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Young Women's Christian Association of Philadelphia (Pa.), Kensington Branch Records
Notifications
Held at: Temple University Libraries: Special Collections Research Center [Contact Us]
This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Temple University Libraries: Special Collections Research Center. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.
Overview and metadata sections
The Kensington Branch of the YWCA of Philadelphia was founded in 1891, for the primary purpose of providing a residence for the many young women employed in the numerous textile and lace factories located in Kensington. Since that time the Kensington YWCA has been an advocate for and provider of services to residents in the Kensington community, with special focus on the needs of women and girls. As the neighborhood changed, so did the variety of programs offered by the Kensington YWCA. The Kensington Branch provided a wide range of activities: physical fitness, swimming, skills, crafts, and educational classes. The Residence Program at the Kensington YWCA offered independent living arrangements for low-income women.
The collection consists records by and related to the Kensington Branch of the YWCA of Philadelphia. The Board minutes span nearly the entire history of the organization, thus providing an excellent overview of the Kensington YWCA. Of special interest in this collection are the Board and program minutes from the very beginning of Kensington Branch. Also, there is particularly strong documentation of the Girls' Coalition.
Series 2: Financial, 1961-1980
Series 3: Committees, undated
Series 4: Correspondence, 1970-1981
Series 5: Programs and Services, 1891-1977
Series 6: Girls' Coalition, 1975-1980
Series 7: Other Branches, 1932-1975
Series 8: Other Organizations, undated
Series 9: Miscellaneous, 1915-1976
Series 10: Photographs and Clippings, circa 1965-1972
Donated through Mrs. Henderson in June 1982.
Finding aid revised according to contemporary archival standards in May 2016.
Organization
Subject
- African American women -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia
- Associations, institutions, etc. -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia
- Women -- Services for -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia
- Young Women's Christian Associations
Place
- Publisher
- Temple University Libraries: Special Collections Research Center
- Finding Aid Author
- Machine-readable finding aid created by: Rajkumar Natarajan, Sky Global Services India (P) Ltd.
- Finding Aid Date
- January 2024
- Access Restrictions
-
Collection is open for research.
- Use Restrictions
-
The Young Women's Christian Association of Philadelphia (Pa.), Kensington Branch Records are the physical property of the Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries. Intellectual property rights, including copyright, belong to the authors or their legal heirs and assigns. Researchers are responsible for determining the identity of rights holders and obtaining their permission for publication and for other purposes where stated.
Collection Inventory
Series 1 pertains to the activities of the Kensington YWCA Board and staff. Especially useful are the Board minutes dated from 1891 to 1979. It can be seen that throughout the years, a number of changes occurred concerning the official name of the Board. Initially, it was simply called Board, however, by 1943, Committee of management was adopted as the official title. Still more changes occurred after this. Around 1963 it was called the Board of Management, and finally, around 1972, Board was agreed upon. In addition to the minutes, the numerous constitution and by-laws, personnel files, office files, and statistical reports trace the branch's development, trends and significance.
Series 2 includes information concerning fund raising, budgets, payroll, expenses, and financial statements.
Series 3 covers the operations of administrative committees, programs and services committees, and special committees.
Series 4 contains letters from inside and outside the organization, which are chronologically arranged within each individual. One general correspondence file is also included.
Series 5 covers the various programs and services offered by the Kensington Branch. It is primarily arranged by different kinds of activities, such as programs, clubs, classes, events, and residence, etc. Publicity materials occupy a large portion of this series. It consists of 15 folders of brochures, flyers, and news releases dated 1965-1977. Among the series, the program registrations, residence sign-up books, and visitor registers have to remain anonymous.
Series 6 covers the Girls' Coalition from 1977 to 1979. In 1977, government funding from the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration (LEAA-Department of Justice) was granted to a coalition of four girl-serving agencies: Girls Scouts, Girls Club, Big Sisters, and the YWCA. This funding has enabled the Kensington and North Central YWCA Branches to hire teen program staff who provided services to teen women in North Philadelphia Kensington areas.
Series 7 concerns the administration of the Metropolitan Association, which is the administrative umbrella that oversees all the branches of the Philadelphia Association. In addition, this series includes publications and fund raising information from the YWCA of USA and World YWCA.
Series 8 contains information about Kensington Action Now, ASPIRA, Kensington Community Council, 25th District Parent Youth Aid Committee, Philadelphia Welfare Rights Organization, District V Coordinating Council, USO, Delaware Valley Association/Directors of Volunteer Programs, Pennsylvania Bureau of Consumer Protection, Miscellaneous.
Series 9 contains the 100th Anniversary Kensington Branch celebration, Newspaper clippings, and Scrapbook. The scrapbook includes cards, letters, and photographs from friends of Kensington YWCA dated 1915-1918. For comment on the structure of this inventory see.
found loose in box
Series 10 consists primarily of snapshots and news clippings removed from a binder. Photographs are generally unidentified and undated and have been placed in folders consistent with their placement within the original binder. Photographs date from 1965 through 1972, and portray mostly day care, sports, trips to the zoo, parties and dances. One photograph of the exterior of the YWCA branch is included. The folder of news clippings concerns itself with a YWCA meeting in San Diego, California, in 1973. No inventory is available.