Notes from Workmen’s Circle History
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The Workmen’s Circle Call | November 1970
The first to set out to found an organization in which the members would be bound together by the golden chain of friendship were two cloakmakers, Sam Greenberg and Harry Lasker. They brought their plan to their friend M. Goldreich.
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The first meeting at which it was decided to found such a society occurred toward the end of March 1892, in the home of Sam Greneberg, 151 Essex Street, New York City. Those who attended were: Sam Greenberg, Harry Lasker, M. Goldreich, H. Levy, Eckstein, and Ring. These were soon joined by D. Gingold, A. Becker, Falter, and Diamond.
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The first meeting at which the Society bearing the name Workmen's Circle was formally founded, took place April 4, 1892. At the second meeting on April 18, the worker Goldsmith joined.
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At first the meetings were held in the home of Hyman Levy, 174 Eldridge Street, New York City.
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The first meeting locale was at 26 Delancey Street, New York City.
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The first officials of the Society were: M. Goldreich, Chairman; Eckstein, Financial Secretary; Kellerman, Recording Secretary; Ring, Treasurer; Helfenberg, Hospitaler.
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During the first years of its existence the Workingmen's Circle Society conducted its meetings in downtown New York. As the Society grew it recruited members in Harlem and Brooklyn. Some of them found it difficult to attend meetings because of the poor transportation facilities. A number of members who resided in Harlem began to hold separate meetings in their neighborhood. In this manner a Harlem branch of the Workingmen's Circle Society came into being in October 1898. A second branch was installed in Brooklyn on June 3, 1899. Both, Branch 1 in Harlem and Branch 2 in Brooklyn, were under the jurisdiction of the Workingmen's Society of downtown New York.
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“The first General Office was located at 10 Christie Street and consisted of one room, large enough for a chair and a table. ”
The first to agitate for a Workingmen's Circle built on a firm financial basis with branches in other cities as well, were L. Platiw, Secretary of the Society and J. Anapol, Secretary of Branch 1, Harlem.
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The first meeting at which it was officially decided to reorganize the Workingmen's Circle Society into a workers' order, the Workmen's Circle, occurred September 5, 1900, at 42 Grand Street. 160 of the 300 members were present at the meeting. Chairman of the meeting was one Sandick. With the founding of the order, the original Society became Branch 1, Branch 1 of Harlem became Branch 2, and the Brooklyn Branch became Branch 3.
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At first the Workmen's Circle was called the Central Union of Workmen's Circle Branches. Later, when it was decided to procure a charter, the organization came to be known as the Workmen's Circle Order.
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The first provisional Secretary of the organization was Abraham Barov (later Manager of the Cloakmaker's Union).
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The first General Secretary of the Workmen's Circle was Benjamin Feigenbaum (provisionally, until the first Convention).
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The first Workmen's Circle Convention occurred on March 29, 30, 1901 at 414 Grand Street, New York City. Present were 29 delegates representing 9 branches with a total membership of 644. The assets of the Workmen's Circle according to the official report at the first Convention were $1,206.62 ($912.22 belonging to the Executive Committee, $294.40 — to the Branches).
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The first General Office was located at 10 Christie Street and consisted of one room, large enough for a chair and a table.
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The first time that the Workmen's Circle expelled a member occurred in the case of a member of Branch 1, who worked for the Republican Party.