Annette R. Hofmann, ed., 200 Jahre Turnen – 200 Jahre Soziale Jahre Soziale Verantwortung

Annette R. Hofmann, ed., 200 Jahre Turnen – 200 Jahre Soziale Jahre Soziale Verantwortung. 2011.

This work is a collection of essays that reflect the 200 year history of German turnen since the founding of Friedrich Ludwig Jahn´s first Turnplatz (gymnastic ground) in 1811 on the Berlin Hasenheide until today. The turner clubs – Turnvereine – are the base of Germany´s sport system which is largely based on a system of volunteers. The umbrella organization of German turnen, the Deutsche Turner-Bund – is the second biggest sports federation in Germany. About 5 million members are organized there, about 70 percent are girls and women. Besides artistic gymnastics, the main offers today are gymnastics and gambling for children and activities related to health.

Annette R. Hofmann, The American Turner Movement: A History from its Beginning to 2000

Annette R. Hofmann, The American Turner Movement: A History from its Beginning to 2000. Indianapolis: Max Kade, 2010.

This work deals with the development of German Turnverein movement in the US. It takes up its growth in the 19th century and its gradual decline which essentially began after World War I and continues to this day. Turnen, the German form of physical culture which played a significant role in the Turner societies has lost much of its significance in the 20th century. Turnen was absorbed by other forms of physical activities and the Turners became Americanized. The most important factors for this evolution are cultural, social, and economic influences.

To show this transformation the assimilation of German immigrants is reflected on since the 18th century. Theories of integration which explain and interpret this process, however, do not include physical education. For this reason, an attempt has been made with this work to portray the changes in the Turner activities and its current image by means of various social theories concerning ethnicity and Americanization. One of the major works used is Richard D. Alba’s Ethnic Identity: The Transformation of White America (1990). In addition, an empirical study has been used to describe what remains of the Turner activities.

2011 Gerd von der Lippe Young Scholar Fund

Graduate students presenting papers at the 2011 ISHPES Congress are eligible to apply for a travel grant from GERD VON DER LIPPE YOUNG SCHOLAR FUND.  The money will be divided among the applicants to help defray the costs of travel and accommodation at the conference. Exact amounts of the financial support will vary.

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