Call Number:

Ms. Coll. 13

Repository:

German Society of Pennsylvania: Joseph P. Horner Memorial Library

Extent:

1.5 linear feet (1oversized flat box)

Language:

German

Preferred Citation:

Germania Männerchor records, Joseph P. Horner Memorial Library, German Society of Pennsylvania

Date:

1877-1975 (bulk) and 1877-c1975 (inclusive)

Form:

Cashbooks, Manuscripts, American--19th century, Membership lists, Minutes (administrative records), Photographs, and Printed ephemera

Abstract:

The Germania Männerchor of Philadelphia is one of the oldest German-American singing societies (founded on February 21,1853). This collection comprises meeting minutes, a cashbook, and ephemera including programs, a photograph, and audio recordings of the Germania Männerchor on a vinyl record, with materials spanning from the year 1877 to circa 1975. The specific items include a volume of minutes and accounts spanning the years 1877 to 1887, a cashbook spanning the years 1888 to 1814, concert programs, a photograph of the members of the Germania Männerchor circa 1932, and audio recordings of the 75th anniversary concert on a vinyl record.

The Germania Männerchor, founded on 21st Feburary 1853, is one of the oldest German-American singing societies in Philadelphia. Their first hall was located at 457 North 3rd Street. During the Civil War, the society lost this location and their activity dwindled. Following the war, they participated in a Sängerfest from July 13th to 18th, 1867, and during that same year, the Germania Männerchor absorbed the Freundschaft Männerchor. Ninteenth century directors for the society include, in chronological order (and documented by last name only): Reiter, Dickel, Brenner, Gastel, Hartmann, Phil, Yost, and Roemermann, the latter director having developed a mixed chorus by combining singers from the men’s society and ladies’ society (which existed since the founding of the society as a group but not a chorus) towards the end of the nineteenth century. In 1893, the society was headquartered at 321 Fairmount Avenue, and then from 1904 through at least 1952, was located in the Lawndale neighborhood of Philadelphia. An official Ladies’ Auxiliary was organized on February 15th, 1939, and until at least as late as 1952, the society held yearly concerts.

The Germania Männerchor of Philadelphia is one of the oldest German-American singing societies (founded on February 21,1853). This collection comprises meeting minutes, a cashbook, and ephemera including programs, a photograph, and audio recordings of the Germania Männerchor on a vinyl record, with materials spanning from the year 1877 to circa 1975.

The collection is organized as follows: Series I is comprised of records and includes a volume of minutes and accounts, dated April 1877 to June 1887, as well as two cashbooks, dated May 1888 to July 1914. Series II is comprised of ephemera and includes concert programs, a photograph of the members of the Germania Männerchor circa 1938, and audio recordings of the 75th anniversary concert on a vinyl record.