American Turners (Organization)

Turner societies in America were based upon the Turner societies formed in Germany during the Napoleonic Wars as athletic, political, and cultural organizations. The first United States chapters were formed in 1848 by German immigrants who had fled their country to escape persecution. These organizations stressed the importance of both physical and mental health. Earlier groups, primarily for adults, combined physical education with political and cultural activities. Later, they supported gymnastics for children and played a significant role in the introduction of gymnastics into public schools.

The first federation of these local chapters, the Socialistischer Turnerbund, was formed in 1850. In 1866 the first Turnlehrer Seminar was sponsored by the Turnerbund in an attempt to improve the quality of physical education teachers. The Seminar was incorporated in 1907 as the Normal College of the North American Gymnastics Union (later American Gymnastics Union) when it was permanently transferred to Indianapolis, Indiana in 1907. From 1898 to 1923 the Indianapolis Athenaeum (Das Deutsche Haus) housed the national headquarters of the Turnerbund.

At the onset of World War II, the name of the organization was changed to American Turners. Present day groups concentrate on beginning and intermediate gymnastics skills and sponsor other physical and cultural activities for children and young adults.