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Library Record


Title Catholic Central Verein of America (Pennsylvania Federation) printed material.
Author Catholic Central Verein of America (Pennsylvania Federation)
Collection Associations
Call# AC0155B
Year Range from 1899
Year Range to 1943
Language English and German
Summary See notes for short description of Catholic Central Verein of America and its affiliate, the National Catholic Women's Union.

Materials in German and English.

-State Federation General Convention Reports: 1899, 1905, 1906. (With
constitution).
-Official Souvenir Programs: August 23-27, 1924. 2 copies; August 20-24, 1927;
August 19-24, 1938; July 27-30, 1940; 1943 (Golden Jubilee Convention).
Notes Unless otherwise indicated on the materials, all items in this collection have the accession number 1994.003.

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.
Subjects Catholic Central Verein of America. -- Pennsylvania
Federation.

National Federation of German American Catholics.
Catholic Central Union of America.
National Catholic Women's Union (U.S.)
Frauenbund.
Church and social problems -- Catholic Church -- United
States -- Pennsylvania -- Societies, etc.

Catholic action -- United States -- Pennsylvania -- Societies,
etc.

Catholics, German -- United States -- Pennsylvania --
Societies, etc.
Object Type Printed Material
Object ID AC0155B