Workmen's Circle/Der Arbeter Ring Branch 304 records, 1909-1971

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Workmen's Circle/Arbeter Ring. Branch No. 304 (Seattle, Wash.)
Title
Workmen's Circle/Der Arbeter Ring Branch 304 records
Dates
1909-1971 (inclusive)
Quantity
10 cubic feet (15 boxes, plus one oversize folder)
Collection Number
1859 (Accession No. 1859-001)
Summary
Records of a mutual benefit society and cultural-social organization for members of the Jewish working class
Repository
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu
Access Restrictions

Open to all users.

Material stored offsite; advance notice required for use.

Request at UW

Languages
English, Yiddish

Historical NoteReturn to Top

In April of 1892, a group of Jewish garment workers from New York City's Lower East Side formed a mutual aid society called the Workingmen’s Circle. This small collective soon grew to a membership of 300, and it officially became known as the Workmen’s Circle (Der Arbeter Ring in Yiddish) in 1900. The Workmen’s Circle provided benefits that poor immigrants were otherwise denied: life insurance, health benefits, unemployment relief, homes for the aged, and funeral assistance. By 1920 there were over 80,000 members, and The Workmen’s Circle had become one of the largest Jewish organizations in America.

The programs initiated by the Workmen's Circle encompassed a host of social, cultural, and political issues deemed important to the Jewish community. In addition to promoting labor rights and the strengthening of trade unions, the organization provided educational and cultural programs that emphasized Jewish heritage through theater, music, literature, summer camps, and Yiddish instruction. The Workmen's Circle also sold war bonds to provide support during both World Wars, and partnered with other Jewish organizations to actively promote and fund the settlement and expansion of Israel during the early years of its existence. After World War II, the organization de-emphasized their socialist leanings in an effort to distance themselves from communist affiliation.

The Seattle, Washington branch of the Workmen's Circle -- Branch 304 -- was organized in 1909, and their first location was a rented store on 14th Avenue and Main Street. In 1920, the members bought a building at 120 21st Avenue that had previously been a blacksmith shop. Property was then purchased for the organization at 1614 East Union Street in 1937, with the grand opening of this location taking place in December 1942. Activities in Seattle included summer picnics, festive observances of Jewish holidays, New Years Eve celebrations, banquets, and lectures. Though Branch 304 eventually closed its doors in 1973, the Workmen's Circle organization continues to operate in several cities across the country.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The Workmen's Circle Records collection consists of papers gathered by the Seattle branches of the organization during their sixty-year lifespan. Materials include: biographical and historical data and correspondence (1925-1971), financial records (1909-1969), tax records (1943-1961), minutes (1941-1968), membership lists (1909-1960), and handbills (1932), among other items.

Other Descriptive InformationReturn to Top

This collection forms part of Washington State Jewish Archives.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Use restrictions vary by accession. See each accession below for more details.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Acquisition Information

Donated by Ben Stein, 1972-1973. One folder containing five handbills advertising the 23rd annual Picnic and Dance donated by Bill Clifford on July 27, 2007.

Separated Materials

Material Described Separately:

Workmen's Circle/Der Arbeter Ring Branch 304 photograph collection (PH0769)

Ben Stein papers (1916)

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

Series 1:  Seattle BranchesReturn to Top

Materials related to branches 304 (men) and 304B (women) of the Workmen's Circle organization in Seattle, Washington.

Container(s) Description Dates
Charters of Workmen's Circle Branches 304 and 304B
1909, 1929
Box/Folder
1/1-3
Biographical and Historical Data
undated
1/4
Biographical and Historical Data of Workmen's Circle Branch 304B (Women's Club)
undated
1/5
By Laws
undated
Incoming Letters
Box/Folder
1/6
American Financial and Development Corporation for Israel
1953
American Red Magen David for Israel
1961
American Organization for Rehabilitation Through Training Federation
1954
Amon, Sol (Mrs.)
1954
Anderson Water Tours
1934-1937
Aronson, H.
1956
Aschert Bros.
1951
Benezia, Jack L.
1953
Bergman, Fred H.
undated
Bernstein, Martin
1953
Blatt, J.
1953
Bronx I. L. Peretz School
undated
Bronx Workmen's Circle School No. 15
undated
B'nai B'rith Lodge 503
1948-1953
Caplin, Louis
1953
Caroline Kline Galland Home
1964
Caroline Kline Galland Home Building Fund
1963-1971
China, Republic of - Consulate
1937
Citizens Federal Savings
1963
City of Hope
1955-1957
Cleveland Workmen's Circle Chorus and Mandolin Ensemble
1954
Cohan, A. and Co.
1936
Cohan, Helen K.
1956
Cohan's Camera Center
1971
Cohn, Merle D.
1948
Credit Union National Association
1933
Credit Union National Extension Bureau
1925
Development Corporation for Israel
1964
Diamond, Izze
1952
Diamond. Josef
1965
Dimarco Reception Committee
1954
Docter, Harry
undated
Docter, Raymond H.
1956
Dore, John F.
1933
Durabuilt Luggage Mfg. Co., Inc.
1935
Eisenhower, Dwight D.
Form letter
1954
Federated Jewish Fund and Council
1953-1959
Franco and Bensussen
1957
Fraternal Center of Brooklyn
undated
Free Voice of Labor
undated
Friends of Israel Histadrut, Seattle Chapter
1957-1960
Gediman, Arthur M.
1953
Gierowitz, Nathan
1957
Glazer, Mary
1963
Goldfarb, Samuel E.
1953-1956
Goldstein, Stanley
undated
Gordan, S. A.
1954-1957
Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound
1953
Gulbranson, J. R.
1953
Gustanoff, Abe L.
1953
Box/Folder
1/7
Habunim
1957
Hall, Hazel C.
1951
Hanehin, Harry
1962
Health Insurance Institution - Kupet - Holim
1965
Hosiery Workers, American Federation of
1954
Israel, Consulate of
1952
Israel Histadrut Campaign
1963-1964
Israelite Press L. T. D.
1956
Jacobs, Jerome B.
1952
Jacqueline F. Rubenstein Memorial Committee
1968
Jewish Club of Washington
1957
Jewish Community Center, Seattle
1965
Jewish Community Centers Building Fund Campaign
1965
Jewish Consumptive Relief Society, Seattle Ladies Auxiliary
1956
Jewish Chronic Disease Hospital
1956
Jewish Institute for the Blind
1962
Jewish Labor Committee
1943-1958
Jewish National Home for Asthmatic Children
1954-1956
Jewish Welfare Board, National
1952, 1957
Jewish Yearbook of the Northwest
undated
Jews. Congregation Temple de Hirsch
1955-1960
Jews. Herzal Jewish Culture Foundation
1956
Box/Folder
1/8
Kaminoff, Ida
1956
Kelly, Marguerite
1957
Kennedy, John F.
Form letters
1961-1963
Klein, Isadore
1956
Klein, Sarah
1956
Kossen, Carl K.
1960-1961
Kossen, Jack
1954-1955
Kraft, Rose
1961
Kraus and Sons
1938
Lane, W. D.
1925
Leather Workers International Union of America, AFL-CIO
1924
Leavitt, Ida
undated
Leavitt, Sydney
1963
Lemchen, Phillip (Mrs.)
undated
Levison, Bernard
1956
Lindsay, Margaret
1954
Lycette, Diamond and Sylvester
1952-1964
Malatoff, M. J.
1951
Martin
1953
Maslan and Maslan
1947-1950
Maslan, Maslan and Hanan
1954-1963
Mezistrano, Joe
1953
Miller, H.
1958
Miller, Sam
1957
Mosler, George R.
1960
National Committee for Labor Israel
1957
National Committee for Labor Israel Histadrut
1963
National Council of Jewish Women
1957
National Jewish Hospital of Denver
1954, 1959
Newell, A. B. and Son
1927-1931
Northern Pacific Railway Co.
1964
Pacific First Federal Savings
1963
Peoples National Bank of Washington
1952
Premier Artists Representatives
1951
Press, Lou
1959
Prottas and Levitt
1954
Puget Sound Mutual Savings Bank
1963
Raine, Jacob
1952-1957
Radinsky, Jack
1962
Ross, Morris
1962
Rubin, Sam and Clara
undated
Russell Sage Foundation, Division of Remedial Loans
1925
Box/Folder
1/9
Saltman, Leah
undated
Semon, Stuart
1956
Seattle Fire Department
1946
Seattle Lighting Department
1939
Seattle Public Schools
1959-1961
Seattle Hebrew School
1953, 1965
Seattle - King County Department of Public Health
1951
Seattle Labor College
1927
Seattle Zionist Council
1952-1956
Sherr, Harry
1929
Shulman, Abe
1945
Shulman, L. Michael
1944-1945
Silverman, Libby
1968
Stern, Will
1957-1959
Stutzker, A.
1943
Sterling, Bernard
1951
Sunnyshore Acres
1951
Trade Union Institute
1941
Turner, Ida
1964
Tussman, Louis
1957
Twersky, Meyer (Mrs.)
1953
United EIAS Service
1955
United Jewish Appeal
1953-1957
United States - Information Agency
1962
United States - Labor Department
1961
United States - State Department
1935
United States - Treasury Department
1932-1944
Vziel, Leon E.
1961-1963
Victor
1953-1957
Volstein, L.
1939
Wagner, Joseph H.
1955
Washington - Licenses Department
1960
Washington - Liquor Control Board
1934
Washington Division of Savings and Loan Associations
1954-1958
Washington Mutual Savings Bank
1963
Weintraub, Meyer
undated
Wendrow, N.
1953
West, George R.
1955
Who's Who in Jewish Labor
undated
Weiner, Morris
1943
Workmen's Circle Branch 305E
1953
Workmen's Circle Branch 578, 685
1949, 1964
Workmen's Circle Home for the Aged (N. Y. Branches, Inc.)
1956
Workmen's Circle School #5
1954
Workmen's Circle National Campaign for Cancer Hospital at City of Hope
1950-1951
Workmen's Circle Sanitarium
1939
Yaffee, Jack
1953-1956
Young Circle League
undated
Unidentified
1956
Box/Folder
1/10
Hebrew Sheltering and Immigration Aid Society
1926, undated
1/11
Jewish Family and Child Service
1950-1954
1/12
Mitchell, Hugh B.
1946
1/13
Ringold, Solie
1961-1965
Box/Folder
2/1-3
Incoming Letters - Workmen's Circle National Office
1930-1971
Incoming Letters - 304B
304B was the women's organization
Box/Folder
2/4
Chanin, N.
1945
Cooper, Dora
1961
Federated Jewish Fund and Council
1957
Workmen's Circle National Office
1955-1959
Incoming Letters - 304Y
304Y was the youth organization
Box/Folder
2/5
Baskin, Joseph
1942
Knox, Israel
1942
Box/Folder
2/6-10
Outgoing Letters
1925-1970
2/11
Outgoing Letters - 304B
1931-1961
3
Yiddish Correspondence
1927-1969
4/1
Tax Records
1943-1961
4/2
Legal Documents
1914-1966
4/3
Insurance Policies
1939-1961
4/4-6
Financial Records
1920-1971
4/7
Financial Records - 304B
1938
5-6
Financial Records - Membership Ledgers
1909-1960
6
Financial Records - Cash books
1909-1960
7-8
Financial Records - Receipt Books
1942-1971
8
Financial Records - Cash Books
1951-1969
9/1
Minutes Book
1956-1957
9/2
Minutes
1941-1968
9/3
Minutes - 304B
in Yiddish
1937-1946
9/4-5
Reports
1940-1962
9/6
Resolutions
1929, 1942, 1952, 1963
9/7
News Releases
1949-1962
9/8
Writings
1954-1962, undated
9/9
Writings - Invitations
1943-1959
9/10-11
Writings - Yiddish
1957-1965, undated
10/1
Membership Campaign Materials
1951-1956
10/2
Election Ballots
1938-1948
10/3-4
Bulletins
1925-1967
10/5-19
Newsletters and Bulletins - Other Branches and National
1929-1965
11/1-2
Ephemera - Promotional
1926-1962
11/3-4
Ephemera - Other Branches and National
1925-1961
11/5-6
Ephemera - Yiddish
undated
11/7-9
Ephemera - Jewish, Non-Workmen's Circle, Seattle
1929-1965
11/10-11
Ephemera - Jewish, Non-Workmen's Circle, Non-Seattle
1917-1966
12/1-7
Ephemera - Jewish, Non-Workmen's Circle, Non-Seattle
1917-1966
12/8-9
Ephemera - Socialist and Labor-Related
1927-1954
12/10-13
Programs
1927-1960
13/1
Programs
1927-1960
13/2
Souvenir Programs
1927-1949
13/3
Programs - Other Branches and National
1933
13/4-7
Souvenir - Other Branches and National
1925-1962
13/8-10
Lists
1909-1964
13/11
Notes
1934-1967
14/1
Notes (Yiddish)
undated
14/2
Meeting Notices
1931-1953
14/3
Meeting Notices - Lectures
1927-1931
14/4-5
Clippings
1933-1956, 1968
14/6
Photographs
Placeholder only; materials relocated to PH Coll 769
1931-1935, undated
14/7
Awards and Certificates
1922-1947
14/8-9
Memorabilia
1931-1952
14/10
Blank Forms
undated
14/11
Insurance - Other Branches and National
1913-1959
14/12
Educational Materials - Other Branches and National
undated
14/13
Miscellaneous Re: Genocide Legislation and Immigration Policy
undated
15/1
Youth Camp
undated

Series 2:  Union Street BuildingReturn to Top

Materials related to the purchase and renovation of the Workmen's Circle property at 1614 East Union Street in Seattle, Washington.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
15/2
Specifications
1937-1939
15/3
Minutes
1937-1941
15/4
General Correspondence
1938-1943
15/5
Agendas
1942
15/6
Financial Records
1938-1942
15/7
Contracts
1938-1939
15/8
Resolutions
1940
15/9
Notes
1941, undated

Series 3:  Northwestern District CommitteeReturn to Top

Materials related to a regional decision-making arm of the Workmen's Circle organization, established July 27, 1924 in Seattle, Washington.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
15/10-13
General Correspondence
1934-1958
15/14
Minutes
1940-1941
15/15
Financial Records
1957-1961
15/16
Lists
1932, undated
15/17
Clippings
undated
15/18
Memorabilia
1921-1953
15/19
Photographs
Placeholder only; materials relocated to PH Coll 769
15/20
Ephemera
Includes 5 handbills advertising the 23rd annual Picnic and Dance
1932-1950

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Corporate Names

  • Workmen's Circle/Arbeter Ring. Branch No. 304 (Seattle, Wash.)--Archives

Other Creators

  • Personal Names
    • Stein, Ben, approximately 1890- (creator)
    Corporate Names
    • Federated Jewish Fund & Council of Greater Seattle (creator)
    • Jewish Labor Committee (U.S.) (creator)
    • Washington State Jewish Archives (University of Washington)

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)