With your help, the Rauh Jewish Archives will be documenting the history of Jewish club life in Western Pennsylvania in the coming year.
What do we mean by "clubs?"
A club is an association of like-minded people. That’s the simple definition.
But something happens when like-minded people form a club. By coming together, they can create a spirit that is greater than their individual members.
Clubs do that in five ways.
[IMAGE: "Our Book," the scrapbook of the J.N. Chester Club, 1932. ]
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First, a club has a name.
Jewish clubs of this region have had some great names. There was the Ad-A-Girl Club, the Boy Rangers, the Char-Ming Club, the Decagon Club, the Eklirats Club, the Fidelis Club, the Go-Getters, and the Hyfohist Club. And that's just from the first eight letters of the alphabet.
A name gives a club a shared identity above that of its members.
[IMAGE: A page of club activities in the Jewish Criterion, Feb. 8, 1924]
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Second, a club has officers.
What’s the difference between a family gathering and the dozens of Jewish "family clubs" that once existed throughout this region?
A family club elected officers, collected dues, held meetings, drafted constitutions and by-laws, and kept minutes. Through the formality of club life, these families gave their common affairs a sense of purpose.
[IMAGE: The officers of the Sable Club, as listed in the Pittsburgh Jewish Community Book (1921)]
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Third, a club has a meeting place.
Often it was just a dining room table or a quiet corner at a local community center. But some clubs were able to afford their own accommodations, like the Concordia Club, Westmoreland Country Club, or Green Oaks Country Club. These meeting places fostered a sense of belonging by giving members a special place to come together.
[IMAGE: Montefiore Hall, later known as the Coffey Club, in Oakland. (Pittsburgh Press, June 30, 1907)]
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Fourth, a club has a purpose.
The Classical Cleff Club was created in October 1923 by a group of young Jewish women who wanted to learn more about the great composers.
The Minyun Club may sound like a prayer group, but it was actually a Jewish social club known for its high-flying "entertainments" and dances.
Our region has had Jewish athletic clubs, Jewish literary clubs, Jewish dramatic clubs, Jewish debating clubs, Jewish political clubs, Jewish outdoors clubs, Jewish mother's clubs, Jewish family clubs, Jewish Girl Scout troops and Boy Scout troops, and many Jewish social clubs.
Jewish clubs were based on age, gender, national origin, political leanings, and social status. Anything that united people in a common cause could be the basis of a club.
[IMAGES: From top to bottom: Jewish Criterion, Jan. 11, 1924; Jewish Criterion, Feb. 1, 1924; Pittsburgh Press, May 27, 1922]
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Finally, a club is small.
While some local Jewish clubs grew into large and influential institutions, we are going to focus this year on the ones that didn't—the clubs that remained small, non-professional, and somewhat autonomous in their organization.
The dividing line can be fuzzy. For our purposes, a club is more substantial than a group of friends, but it is also more casual than a big organization.
[IMAGE: Duodecim Club gathering at the William Penn Hotel Ballroom, 1916]
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Throughout the coming year, the Rauh Jewish Archives will be highlighting documentation of Jewish club life in Western Pennsylvania. We will share stories with you through our newsletter.
If you would like to donate records of a local Jewish club, please contact the archive or call 412-454-6406.
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PHMC approves Pauline Hanauer Rosenberg monument |
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The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) recently unveiled a monument to Pauline Hanauer Rosenberg outside her former home on the North Side.
The effort to honor the Jewish social worker was led by Preservation Pittsburgh President Matthew Falcone, who currently occupies the home.
Among her many accomplishments, Rosenberg was a founder of the National Council of Jewish Women.
We congratulate Falcone on his advocacy and thank the PHMC for recognizing this local Jewish legend.
[IMAGE: Pauline Hanauer Rosenberg]
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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. |
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Plan a Visit
Senator John Heinz History Center
1212 Smallman Street
Pittsburgh, Pa. 15222
412-454-6000
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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.
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