The Milwaukee Brewers' Association, originally called the Milwaukee Brewers Benevolent
Association, was organized in 1869. It was comprised of local brewers, including Valentin
Blatz, Frederick Miller, Adam Gettelman, Joseph Schlitz and several others, whose concerns
for the community and their industry bound them together. Albert C. Blatz, Valentin's son,
was secretary of the organization for many years.
In its early years, the association contributed money to many local charities reflecting a
wide range of interests. Most of the contributions were made to relief societies or groups
that helped the less fortunate including the Mission Kindergarten, Robert Chivas Relief
Corps Fair, the Ladies Relief Sewing Society and the Jewish Widows and Orphan Asylum. Other
recipients included art and musical organizations, such as the Allomania Singing Society;
schools including the Training School for Nurses; churches such as the First German
Reformation Church; popular community events like the Polish Celebration or State Fair; and
political campaigns or causes including the Iowa campaign of Charles Schmidt and a group
simply called Anti-Prohibition.
After the 1890s, the association changed its focus to promote mutual interests in the
industry and worked to eliminate abuses by adopting rules and regulations.
