Fig. 86.—Kansas City Turners at the Thirty-first Bundesturnfest, Denver, 1913 (From a photograph loaned by Dr. Robert Nohr).
To the list of national Turnfeste given on p. 296 the following have been added:
| XXV. | 1889, June 22-25 | Cincinnati. |
| XXVI. | 1893, July 21-25 | Milwaukee. |
| XXVII. | 1897, May 6-10 | St. Louis. |
| XXVIII. | 1900, June 18-23 | Philadelphia. |
| XXIX. | 1905, June 21-25 | Indianapolis. |
| XXX. | 1909, June 23-27 | Cincinnati. |
| XXXI. | 1913, June 25-29 | Denver. |
| XXXII. | 1921, June 29-July 3 | Chicago. |
We have seen (p. 299) that in the years 1889-1891, while Brosius was in New York City and the new gymnasium of the Turnerbund was being built in Milwaukee, its Normal School occupied temporary quarters in Indianapolis, with the Socialer Turnverein and under the direction of William Fleck (class of ’81). Two courses were given here, and 32 men and 1 woman were graduated. The last three courses under Brosius (1895-1899) covered two years each. Upon his retirement George Wittich (class of ’82) was called from St. Louis to serve as technical director, the scope of the school was broadened, and in the years 1902-1907 five more courses, each of one year’s duration, were held in the Milwaukee Bundesturnhalle, graduating a total of 36 men and 23 women. At the close of that period the building was sold, and on September 23, 1907, the newly christened “Normal College of the North American Gymnastic Union,” incorporated under the laws of Indiana and authorized to confer academic titles and degrees, was opened in the German House of the Indianapolis Socialer Turnverein. The name was changed to “Normal College of the American Gymnastic Union” in June of 1919. Karl Kroh (class of ’79) was the technical head for two years (1907-1909), and since that time the position has been held by Emil Rath (’98).
BIBLIOGRAPHY.
Jahrbücher der Deutsch-Amerikanischen Turnerei. Dem gesammten Turnwesen mit besonderer Berüchsichtigung der Geschichte des Nordamerikanischen Turnerbundes gewidmet. Herausgegeben und redigirt von Heinrich Metzner. Three volumes of six numbers each, published in New York from November, 1890, through October, 1894.
Jahresberichte des Vororts des Nordamerikanischen Turnerbundes. In 1920 the English language was substituted for the German in these and the title now reads “Annual Report of the National Executive Committee, American Gymnastic Union.” Each report covers a period extending from April 1 to April 1.
The Amerikanische Turnzeitung (weekly), the official organ of the Turnerbund since January 1, 1885.
Proceedings of national conventions, reports of national Turnfeste, catalogues of the Normal College, and numerous other occasional publications issued by the National Executive Committee.
The “Brosius 1864-1914” illustrated souvenir.
I am indebted to Mrs. Carl Betz for material relating to her husband’s life and work. Most of what is said of Brosius and Betz has already appeared in print, as Chapters XV and XVI in the author’s “Pioneers of Modern Physical Training” (New York, 1915).
FOOTNOTES:
[268] “Das Turnen. Ein Leitfaden für die Mitglieder des Sozialistischen Turnerbundes und alle Freunde der Leibesübung. Im Auftrage des Vororts dargestellt von Eduard Müller, Turnlehrer. Mit erläuternden Zeichnungen.” New York, Buchdruckerei von John Weber, 58 Chatham St., 1853.
[269] The name was changed to American Gymnastic Union June 24, 1919.
[270] The “Central Turnverein” of New York City drew him away for two years (1889-1891) with its $800,000 building and its membership of 3000, to take charge of classes which soon enrolled 160 actives, 100 older men, 150 women, and from 1400 to 1500 children. Meanwhile the Normal School of the Turnerbund had been moved to Indianapolis, but a building of its own was now ready in Milwaukee, connected with the new home of the Teachers College and the German-American Academy (the model school of the College), and in these commodious quarters Brosius took up again the task of training teachers. Seven courses were held and 59 more men were graduated under him between 1891 and 1899. In the latter year he retired permanently from the Normal School, but took up his earlier position in Turnverein “Milwaukee,” to continue there his active teaching until in June of 1914 he had rounded out a full half-century of professional achievement. He died in Milwaukee March 17, 1920.
No account of his career would be complete without mention of the famous “Frankfort Squad” of 1880. The fifth general German Turnfest was to be held at Frankfort-on-the-Main on July 25-28 of that year, and Turnverein “Milwaukee” decided to send a team of seven members, under their teacher Brosius, to take part in the exercises and compete for prizes. To the amazement of everyone, at home and abroad, they succeeded in winning second, third, fifth, sixth, thirteenth and twenty-first place in the competitions. Herman Koehler, whose mother was the oldest sister of Brosius, carried off the second prize. He afterwards completed the course at the Normal School (1882) under his uncle, and since 1885 has been Master of the Sword and director of physical training at the West Point Military Academy, with the present rank of Colonel.
[271] The editors have been Hans Ballin (March, 1894—June, 1896), Franz Pfister (August, 1896—December, 1906), and William A. Stecher (since January, 1907).
[272] A Text-book of the German-American System of Gymnastics, Specially Adapted to the Use of Teachers and Pupils in Public and Private Schools and Gymnasiums. Edited by W. A. Stecher, Secretary of the Committee on Physical Training of the North American Gymnastic Union. Boston, Lee and Shepard.
[273] Gymnastics in the School Room: A Manual for the Use of Teachers. By Hans Ballin. Erie, Pa., Herald Printing and Publishing Co., 1891.
Manual of Physical Culture for Public Schools, by Anton Leibold. Columbus, Ohio, Journal-Gazette Press, 1892.
Physical Culture for Public Schools: A Manual for the Use of Teachers. By Hans Rasmussen. Chicago, Geo. Sherwood & Co., 1893.