In 2008 the New York Turn Verein gifted their ledgers to the Max Kade Center for German-American Studies (MKC) at the University of Kansas. The New York Turn Verein was founded in 1850 as the Socialist Turn Verein New York, an organization with a purpose of promoting sound body and mind through gymnastics and “to strongly encourage true freedom, prosperity, and education for all classes”.

The New York Turn Verein ledgers span the years 1850 to 2005 and contain detailed information about organization’s operations and daily activities. As such they provide an insight into the activities of immigrant populations and the evolution of German identities in the US. From 2008 until now, this remarkable collection has been on display in the Sudler Annex of the Max Kade Center but has not been accessible to a broad audience. This past summer, MKC Graduate intern, Hazlett Henderson, worked to create a digital catalog of this invaluable record that will be available to the public. Join us for a discussion of the ledgers, their history at KU, and the process of creating a digital archive.

The Max Kade Center for German-American Studies curates collections on the German-speaking migrant and exile experience in the U.S., fosters interdisciplinary inquiry into causes and effects of transnational migration, and offers a welcoming space for international cultural and academic exchange. The MKC is located at 1134 W 11th St., Lawrence, KS 66044. For parking instructions, please visit our website.