| | Abstract: | The Workmen's Circle of Cleveland (f. 1904) is a secular Jewish fraternal organization formed in the United States to perpetuate Yiddish language and culture, support and promote the liberal political agenda, offer both health and death benefits, and provide a meeting place for fellowship. Its Yiddish cultural programming includes lectures, readings, concerts, third Passover seders, and the I.L. Peretz Workmen's Circle School, a supplementary program for children. Branch 1030, one of a number of Cleveland, Ohio, branches, was the first English speaking branch and was founded in 1939. Following World War II and the Holocaust and the continuing acculturation into American life of the descendants of its Yiddish-speaking Jewish immigrant founders, the Workmen's Circle, in Cleveland and nationwide, has been experiencing significant and continuous loss of membership. The Workmen's Circle's group health plan and death benefits, both of which are available on a non-sectarian basis, are the major source of membership. These programs have had difficulty attracting members since the proliferation of health maintenance organizations and health insurance plans. The collection consists of correspondence, ledgers, membership lists, minutes, and newsletters relating to Branch 1030. Also in the collection are regional records, and national office constitutions, correspondence, and reports. | |
