Call Number:

3524

Repository:

Historical Society of Pennsylvania

Extent:

0.4 linear feet (;1 box; 1 oversized photograph)

Language:

German

Preferred Citation:

Cite as: [Indicate cited item or series here], United Singers of Philadelphia records (Collection 3524), The Historical Society of Pennsylvania.

Date:

1887-1932 (inclusive)

Form:

Scrapbooks.

Abstract:

The United Singers of Philadelphia was an umbrella organization that represented approximately forty area singing groups, the majority of which were comprised of German immigrants. This collection dates from 1887-1932, although the bulk of the material is from 1905-1916. It includes a scrapbook compiled by the United Singers of Philadelphia, a German songbook, and a panoramic group photograph. The scrapbook contains detailed press coverage of German-American singers, musicians, and choirs, and political events in Philadelphia in the years before and during World War I. Contents include concert programs and reviews as well as clippings describing related (and often overlapping) political meetings and rallies.

The United Singers of Philadelphia records are composed of a scrapbook, a songbook, and a panoramic group portrait photograph.

The scrapbook is mostly clippings from German language newspapers and programs from vocal and musical performances, although there is a small amount of English material. The clippings range in date from 1887 to 1929, although the bulk of the material is from 1905-1916. Topics covered by the clippings include: Philadelphia area performances by German singers and groups, Saengerfest (an annual German song and music festival), celebrations of German Day, meetings of the American Neutrality League, and German Americans rallying both for and against America’s entry into the war on the side of the Allies. Unfortunately, the scrapbook ends in 1916, before the US entered the war and large-scale persecution of German Americans began.

The songbook, Deutsche Liederperlen dates from 1929 and includes the lyrics to thirty-one songs. One song is in English, the rest are in German.

The panoramic photograph of members of the United Singers of Philadelphia was taken on the boardwalk in Atlantic City, New Jersey in 1932. This photograph was taken with a Cirkut panoramic camera.