Call Number:

Ms. Coll. 10

Repository:

German Society of Pennsylvania: Joseph P. Horner Memorial Library

Extent:

0.9 linear feet (5 boxes)

Language:

German

Preferred Citation:

Deutscher Klub und Technischer Verein records, Joseph P. Horner Memorial Library, German Society of Pennsylvania.

Date:

1884-1939 (inclusive)

Creator:

Deutscher Klub . (Philadelphia, Pa.), Deutscher Klub und Technischer Verein . (Philadelphia, Pa.), and Technischer Verein von Philadelphia, Pa.

Form:

Admission tickets, Bylaws (administrative records), Charters, Constitutions, Dance cards, Financial records, Fliers (printed matter), Invitations, Manuscripts, German--19th century, Manuscripts, German--20th century, Membership lists, Menus, Minute books, Postcards, Printed ephemera, and Programs (documents)

Abstract:

Records of two Philadelphia societies, the Deutscher Klub (German Club), founded 1874, and the Technischer Verein von Philadelphia (Technical Society of Philadelphia), founded 1872. The Technischer Verein first became affiliated with the Deutscher Klub in 1896, and met at the latter society's clubhouse. In 1910 the two societies merged administratively; and in 1928 they finally published a newly revised constitution and by-laws for the combined organization, which was called Deutscher Klub und Technischer Verein. The collection includes Technischer Verein records from 1884 to 1926; Deutscher Klub minutes from 1888 to 1898; and minutes of the combined organization from 1922 to 1937, with one item dated 1939. Also included is ephemera dating from 1927 to 1933, inlcuding items from the Women's Auxiliary of the organization, and from the National Association of German-American Technologists, which from its beginnings in 1884 was closely aligned with the Technischer Verein von Philadelphia.

In 1896 the Technischer Verein, or Technical Society of Philadelphia (founded 1872), became affiliated with the Deutscher Klub, or German Club of Philadelphia (founded May 1874), at the clubhouse located at 532 N. 4th Street. The two organizations came under a common administration in 1910. The combined charter, statutes and by-laws of the two organizations were first revised and newly issued in 1928. The Technischer Verein of Philadelphia was, in turn, affiliated with the Deutsch-Amerikanischer Techniker-Verband (National Association of German American Technologists), formed in 1884, when the Technischer Vereine of New York, Chicago and Philadelphia joined together; by 1928, the national association also had branches in Newark, Chicago, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and Milwaukee. In 1931 the Deutscher Klub und Technischer Verein moved to a new clubhouse at 2315 N. Broad Street. In late 1936 it moved to the Walton Hotel; and in late 1937 it moved again to the house of the Canstatter Volksfest-Verein, at 1637 N. Broad Street. In 1939, due to diminished interest, the clubhouse was given up, although some members continued to meet.

The collection includes three minute books of the Technischer Verein, 1884-1926, with a gap from October 1896 to September 1897; a volume recording Technischer Verein constitution, by-laws and amendments, 1897-1926; one minute book of the Deutscher Klub, 1888-1898; and two minute books of the combined organization that resulted from the merging of the two societies, Deutscher Klub und Technischer Verein zu Philadelphia, 1922-1937, with a printed copy of the charter and by-laws, 1928. Also included are approximately 44 items of ephemera, 1927-1933. Some treasurer's reports are found in the minutes.

In the period from 1899 to 1921 the collection contains no records for either of the two components societies, except for the volume recording the constitution and by-laws of the Technischer Verein over this period.

The Technnischer Verein minutes contain many items tipped in, primarily newspaper clippings relating to the activities of the society and articles on technical topics. In the minutes of 1894 a hand-drawn map by G. Stierlin is tipped in, illustrating a lecture about a trip to the Far East; and laid in the minute book of 1897-1904 is a portrait of Hector von Bayer.

Laid in the final volume of minutes is a letter to the membership dated 13 March 1939 announcing that the club would give up its physical premises; a note at the head in the hand of Ferdinand W. Mostertz states that the letter was presented by C. Clemens at a meeting in January 1950.

Minute takers in the most recent two volumes include: Theodor E. Martin, Carl Günther Orgell, Karl F. Lutz, Joseph Birnbach, Karl F. Ottolini, Hans C. Palm, F. R. Greenbaum, and Heinrich C. Heller.

Among the ephemera are postcards advertising events (one with a picture of the clubhouse in 1921); tickets; programs, including menus; a dance card; and letters to the membership. Included are three items related to the organization's women's auxiliary (Damenverein), founded in 1906. A few items relate to the National Association of German-American Technologists, including the program for the 45th convention, held in Philadelphia in 1929; and a membership list dated 1931.

Arranged in 4 series: I. Technischer Verein records, 1884-1926; II. Deutscher Klub minute book, 1888-1898; III. Deutscher Klub und Technischer Verein minute books, 1922-1937, with related item dated 1939; IV. Deutscher Klub und Technischer Verein ephemera, 1927-1933.