Dayton Liederkranz-Turner

The Dayton Liederkranz chapter was chartered on October 28, 1890 as Harugari Liederkranz and incorporated as the Dayton Liederkranz in 1911. The club focused on German songs and "Gemutlichkeit" (friendship), joining the Southern Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana District of the North American Singer Association.

The Dayton Turners, were Germans that came to the United States after the Revolutions of 1848 in Germany. The Dayton Turners chapter was founded in 1853 and was notably abolitionist, and advocated the balance of the entire person, which included music, fitness, and education. The Dayton Turners were a member of the American Gymnastic Union and participated in gymnastics events, including the Olympics.

In 1913, the Dayton Turner Women's Auxiliary was formed as a meeting place for women of the club. This group helped the organization with events and met monthly. In 1940, The Women's Club was formed as part of the Dayton Liederkranz organization to assist the men in the planning of the Golden Jubilee. In 1945 the name was changed to the Ladies' Auxiliary which continued to be a meeting place for the women of the club. When the Liederkranz and Dayton Turner clubs merged in 1953 the women's organizations merged as well. The Ladies' Auxiliary lasted for 46 years before be dissolved in 1986 when the group was no longer needed.

In 1953, due to the new interstate traveling through Dayton both the Dayton Liederkranz and Dayton Turner meeting locations were torn down. Looking for a new club location the two organizations decided to merge and relocate to 5th Street.

In addition to the original male choir (Maennerchor), a woman's choir (Damenchor) was formed in 1976, and in 1982 a children's choir (Kinger-Jugendchor) was founded. In 1982 a folk dancing group (Volkstanzers) was formed. The Dayton Liederkranz-Turner also travelled to Germany on a regular basis, most notably to Augsburg, Dayton's Sister City in southern Germany.

The traditional activities of the Dayton Liederkranz-Turner included a Spring Concert, participation in National and District Saengerfests (singing competitions between German-American societies), a Fall Concert, and a Christmas Concert.

The Dayton Liederkranz-Turner is located at 1400 E. 5th Street in the historic Saint Anne's Hill Neighborhood of Downtown Dayton.

From the guide to the Dayton Liederkranz-Turner Collection, 1880-2014, (Wright State University, Special Collections and Archives)