Guide to the Teutonia Maennerchor Records, 1910-1976 AIS.1976.24

Arrangement

Repository
ULS Archives & Special Collections
Title
Teutonia Maennerchor Records
Collection Number
AIS.1976.24
Extent
1.13 Linear Feet (2 boxes)
Date
1910-1976
Abstract
This collection includes the history, by-laws, constitution, minutes, financial records, contracts, correspondence, programs, and the publications of the Teutonia Maennerchor, a German Singing Society located on the North Side of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. There are also records relating to the North American Singer's Union of which the Teutonia was a member.
Language
English .
Author
ASC staff. Revisions occurred to the finding aid as a part of the encoding process on May 13, 2003.
Publisher
ULS Archives & Special Collections
Address
University of Pittsburgh Library System
Archives & Special Collections
Website: library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections
Contact Us: www.library.pitt.edu/ask-archivist
URL: http://library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections

History

The Teutonia Maennerchor was founded in 1854, its organizational predecessors included the first German Singing Society Liederkranz in Allegheny County (1851) which later became the Freier Maennerchor, and finally, the Teutonia Maennerchor. The Teutonia first met in the basement of the Old Weiterhausen Church on Canal Street in Allegheny. Other meeting places were Dahlinger's Hall on Madison Avenue and the old Masonic Hall. In 1887, they purchased their most recent hall on Pike Street, now Phineas Street in the North Side.

Some of the qualifications for membership in 1888, were that applicants needed to be men, they had to become a United States citizen and new applicants had to at least be in possession of his First Papers. Many memberships were held until the applicant could actually produce his First Papers. Currently, membership is not limited to being German or being male. The female members of the Teutonia Maennerchor were granted their own choir in 1935, but as of 1999 still do not have membership voting rights. This group was southwestern Pennsylvania's first German choral society and began with 108 members, 38 of whom were singers. Today, it has around 1,600 members, 86 of which are singers and more than half of whom are women.

The purpose of the Teutonia Maennerchor is to promote and preserve German American songs and dances. A number of concerts are performed throughout each year. The Teutonia Maennerchor is a member of the North American Singers' Union and participates in the various functions of the Union.

The Teutonia Maennerchor is located at 857 Phineas Street, North Side, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Scope and Content Notes

The Teutonia Maennerchor Records span the years 1910-1970 with the bulk of the materials falling into the years 1945-1960. There are also records of the North American Singers' Union, of which the Teutonia Maennerchor was a member.

The records of the Teutonia include: minutes, financial records, correspondence, programs, contracts, photographs, and miscellaneous outside publications.

The records of the North American Singers' Union include: constitution, by-laws, minutes, financial records, correspondence, press releases and programs.

This collection is arranged by file folder at the series level. This collection consists of four series: The Teutonia Maennerchor, the North American Singers' Union, Miscellaneous Programs and Photographs, and Publications. Additional scope notes are provided at the series level.

Access Restrictions

No restrictions.

Acquisition Information

Gift of Art Selig, in name of the Teutonia Maennerchor, October 7, 1976.

Preferred Citation

Teutonia Maennerchor Records, 1910-1976, AIS.1976.24, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System

Previous Citation

Teutonia Maennerchor Records, 1910-1976, AIS.1976.24, Archives Service Center, University of Pittsburgh

Teutonia Maennerchor, Records, 1880-1976, AIS 76:24, Archives of Industrial Society, University Libraries, University of Pittsburgh

Processing Information

This collection was processed by ASC staff in 1976.

Revision and rearrangement for the encoded version of the finding aid provided by Deirdre A. Scaggs on May 13, 2003. Information about the collection title and the controlled access terms was extracted from the MARC record in the University of Pittsburgh catalog Voyager ID number: 1429573

Copyright

Permission for publication is given on behalf of the University of Pittsburgh as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.

Subjects

    Corporate Names

    • North American Singers' Union
    • Teutonia Maennerchor

    Geographic Names

    • Pittsburgh (Pa.) -- Genealogy
    • North Side (Pittsburgh, Pa.) -- Social life and customs

    Other Subjects

    • Ethnic groups
    • Music
    • Societies
    • German Americans -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
    • Community music -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
    • Singing

Container List