Cleveland Cultural Garden Federation

The Cleveland Cultural Garden Federation was founded in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1925 by Leo Weidenthal as the Civic Progress League. A year later the organization changed its name to the Cleveland Cultural Garden League, and in 1952 the League adopted its present name, the Cleveland Cultural Garden Federation. The purpose of the League, as stated in Their Paths are Peace by Clara Wilson, was to "foster the spirit of good will and fellowship among men to weld harmony among Clevelanders of diverse origin, and to promote good citizenship."

Leo Weidenthal conceived the idea for what later became the Cultural Garden Federation in 1916 when he attended the dedication of the Shakespeare Garden in Rockefeller Park; he wished to establish a series of gardens, each having a central theme, concerning the history of a single nationality group in Cleveland. The Shakespeare Garden was later incorporated as part of the official cultural gardens chain.

The first garden established under the auspices of the newly formed Cultural Garden League was the Hebrew garden in 1926. The next gardens established were teh Italian, German, Lithuanian, Slovak, and Ukrainian in 1930, followed by the Polish, Hungarian, Czech, and Yugoslav gardens in 1934. The American, Russian, Irish, Greek, and Syrian gardens were established in 1938. Since the 1930s, several gardens including the Rumanian, Estonian, African American, Latvian, Indian, Chinese, and others have been established.

Much of the work on the earlier gardens was done through a cooperative effort of the City of Cleveland and the Works Project Administration. This cooperation was predicated on the recognition of the gardens by the city in an ordinance passed on May 9, 1927. This ordinance set aside areas of Rockefeller Park adjoining the Shakespeare and Hebrew gardens for the development of similar gardens with ethnic themes.

During its period of prominence, the Cleveland Cultural Garden Federation played an active role in such events as the 1939 Seventh World Poultry Congress, the Second UNESCO conference held in Cleveland in 1949, and in establishing One World Day as an annual event in Cleveland beginning in 1945.

The Cleveland Cultural Garden Federation, less active than in the past, remains a viable organization dedicated to the promotion and distribution of knowledge concerning Cleveland's nationality groups.

click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for the Cleveland Cultural Garden Federation

From the guide to the Cleveland Cultural Garden Federation Photographs, 1930-1971, (Western Reserve Historical Society)

The Cleveland Cultural Garden Federation was founded in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1925 by Leo Weidenthal as the Civic Progress League. A year later the organization changed its name to the Cleveland Cultural Garden League, and in 1952 the League adopted its present name, the Cleveland Cultural Garden Federation. The purpose of the League, as stated in Their Paths are Peace by Clara Wilson, was to "foster the spirit of good will and fellowship among men to weld harmony among Clevelanders of diverse origin, and to promote good citizenship."

Leo Weidenthal conceived the idea for what later became the Cultural Garden Federation in 1916 when he attended the dedication of the Shakespeare Garden in Rockefeller Park; he wished to establish a series of gardens, each having a central theme, concerning the history of a single nationality group in Cleveland. The Shakespeare Garden was later incorporated as part of the official cultural gardens chain.

The first garden established under the auspices of the newly formed Cultural Garden League was the Hebrew garden in 1926. The next gardens established were the Italian, German, Lithuanian, Slovak, and Ukrainian in 1930, followed by the Polish, Hungarian, Czech, and Yugoslav gardens in 1934. The American, Russian, Irish, Greek, and Syrian gardens were established in 1938. Since the 1930s, several gardens including the Rumanian, Estonian, African American, Latvian, Indian, Chinese, and others have been established.

Much of the work on the earlier gardens was done through a cooperative effort of the City of Cleveland and the Works Project Administration. This cooperation was predicated on the recognition of the gardens by the city in an ordinance passed on May 9, 1927. This ordinance set aside areas of Rockefeller Park adjoining the Shakespeare and Hebrew gardens for the development of similar gardens with ethnic themes.

During its period of prominence, the Cleveland Cultural Garden Federation played an active role in such events as the 1939 Seventh World Poultry Congress, the Second UNESCO conference held in Cleveland in 1949, and in establishing One World Day as an annual event in Cleveland beginning in 1945.

The Cleveland Cultural Garden Federation, less active than in the past, remains a viable organization dedicated to the promotion and distribution of knowledge concerning Cleveland's nationality groups.

click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for the Cleveland Cultural Garden Federation

From the guide to the Cleveland Cultural Garden Federation Records, 1916-1976, (Western Reserve Historical Society)