Looks like it's a labor union. There's a reference to 'members locked out' and another to 'shop delegates' Both of those terms fit. Good bet one or both L's are for Laborer.
On the first card what is the logo under the word attend, seems to have words but can not make them out.
It is possible that it followed on from the teamsters strike/lockout of 1905.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1905_Chicago_teamsters%27_strike
E A being the Employers association of Chicago.
"Lithographic Artists', Engravers' and Designers' League of America"
Don't know if these fellas were involved in postcard or stamp printing in any way, but they were apparently mad about not being guaranteed a 47.5 hour work week. The resulting strike also affected businesses in New York City, Buffalo, and Rochester, which is why I was able to find a reference to the strike and the "LAE&DL of A" in archives belonging to the NY labor board.
Search "Lithographic Artists', Engravers' and Designers' League of America 1906" in Google books for more info on the topic, if you're into that sort of thing.
(I started by finding a reference to arbitration of a Chicago jewelry workers union, located at 49 LaSalle St, who struck in 1906. By chance, the previous entry was for a lithographer's strike..... and I noticed a couple of "L's". Googling lithographer's strike 1906 led me to the NY labor board archives I noted above.)
Perhaps the union hall served several groups, who used it on alternating days. The jewelers apparently had the 2nd and 4th Friday of each month, and the OP's postcard showed the lithographers using the venue on a Thursday.
Ok this may be some of our characters.
The 1910 Chicago Census has a Fred Fichtner born 1875 Germany/Prussia as a Lithographer in a print office. He reverts to Fritz Fichtner in the 1920 census.
John T Brain in 1910 aged 33 is also a Lithographer working for an engraving company. Married to a German.
Edward Henning I have 3 choices in Chicago, as follows;
Born 1866 a Baker in 1900 census.
Born 1877 a Book Keeper in 1900.
Born 1882 a Clerk in a Paint shop in the 1900 census.
All three are of German birth.
Might not be any of your postcard folks, but who knows, maybe contact the Chicago historical society.
Edit. Tom had not seen your post before I posted mine, looks like you cracked it.
Wow! The power of this board brain trust! I searched for a while and best I did was figure out the last letters were "League of America". I never would have thought Lithographers, as I was stuck on Laborers for the first "L".
Now with the German angle, I will have to go thru the big lot I have as there were more cards in the German language. Gotta love the mysteries! The fun of collecting it all!
If you wish to see the census images go to https://familysearch.org/
Create an account, it is free, and there is no nag mail. Then you can search the records for the individuals and get more detail such as residential addresses, immigration, language, family etc.
I need to use my "Ask A Friend" here...
I am stumped by these cards! Usually I can Google the initials and an organization will pop right up. I've gone through everything I can think of... fraternal group sites, even the names of the officers shown here. I Google Street Viewed the address shown... building no longer there!
I even put it out on Facebook to my Chicagoland friends... nope!
Anybody?
re: Mystery Fraternal ? Cards from Chicago
Looks like it's a labor union. There's a reference to 'members locked out' and another to 'shop delegates' Both of those terms fit. Good bet one or both L's are for Laborer.
re: Mystery Fraternal ? Cards from Chicago
On the first card what is the logo under the word attend, seems to have words but can not make them out.
It is possible that it followed on from the teamsters strike/lockout of 1905.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1905_Chicago_teamsters%27_strike
E A being the Employers association of Chicago.
re: Mystery Fraternal ? Cards from Chicago
"Lithographic Artists', Engravers' and Designers' League of America"
Don't know if these fellas were involved in postcard or stamp printing in any way, but they were apparently mad about not being guaranteed a 47.5 hour work week. The resulting strike also affected businesses in New York City, Buffalo, and Rochester, which is why I was able to find a reference to the strike and the "LAE&DL of A" in archives belonging to the NY labor board.
Search "Lithographic Artists', Engravers' and Designers' League of America 1906" in Google books for more info on the topic, if you're into that sort of thing.
(I started by finding a reference to arbitration of a Chicago jewelry workers union, located at 49 LaSalle St, who struck in 1906. By chance, the previous entry was for a lithographer's strike..... and I noticed a couple of "L's". Googling lithographer's strike 1906 led me to the NY labor board archives I noted above.)
Perhaps the union hall served several groups, who used it on alternating days. The jewelers apparently had the 2nd and 4th Friday of each month, and the OP's postcard showed the lithographers using the venue on a Thursday.
re: Mystery Fraternal ? Cards from Chicago
Ok this may be some of our characters.
The 1910 Chicago Census has a Fred Fichtner born 1875 Germany/Prussia as a Lithographer in a print office. He reverts to Fritz Fichtner in the 1920 census.
John T Brain in 1910 aged 33 is also a Lithographer working for an engraving company. Married to a German.
Edward Henning I have 3 choices in Chicago, as follows;
Born 1866 a Baker in 1900 census.
Born 1877 a Book Keeper in 1900.
Born 1882 a Clerk in a Paint shop in the 1900 census.
All three are of German birth.
Might not be any of your postcard folks, but who knows, maybe contact the Chicago historical society.
Edit. Tom had not seen your post before I posted mine, looks like you cracked it.
re: Mystery Fraternal ? Cards from Chicago
Wow! The power of this board brain trust! I searched for a while and best I did was figure out the last letters were "League of America". I never would have thought Lithographers, as I was stuck on Laborers for the first "L".
Now with the German angle, I will have to go thru the big lot I have as there were more cards in the German language. Gotta love the mysteries! The fun of collecting it all!
re: Mystery Fraternal ? Cards from Chicago
If you wish to see the census images go to https://familysearch.org/
Create an account, it is free, and there is no nag mail. Then you can search the records for the individuals and get more detail such as residential addresses, immigration, language, family etc.