This collection consists of various records of the Catholic Central Verein and its state branches, chiefly in the form of convention programs. Some letters, newspapers, and constitutions of German Catholic benevolent societies are also included. The Central Verein was founded in 1855 as a national union of Catholic lay societies. The original organization consisted almost entirely of societies serving German Catholic immigrants and their families. The Verein underwent a major reorganization circa 1900, becoming a national association built upon state federations of Catholic societies, rather than having each local society hold direct membership in the national association. A permanent Central Bureau was established at St Louis, Missouri in 1908 with Frederick P. Kenkel as director. An affiliated National Catholic Women's Union (originally the Frauenbund) was established by 1916. The two organizations generally held joint conventions at both the national and state levels. The Verien and the Women's Union engaged in such activities as newspaper publishing, assisting German immigrants, providing aid to the sick, providing a form of life insurance for members, and assisting widows and orphans. The two organizations gradually lost most of their German character by the end of World War II, and eventually the Central Verein changed its name to the Central Union. Much of the material in the collection is in German. These materials generally predate the American entry into the First World War in 1917. After 1917, most materials are in English.
The first reel contains minutes of the first 10 national conventions of the Central Verein, from 1855 to 1865. All are in German manuscript. Some notes regarding early proposals for a Central Verein, dating from circa 1853 are also included. Reel #2 contains a scrapbook record of the 1937 Central Verein convention, a series of monthly calendars from a German parish in St Louis, and some correspondence of Central Bureau director F.P. Kenkel, dating approximately 1938-1945. Reel #3 contains Central Verein national convention programs from c1888 to 1896, a series of the _Amerika_ newspaper, and the 1895 edition of the constitution and bylaws of the Verein in German. Reels #4 through #7 contain various state convention programs dating c1896-1960. Reel #8 is a collection of the constitutions of German Catholic benevolent societies. Reels #9 through #11 contain national convention programs from c1893 to 1962.
Convention programs generally contain such things as greetings to the delegates from dignitaries of the host city, histories of host cities and parishes in host cities, histories of the national/state Verein, statements from national/state officers, a schedule of convention events, letters from ecclesiastic dignitaries, lists of officers, lists of delegates, and lists of organizing committee members and sponsors. Advertisements appear quite commonly, and are generally in English even when the main text of the program is in German.
The minutes of national conventions which appear on reel #1 are quite likely those taken by the recording secretary at each convention; as treasurer's reports, corresponding secretary's reports, resolutions, and other records not found in convention programs appear there. Originals of some convention programs exist in the Notre Dame Archives. Additionally, a large quantity of convention minutes not on microfilm exist in the paper collection.
Source: Central Bureau of Central Verein, St Louis, Missouri