mss BM
American Turners
Box   10
Folder   1
History, 1989
Box   10
Folder   2
National Festival, Milwaukee, 1971
Box   10
Folder   3
Turnfest, Milwaukee, 1893
Anniversary
Box   10
Folder   4
50th (Golden Jubilee), 1903
75th (Diamond Jubilee)
Box   1
Folder   3
Committee for the 75th Anniversary, Minutes, 1927
Box   1
Folder   7
Correspondence, 1928
Box   1
Folder   9
Financial Report and Contracts, 1928
Box   10
Folder   5
History Program, 1928
Box   1
Folder   8
Publicity, Milwaukee Herald, Clippings 1928
90th
Box   10
Folder   6
Correspondence and History Program, 1943
Box   10
Folder   7
Registration Book, 1943
Box   10
Folder   8
100th, 1953
125th
Box   10
Folder   9
1978
Box   21
Folder   4
Proclamation, 1978
Box   10
Folder   10
140th, 1993
Box   10
Folder   11
150th, 2003
Annual Reports
Box   10
Folder   12
1939
Box   10
Folder   13-15
1943-1957
Box   10
Folder   16
1959-1971
Box   10
Folder   17
1973-1994
Oversize Folder   1
Architectural Front Elevation, undated
Box   10
Folder   18
"Architecture as Refuge: The Preservation of the Ideas of the Turner Movement," by Adam Nass, 1993
Box   10
Folder   19
Articles of Incorporation, 1969
Box   20
Folder   1
Artwork, John Weimers by B. Pierce, undated
Box   10
Folder   20
Audit Report, 1929
Box   10
Folder   21
Bahn Frei Turners, 1884-1929
Box   10
Folder   22
Ballroom Brochure, undated
Box   10
Folder   23
Ballroom Preservation, 2004-2010
Box   10
Folder   24
Balls and Dances, 1903-1968
Box   21
Folder   1
Banner, 1955
Bearettes
Box   10
Folder   25
Constitution and By-Laws, 1958
Box   10
Folder   26-27
Meeting Minutes, 1940-1985
Box   10
Folder   28
Meeting Minutes and Annual Reports, 1959-1964
Box   10
Folder   29
Membership and Hostesses, 1956-1973
Box   10
Folder   30
Membership and Treasury Reports, 1959-1987
“Bimbos”
Box   10
Folder   31
Correspondence, 1965-1983
Box   10
Folder   32
Events, 1969-2000
Meeting Minutes and Financial Reports
Box   10
Folder   33-36
1934-1983
Box   10
Folder   37
1988-1994
Box   10
Folder   38
Miscellaneous, 1975-1976, undated
Box   10
Folder   39
Roster, 1963-1995
Box   10
Folder   40
Board Members, 1993-2008, undated
Box   10
Folder   41
Brewery Group, 1986
Box   10
Folder   42
Brochures, 1952, , undated
Box   11
Folder   1
Broemser, Liesel, 1950-1992
Box   11
Folder   2
Brosius, Georg, 1880-1986
Box   11
Folder   3
Building Committee, 1881-1882
Box   20
Folder   2
Building Contracts, 1864-1884
Box   20
Folder   3
Bumper Stickers, Ribbons, Patch, and Pin, 1971-1974, undated
Box   11
Folder   4
Burst, Louise Epple, 1946-1996
Box   11
Folder   5
Business Plan for Redevelopment of Turner Hall, 1992
Box   11
Folder   6
Centennial Committee, 1953
Box   20
Folder   4
Certificates from American Turners, 1924-1932
Box   11
Folder   7
Chorus, 1900-1983
Box   11
Folder   8
Committee Reports, 1931-1932
Box   11
Folder   9
Constitution and By-Laws, 1864-1984, , 2005
Box   11
Folder   10
Contracts, 1894-1986
Box   11
Folder   11
Cook Book, 1929, , 1956?
Correspondence
Box   11
Folder   12-16
1934-2003
Box   11
Folder   17-21
Presidential, 1981-1983, , 1987-1988
Box   11
Folder   22-23
Correspondence to National Cultural Chair Mrs. Jo Ann Mueller, 1970-1972
Cultural Committee
Box   11
Folder   24
1970-1971
Box   11
Folder   25
Correspondence, 1970-1971
Cultural Education Competition
Box   11
Folder   26
Committee, 1980-1987
Box   11
Folder   27
Correspondence, 1944-1979
Box   11
Folder   28
District, 1974-1987
District Reports
Box   11
Folder   29-32
1950-1979
Box   12
Folder   1
1980-1983
Box   12
Folder   2
Entries and Results, 1962-1979
Box   12
Folder   3-5
Milwaukee, 1979, , 1981, , 1983
Box   12
Folder   6
Death Notices, 1964-1991
Box   12
Folder   7
Directory, 1970-1971
Box   12
Folder   8
Donated Records Lists, 1966-1992
Box   12
Folder   9-11
Events, 1923-2000, , undated
Box   12
Folder   12
Executive Board, Minutes and Reports, 1992-1993
Box   12
Folder   13
Exhibitions, 1942-1988
Box   12
Folder   14
Expulsion of Metropolitan Turners, 1981-1982
Box   12
Folder   15
Financial and Fundraising, 1992-1995
Box   1
Folder   4
Financial Needs of Society, Correspondence, 1932-1933
Box   1
Folder   5
Financial Reports, 1931-1932
Financial Statement
Box   12
Folder   16
1875?-1992
Box   20
Folder   5
1906-1955
Box   20
Folder   6
Financials, undated
Box   12
Folder   17
Fire, 1934-1959
Box   21
Folder   2
Floor Plan, 19??
Fourth Street Corporation
Box   12
Folder   18
1969-1997
Box   12
Folder   19
Articles of Incorporation, 1969, , 1974
Box   12
Folder   20-21
Financial Statements, 1981-1994
Box   12
Folder   22
Lease, 1985-1987
Box   12
Folder   23
Fundraising, 1987, , 1994
Box   12
Folder   24
Greater Metropolitan Turners, 1981
Box   12
Folder   25
Gymnastic Classes, undated
Box   12
Folder   26
Habel, Edna, 1988
Box   12
Folder   27
Harnack, Mildred Fish, 1938-1993
Box   12
Folder   28
Harris, Charles K., 1973-1988
Box   12
Folder   29
Heritage Tourism Center, 1991-1994, undated
Box   12
Folder   30
Historical Proposal, Robert Lagerman, 1966-1972
Box   12
Folder   31-32
Histories, 1886-2002, undated
History
Box   1
Folder   1
1953
Box   12
Folder   33
1993
Box   20
Folder   7
Incorporation, 1855, , 1940-1948
Ladies Auxiliary
Box   12
Folder   34
Constitution and By-Laws, 1939, undated
Correspondence
Box   12
Folder   35-38
1933-1940
Box   13
Folder   1-2
1971-1991
Box   13
Folder   3
Events, 1938-1994, undated
Box   13
Folder   4-9
Financial Records, 1912-1986
Box   13
Folder   10
Financial Reports, 1951-1989
Box   13
Folder   11
Guide for Officers, and Procedures and Forms, 1963-1986, undated
Box   13
Folder   12
Histories, 1972-1978
Box   13
Folder   13
Membership, 1980-2001
Box   13
Folder   14
Membership History, 1978, , 1985
Box   13
Folder   15
Minute Book Typescript (in German), 1898-1907
Minutes and Annual Reports
Box   13
Folder   16-27
1929-1972
Box   14
Folder   1-6
1973-1993, 1996
Box   14
Folder   7
1999-2000
Box   14
Folder   8
Secret Pal, 1973-1980
Box   14
Folder   9
Student Sponsorship and Memorial Fund, 1983, undated
Box   14
Folder   10
Landmark Application, Draft, 1994, undated
Leases
Volume   53
1906-1923
Box   20
Folder   8-9
1975-1995, , undated
Box   14
Folder   11
1991-2003, , undated
Ledger
Box   22
Volume   37
1871-1889
Box   22
Volume   38
1906-1927
Box   22
Volume   39
1927-1938
Volume   46
1944-1946
Cash
Volume   50
1890-1905
Volume   51
1911-1926
Volume   52
1926-1936
Certificate
Box   22
Volume   40
1854-1860
Box   22
Volume   41
1855-1865
Box   21
Volume   42
Wirtschafts Committee, 1877-1882
Box   9
Volume   27
Letterbook, 1854 January-1859 August
Box   14
Folder   12
Liquor License, 1880
Box   14
Folder   13
Member Information, Biographical Sketches, 1979-1988
Box   14
Folder   14
Member Initiation, 1971-1988
Box   14
Folder   15
Membership Advertising and Brochure, undated
Box   14
Folder   16
Membership and Class Advertising, 1987, undated
Membership and Dues
Box   22
Volume   43
1853-1865
Volume   47
1906-1926
Membership Book
Box   22
Volume   44
1853-1877
Volume   48
1894-1939
Box   22
Volume   45
1939-2005
Box   9
Volume   29
Membership List, 1858 June-1861 June
Box   9
Volume   30
Membership List and Organizational Set-up, 1852 July-1855 July
Box   9
Volume   31
Membership List and Statutes, 1864 February-[1887 November]
Box   14
Folder   17
Membership Lists, 1939-1994, undated
Box   14
Folder   18
Milwaukee Public Museum Exhibit, 1983
Box   20
Folder   10
Minutes, 1934-1936
Box   14
Folder   19-29
Minutes and Reports, 1971-1999
Box   9
Volume   28
Minutes of the Corresponding Secretary, 1859 September-1868 April
Minutes of the Financial Secretary
Box   2
Volume   1
1855 July-1859 September
Box   2
Volume   2
1858 March-1861 January
Box   2
Volume   3
1861 March-1862 January
Box   2
Volume   4
1871 January-1877 May
Box   2
Volume   5
1875 October-1884 October
Box   3
Volume   6
1877 June-1882 June
Box   3
Volume   7
1882 January-1888 May
Box   3
Volume   8
1884 October-1889 November
Box   3
Volume   9
1902 March-1914 March
Box   4
Volume   10
1903 January-1908 September
Box   4
Volume   11
1910 December-1923 April
Box   4
Volume   12
1923 May-1930 April
Box   4
Volume   13
1930 May-1934 October
Minutes of the Recording Secretary
Box   5
Volume   14
1855 July-1866 May
Box   5
Volume   15
1866 October-1871 January
Box   5
Volume   16
1888 June-1890 February
Box   5
Volume   17
1890 March-1897 June
Box   6
Volume   18
1897 June-1907 June
Box   6
Volume   19
1907 June-1916 December
Box   6
Volume   20
1917 January-1922 November
Box   7
Volume   21
1922 November-1926 February
Box   7
Volume   22
1927 April-1932 June
Box   7
Volume   23
1932 January-1936 April
Box   8
Volume   24
1936 April-1939 February
Box   8
Volume   25
1939 June-1941 August
Box   8
Volume   26
1941 October-1944 April
Box   15
Folder   1
Mixed Chorus, 1943-1949
Box   20
Folder   11
Name Change, 1940
Box   15
Folder   2-3
National Festival, 1970-1972
Box   15
Folder   4
National Register Application, undated
Box   15
Folder   5
Neighborhood, 1990, undated
Box   15
Folder   6-8
News Clippings, 1882-2003, undated
Box   15
Folder   9-41
Newsletter, 1940-2005
Olga's Notebooks
Box   15
Folder   42-47
1980-1983
Box   16
Folder   1-39
1982-1988
Box   16
Folder   40
Pevler, Wayne, Speeches, 1974-1980
PH Milwaukee Mss BM
Box   1
Folder   1
Photograph Album, 1933-1947, undated
Photographs
Box   1
Folder   2
Award Recipients, Youth, 1967, undated
Bahn Frei
Box   1
Folder   3
1905-1923, undated
Box   4
Folder   1
1908
Box   1
Folder   4
Banners and Artwork, undated
“Bimbos”
Box   1
Folder   5
1989, undated
Box   4
undated
Building
Box   1
Folder   6
Exterior, 1965-1992, undated
Interior
Box   1
Folder   7
1965-1993, undated
Box   4
Folder   3
undated
Box   1
Folder   8
Climbing Wall, 1994, undated
Box   5
Drum Corp, 1898
Events
Box   1
Folder   9-10
1888-1993, undated
Box   2
Folder   1
Youth, undated
Box   2
Folder   2
Exhibition, 1926-1982, undated
Box   2
Folder   3-4
German Fest, 1994, undated
Box   5
Golden Jubilee, 1903
Groups
Box   2
Folder   5
1925, 1951, undated
Box   2
Folder   6
Boys, 1943
Box   2
Folder   7
Girls, 1943
Men
Box   5
1866, , 1900, , undated
Box   2
Folder   8
1900-1943, , undated
Box   4
1928
Box   4
Appleton Turn Fest, 1892
Oversize Folder   1
Denver Class, 1913
Women
Box   4
Folder   2
1887
Box   4
1928, , 1941
Box   2
Folder   9
1936-1955, undated
Youth
Box   5
1866
Box   2
Folder   10
1926-1983, undated
Oversize Folder   1
Class (Kinder-Klassen), Outdoors, undated
Gymnasts
Box   2
Folder   11
1924-1983, undated
Box   2
Folder   12
Youth, 1993, undated
Box   3
Folder   11
Individuals, 1909-1979
Ladies Auxiliary
Box   5
1903
Box   4
1943
Box   3
Folder   2
1943, 1989, undated
Box   5
Ladies Drum Corps, undated
Box   5
Masquerade Group, 1931
Box   4
Parade, 1999
Box   3
Folder   3
Photocopies, undated
Box   3
Folder   4
Restaurant, undated
Box   3
Folder   5
Singing Group, 1935-1954, undated
Box   3
Folder   6
Werkman, Ethel and Family, 1930-1983, undated
Milwaukee Mss BM
Physical Education
Box   16
Folder   41
Gynmasium Manuals, undated
Box   16
Folder   42
School, 1927-1997
Box   16
Folder   43
Position Paper, 1991
Box   16
Folder   44
Postcard, undated
Oversize Folder   1
Posters, undated
Box   16
Folder   45
Preservation Trust, 2001
Box   16
Folder   46
Proposals, 1965-1970, undated
Box   21
Folder   3
Proposed Building Blueprint, 1931
Renovation
Box   16
Folder   47
1978-1982
Box   16
Folder   48
1988-1989
Box   16
Folder   49
Press Releases, 1987
Box   16
Folder   50
Proposal, 1981
Box   16
Folder   51
Structural Stabilization, 1981
Studies
Box   17
Folder   1-3
1931-1966
Box   17
Folder   4-7
1979-1989, 1994
Box   20
Folder   12
1980
Box   17
Folder   8
Repairs, 1994-1998
Box   1
Folder   2
Resignation Letters Due to the Depression, Correspondence, 1932-1936
Box   17
Folder   9
Resolutions, 1938-1993
Box   17
Folder   10
Restaurant, 1991-1992
Box   17
Folder   11
Restoration Development Project, 1991-1998
Box   17
Folder   12
Restoration, Pettit Foundation Proposal, 1998
Box   17
Folder   13
Roethlisberger Family, 1966-2000
Box   20
Folder   13
Roll Call Record Book, 1936-1942
Box   17
Folder   14
"Save Turner Hall" Campaign, Letters from Children, 1986
Scrapbooks
Box   17
Folder   15-24
1884-1983
Note: Dismantled
Box   18
Folder   1-9
1890-1987
Note: Dismantled
Volume   32
Awards and Diplomas of the Milwaukee Turnverein, 1857-1928
Volume   33
Incidental Awards and Memorabilia, 1875-1911
Volume   34
Letters, Awards, and Clippings Regarding Milwaukee Turners Participation at the National German Turnfest, Frankfurt, 1881
Volume   35
Memories of the Turnleader's 50th Anniversary Honoring George Brosius, 1864-1914
Box   18
Folder   10
Milwaukee Turners Foundation, 1985-1986
Note: Dismantled
Box   18
Folder   11
"Neighbors" Newsclippings, 1986-1987
Note: Dismantled
Box   18
Folder   12-13
Publicity, 1985-1986
Note: Dismantled
Box   9
Volume   36
Publicity and Memorabilia of the Milwaukee Turnverein, 1883, undated
Box   18
Folder   14
Singing Section, 1957
PH Milwaukee Mss BM
Slides
Box   3
Folder   7
Athletics, 1962-1979
Box   3
Folder   8
Events, 1962-1979
Milwaukee Mss BM
Box   1
Folder   6
Social Correspondence, 1931-1933
Box   18
Folder   15
Socialist Party, 1995
Box   18
Folder   16
Songs, 1951, , undated
Box   18
Folder   17
Tax Receipts, 1855-1886
Box   18
Folder   18-21
Titles, Deeds, and Mortgages, 1848-1970
Box   19
Folder   1
Tower and Roof Project Bid, 2000
Box   19
Folder   2
Tumbleweeds, 1981
Box   19
Folder   3
Turnfest Committee, 1954-1955
Box   19
Folder   4
Wisconsin State Turn Fest, Milwaukee, 1938
Wisconsin Turner District
Box   19
Folder   5
1917-1991
Box   19
Folder   6
Anniversary, 1915
Box   19
Folder   7
Convention, 1991
Volume   49
Stock/Inventory Book, 1907-1937
Box   19
Folder   8
Zeidler, Frank, 1937-2005