[Program for] 17th Anniversary Celebration. Hering House Welfare League... [Cover title]

South Bend, Indiana: Hering House Welfare League, 1942. Very good. 11" x 8½". Stapled wrappers. Pp. 3. Very good: long vertical crease to wrappers extending throughout; wrappers lightly chipped and soiled, lightly toned.

This is a rare program which honors the anniversary of an important educational and cultural center for the African American community of South Bend, Indiana, the Hering House.

We learned how and why Hering House was founded from a 2016 article by Kevin Tidmarsh in Belt Magazine (https://beltmag.com/theforgotten-legacy-of-buford-gordon/). Tidmarsh was discussing the 1922 book, The Ne*ro In South Bend: A Social Study, written by the Reverend B.F. Gordon. Gordon's book documented the early history and contemporary conditions of South Bend's African American residents. Tidmarsh pointed out that the book's publication had a nearly immediate impact in South Bend as it led directly to two white philanthropists, Frank and Claribel Hering, donating money for a community center for African Americans. Modeled after Chicago's Hull House, Hering House was dedicated in 1925 and served as an exceptionally important gathering place for African Americans in South Bend for nearly 40 years.

This program marked Hering House's 17th anniversary. Issued early after the United States entered World War II, the text shared,

"In this age when DEFENSE is playing such an active part in the woof and warp of civilization . . . Hering House is called upon as never before in its existence to help shoulder the burden by helping in the DEFENSE of the Ne*ro youth and adult."

The book shared the methods and accomplishments of the center, noting club and group activities for different age groups. It commented on providing service in areas such as "inter-racial," health and welfare, housing, recreation and education. It also shared that it needed funds for more space for the gym and physical departments. There were lists of the boards of trustees and directors, as well as the schedule of events and the lyrics to the "Ne*ro National Hymn."

Rare source material documenting an important African American community center, not found online or in OCLC. Indiana University South Bend holds a small collection of Hering House materials; it contains a few anniversary celebration programs, but not this year's.