Louis Kittlaus, Jr. Collection (C3908)

Collection Number: C3908

Collection Title: Louis Kittlaus, Jr. Collection

Dates: 1888-1994

Creator: Kittlaus, Jr., Louis, 1904-1994

Abstract: 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. Also included are family photos of the Louis Kittlaus, Jr. family. Collection Size: 0.9 cubic feet (38 folders)

Language: Collection materials are in English. Some material is in German.

Repository: The State Historical Society of Missouri

Restrictions on Access: Collection is open for research. This collection is available at The State Historical Society of Missouri Research Center-Columbia. If you would like more information, please contact us at [email protected]. Collections may be viewed at any research center.

Restrictions on Use: The donor has given and assigned to the University all rights of copyright, which the donor has in the Materials and in such of the Donor’s works as may be found among any collections of Materials received by the University from others.

Preferred Citation: [Specific item; box number; folder number] Louis Kittlaus, Jr. Collection (C3908); The State Historical Society of Missouri Research Center-Columbia [after first mention may be abbreviated to SHSMO-Columbia].

Donor Information: The records were donated to the University of Missouri by Louis Kittlaus, Jr. on June 12, 1990 (Accession No. CA4956). An addition was made by Paul Kittlaus on May 20, 2009 (Accession No. CA6204). Processed by: Processed by Sharon Hall on December 20, 1994. Finding aid revised by Laura Jolley on February 25, 2021.

(C3908) Louis Kittlaus, Jr. Collection Page 2

Historical Note:

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 Ameri- can 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 Na- tional 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. Arrangement:

The collection has been arranged into the following series:

Collection

Scope and Content Note:

Collection

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. Additionally, the collection includes family and vacation photos of the Kittlaus family. Container 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 pro- gram.

Go to top (C3908) Louis Kittlaus, Jr. Collection Page 3 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 "Commemorat- ing 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 Turn- verein. f. 23 1981-1982: Turnverein Condominium, South St. Louis (Missouri) Turner Hall, clip- pings, 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. f. 29 Miscellaneous publications: A System of Physical Culture by Carl Betz, 1888; Free and Wand Exercises, to be Executed by 5,000 to 7,000 Pupils of the 3rd- 8th Grades of our Public Schools, 1897; One Hundred Years of Public Education in St. Louis: “Musica Americana” A Centennial Festival Pageant, program, 1938; Society Mass and Apparatus Exercises for the 37th National Festival of the American Turners, 1948 f. 30 “Physical Education, Recreation, and Athletics in the St. Louis Public Schools Prior to 1944, by Louis Kittlaus Jr., 1994 f. 31 Photographs-family vacation, 1973-Stuttgart, Bavaria, Solingen f. 32 Photographs-family vacation, 1973-Stuttgart, Turnfest, bus trip to Olympic Stadium, Bavaria, Munich f. 33 Photographs-family vacation-Germany, 1978-1979 f. 34 Family photographs, 1974-1981 f. 35 Family vacation-Tokyo, 1986 f. 36 Family photographs, 1980s f. 37 Family photographs, 50th wedding anniversary of Louis and Pauline Kittlaus

Go to top (C3908) Louis Kittlaus, Jr. Collection Page 4 f. 38 Family vacation list, miscellaneous family information

Index Terms:

Index Term Folders Image Concordia Turnverein, St. Louis, Missouri 1-28 German Americans--St. Louis, Missouri 1-38 German Heritage Archives 1-38 Gymnastics 1-28 Yes Jahn, Friedrich Ludwig (1778-1852) 1-28 Yes Kittlaus family 31-38 Yes Kittlaus, Louis, Jr., 1904-1994 31-37 Yes Kittlaus, Louis, Jr., 1904-1994 1-38 Kittlaus, Louis, Sr. 1-28

Men--Physical education and training 1-29 Yes Missouri, German Americans 1-38 Missouri, St. Louis 1-30 National Turnerbund 1-28 North St. Louis Turnverein, Missouri 1-28 Olympic Games, 1928 1-28 Yes Physical education and training, Men 1-29 Yes

Physical education and training, Women 1-28 Yes South St. Louis Turnverein, Missouri 1-28

Turner societies 1-29 Yes Turnverein, Missouri, St. Louis 1-28 Women--Physical education and training 1-28

Women--Physical education and training 1-28 Yes Women--Physical education and training 1-28 Women--Physical education and training 1-28 Yes

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