Kittlaus, Louis, Jr., Collection, 1893-1982 (C3908)
.75 linear feet
INTRODUCTION
Booklets, pamphlets, books, and photographs concerning Turnverein history, activities, competitions in St. Louis, Missouri, the United States and as part of the 1928 Turnfest and Olympic games. The majority of the material belonged to Louis Kittlaus, Sr. or Louis Kittlaus, Jr. The ephemera includes a 50 year membership card for Louis Kittlaus, Sr., and attendance medals.
DONOR INFORMATION
The collection was donated to the University of Missouri by Louis Kittlaus on 12 June 1990 (Accession No. 4956). The collection is part of the German Heritage Archives.
HISTORICAL SKETCH
Friedrich Ludwig Jahn (1778-1852) is considered the father of the German gymnastic societies. From his work organizing after-class activities in Germany, came the highly structured organizations transported to the United States by immigrants. In 1848 the first Turnverein was established in Cincinnati, Ohio. Other organizations were soon founded and became the American Turnerbund. Their emphasis was on physical education but included the ethical and moral ideals of sportsmanship, teamwork, and patriotism.
The first Turner organization in St. Louis was organized in 1850 and called the St. Louis Turnverein. The South St. Louis Turnverein was organized in 1864 and the North in 1870. The Concordia Turnverein was organized in 1874 by neighbors in the Concordia Park and Arsenal district. Information on all of these organizations can be found within the collection. The National Turner Headquarters were located in St. Louis from 1878-1897.
Turner Louis Kittlaus, Sr., was an assistant instructor at the South St. Louis Turnerbund until August 1896. He then became an instructor at the Concordia Turnerbund. His work with playground programs for the St. Louis schools necessitated the curtailment of his work as instructor with the Turnerbund. Turner Louis Kittlaus, Jr., served as the General Chairman for the 37th National Festival and Centennial held in St. Louis in 1948.
SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE
The collection contains programs and histories of the American Turnerbund with special emphasis on the St. Louis and Concordia Turnverein. There are numerous photographs of the 1928 Turnfest and Olympic games in Kaln and Luzern. The strength of the collection rests with the depiction of this German organization and the acculturation of the membership within St. Louis and the United States. The motto: "A Sound Mind, A Sound Body" indicates the attitude of the organization at all of its levels. Throughout the programs and booklets is information on the construction of gymnasiums and the exercise classes offered to members. Additional information concerns the cultural aspects of the organization in the areas of music, drama, crafts and the arts. Also noted are the programs for women, first social and then athletic.
FOLDER LIST
| f. 1 | 1893: Webungen des 26th Bundes - Turnfestes, Milwaukee. In German, illustrated program. |
| f. 2 | 1897: 27th National Gymnastic Festival, Bundes Turnfest, St. Louis. Illustrated program. |
| f. 3 | 1898: Charles School Patrons' Association, program. |
| f. 4 | 1904: Louisiana Purchase Exposition Official Program, St. Louis. |
| f. 5 | 1905-1906: South St. Louis Gymnastic Society, booklet. |
| f. 6 | 1920: Golden Jubilee of the North St. Louis Gymnastic Society, program. |
| f. 7 | 1922: Photocopy of Pioneers of Modern Physical Training. |
| f. 8 | 1925: Golden Jubilee, Concordia TurnVerein, St. Louis, program. |
| f. 9 | 1927-1929: Rules Governing National Festivals of the American Turnerbund. |
| f. 10 | 1928: Official Program, Olympics. |
| f. 11 | 1930: Work Plan, 34th National Festival of the American Turnerbund, Buffalo, New York. |
| f. 12 | 1930: American Turnerbund, "The Turner", National Turnfest, Buffalo, New York. Schedule of events. |
| f. 13 | 1932: St. Louis Gymnastic Society (St. Louis Turnverein), Program "Commemorating the Surrender and Capture of Camp Jackson, St. Louis, Missouri, May 10, 1861". |
| f. 14 | c. 1948: Program, National Turner Building Program. |
| f. 15 | 1948: "American Turner Topics", June, Volume 12, Number 10. |
| f. 16 | 1948: Program: American Turners 37th National Festival, St. Louis, Missouri. |
| f. 17 | 1960s: Booklet, "St. Louis Public Schools, past. . .present. . .future. . .". |
| f. 18 | 1966: Book, History of the Normal College of the American Gymnastic Union of Indiana University, 1866-1966, by Emil Rinsch. |
| f. 19 | 1972: Booklet, "Principles and Statutes of the American Turners"; 1974: Booklet, "History of the American Turners", by Henry Metzner. |
| f. 20 | 1973-1975: Correspondence, research, and booklet on the Turnverein and the Soulard Neighborhood Historic District. |
| f. 21 | 1978: Booklet, "Sport in Mainz", in German. |
| f. 22 | 1973-1985: Clippings and miscellaneous items regarding the history of the Turnverein. |
| f. 23 | 1981-1982: Turnverein Condominium, South St. Louis (Missouri) Turner Hall, clippings, prospectus. |
| f. 24 | Photographs |
| f. 25-26 | Photographs: 1928 Turnerfest and Olympics |
| f. 27 | Medals: Attendance: 1928, Kaln and Luzern; 1930, Buffalo New York; 1945, Fort Wayne, Indiana; 1948, St. Louis. |
| f. 28 | Membership cards: Louis Kittlaus, Sr. and Louis Kittlaus, Jr.; also the Concordia Medal for 50 years of membership. Stamps commemorating the Turners. |
INDEX TERMS
These index terms are the subjects, people, places, etc. under which this collection is listed in all available
indexes at the Western Historical Manuscript Collection-Columbia. If you are interested in a specific index
term, please contact the reference staff
| Concordia Turnverein, St. Louis, Missouri | f. 1-28 |
| German Americans--St. Louis, Missouri | f. 1-28 |
| German Heritage Archives | f. 1-28 |
| Gymnastics | f. 1-28 (pictorial image) |
| Jahn, Friedrich Ludwig (1778-1852) | f. 1-28 (pictorial image) |
| Kittlaus, Louis, Jr. | f. 1-28 |
| Kittlaus, Louis, Sr. | f. 1-28 |
| Men--Physical education & training |
|
| Men--Physical education and training | f. 1-28 (pictorial image) |
| Missouri, German Americans | f. 1-28 |
| Missouri, St. Louis | f. 1-28 |
| National Turnerbund | f. 1-28 |
| North St. Louis Turnverein, MO | f. 1-28 |
| Olympic Games, 1928 | f. 1-28 (pictorial image) |
| Physical education & training, Men | f. 1-28 (pictorial image) |
| Physical education & training, Women | f. 1-28 (pictorial image) |
| South St. Louis Turnverein, MO | f. 1-28 |
| Turner societies |
|
| Turnverein, Missouri, St. Louis |
|
| Women--Physical education and training |
|
|