The Clubs of the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s
For this next chapter in the story of Jewish clubs, we need your help.

First, a little background.

The world of Jewish youth clubs changed after World War II. The Irene Kaufmann Center opened a branch in Squirrel Hill in 1943 and another branch in the East End in 1948. It merged with the YM&WHA in the early 1960s to create the Y-IKC, which became the Jewish Community Center in 1974.

Through the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, the Y-IKC and later the JCC continued to be the home for Jewish youth activities and club life in Pittsburgh.

[IMAGE: Black and white photograph of teenagers surrounded by banners and games, 1968—from Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh Photographs, MSP 0389.]
An article from the American Jewish Outlook reported in late 1946 on the formation of an Inter-Fraternity and Sorority Council. It brought together more than 350 kids from 22 clubs.

The Council was designed to oversee club activities, although it is unclear whether it achieved its ambitions.

The clubs listed in the Council include names that will be familiar to many people who grew up in the Jewish community of Pittsburgh during the post-war years: the GALs (Gamma Alpha Lambda) and SOPs (Sigma Omega Pi), Pi Tau and Sigma Kappa.

Although named like college "Greeks," these were high school clubs. In some cases, they were local chapters of national organizations. Some had long histories in Western Pennsylvania, dating back to the 1910s, with members who came and went and were replaced as they moved through their teenage years.

In addition to these fraternities and sororities for older teenagers, there were clubs for younger kids. The clubs were often categorized in three ways: by gender (girls or boys), by neighborhood (Squirrel Hill or East End), and by age (tweens or teens).

Some believe that the clubs of this era also reflected more nuanced distinctions within the local Jewish community, with certain clubs representing different parts of Squirrel Hill, different schools within the neighborhood, different synagogue membership, and different social groups. Others disagree, saying that clubs emerged somewhat organically from existing friendships.
The photograph at the top of this newsletter shows members of the Imperials running a booth at a Purim carnival in 1968. They were a 10th-grade boys' club based in Squirrel Hill, although they had started a few years earlier, in 7th and 8th grade.

One big decision facing the Imperials that year, as seen in the clipping to the right, was whether they should keep the club together or individually rush the Jewish fraternity system.

[IMAGE: A clipping from the March 1, 1968 Y Weekly, reporting on a decision facing the Imperials.]
Other well-known teen and tween clubs of this time were the Hondas, the Kingsmen, the Squires, the Revolutions, the Alphabets, the Bullets, the Cavaliers, the Rogues, the Rivieras, the Jasmins, and the Charades.

That list surely leaves out many, many others—perhaps even yours.

This is where you can help.

The Archive has very few records of the youth clubs from the 1950s through 1970s, far fewer than our documentation of clubs from earlier generations.

If you have photographs, newsletters, minutes, or artifacts from these clubs, we would love to see them. And if all you have are stories, or an understanding of the dynamics of that era, we would love to hear your memories. In the meantime, we will share what stories we have found so far.

All this year, the Rauh Jewish Archives is highlighting stories of Jewish club life in Western Pennsylvania. If you would like to donate records of a local Jewish club, or just chat about clubs, contact the archive or call 412-454-6406. 
May 23: Foundations of Eastern European Genealogy
Join genealogy experts for the Heinz History Center’s first virtual Eastern European Genealogy Workshop, presented in partnership with the Jewish Genealogy Society of Pittsburgh, the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, and the Western Pennsylvania Genealogical Society. 

Benefitting beginners and seasoned genealogists alike, this in-depth virtual workshop on Sunday, May 23 from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. will explore the core genealogical knowledge essential to tracing Eastern European ancestors. Attendees will gain insights into researching ancestors who lived in modern-day Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Ukraine, Belarus, Russia, and more.

Featuring live Q&A sessions and interactive virtual networking opportunities, this workshop will foster connections between attendees and expert speakers on tracing your Eastern European ancestors.

Live virtual presentations include:

  • Who Do You Think You Are? The Real World
  • Where is That? Determining Place Names in Central and Eastern Europe
  • Crossing the Pond: Successful Strategies for Researching Eastern European Ancestors
  • Understanding and Interpreting Birth, Marriage, and Death Records in Eastern Europe
  • Jewish Genealogy Research in the former Russian Empire

Special access to recordings of the lectures will be made available to attendees following the live workshop.
General registration is $25.

Registration is $20 for members of the History Center, Jewish Genealogy Society of Pittsburgh, and Western Pennsylvania Genealogical Society.

Live captioning will be provided at this virtual program.

[IMAGE: John and Anna Serednicka Manko with son seated for studio portrait, 1930s-1940s. Manko-Serednicka Family Papers and Photographs, MSS 869, Detre Library & Archives at the History Center]
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[IMAGE: Marian Schreiber and employees at the Schreiber Trucking Company, c.1943—Schreiber Family Papers and Photographs, MSS 846.]
The Rauh Jewish History Program & Archives was founded on November 1, 1988 to collect, preserve, and make accessible the documentary history of Jews and Jewish communities of Western Pennsylvania. You can help the RJHPA continue its work by making a donation that will directly support the work being done in Western Pa.
Plan a Visit

Senator John Heinz History Center
1212 Smallman Street
Pittsburgh, Pa. 15222
412-454-6000

A proud affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, the Senator John Heinz History Center is the largest history museum in Pennsylvania and presents American history with a Western Pennsylvania connection.