Turner History

The Syracuse Turners offered classes for boys and girls. This 1910 postcard shows some of the classic exercise equipment, including the tall climbing poles, the pommel horses, and several students hold light weights.

In the foreground, four girls are showing of the Rundlauf. The word means “run around” in German. The Rundlauf was first mentioned in the book, “Die weibliche Turnschule” (The Female Gymnastics School), published in 1875. At first it was used as an exercise for women, and included routines with marching, hopping and running.

The Cleveland Eastside Turners closed this past year. To carry on the work of the American Turners, its members graciously donated $197,000 to the national organization.

In 1982, the National Turner Auxiliary published a cookbook. At a time when women could not join most Turner societies, the auxiliaries played an important role in supporting Turner activities. Today, we offer a recipe for scalloped turkey, submitted by Kay Erwin of the Moline Turners Auxiliary.

As a research project, we are collecting Turner cookbooks. If you have one, let me know.

Daniel Hoisington, National Historian, nationalhistorian@amturners.org