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Young Women's Christian Association of Philadelphia (Pa.), Kensington Branch Records

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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.

This collection is divided into 10 series:

Series 1: Administration, 1891-1980
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.

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

Scope and Contents

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.

Constitution and By-laws, 1937-39.
Box 1 Folder 1
Constitution and By-laws, 1963.
Box 1 Folder 2
Constitution and By-laws, 1975.
Box 1 Folder 3
Minutes. Board meeting, 1891-1913.
Box 1 Folder 4
Minutes. Board meeting, 1914-18.
Box 1 Folder 5
Minutes. Committee of Management, 1943-45.
Box 1 Folder 6
Minutes. Committee of Management, 1946-48.
Box 1 Folder 7
Minutes. Committee of Management, 1949-53.
Box 1 Folder 8
Minutes. Committee of Management, 1954-57.
Box 1 Folder 9
Minutes. Committee of Management, 1958-59.
Box 1 Folder 10
Minutes. Committee of Management, 1960.
Box 1 Folder 11
Minutes. Committee of Management, 1961-62.
Box 1 Folder 12
Minutes. Board of Management, 1963-64.
Box 1 Folder 13
Minutes. Board of Management, 1965-66.
Box 1 Folder 14
Minutes. Board of Management, 1967-68.
Box 1 Folder 15
Minutes. Board of Management, 1969-70.
Box 1 Folder 16
Minutes. Board of Management, 1971.
Box 1 Folder 17
Minutes. Board Meeting, 1972.
Box 1 Folder 18
Minutes. Board Meeting, 1973-74.
Box 1 Folder 19
Minutes. Board Meeting, 1975-76.
Box 1 Folder 20
Minutes. Board Meeting, 1978.
Box 1 Folder 21
Minutes. Board Meeting, 1979.
Box 1 Folder 22
Minutes. Staff Meeting, 1963-1970.
Box 1 Folder 23
Minutes. Staff Meeting, 1971-1977.
Box 1 Folder 24
Minutes. Staff Meeting, 1978-1980.
Box 1 Folder 25
Minutes. Administrative Staff Meeting, 1967, 1977-1980.
Box 1 Folder 26
Minutes. Program Staff Meeting, 1966.
Box 1 Folder 27
Minutes. Department Head Supervisor Meeting, 1979-1980.
Box 1 Folder 28
Minutes. Clerical Staff Development Meeting, 1964.
Box 1 Folder 29
Minutes. Association Review Meeting, 1978.
Box 1 Folder 30
Board Reports, 1939.
Box 1 Folder 31
Board Reports, 1940.
Box 1 Folder 32
Board Reports, 1941.
Box 1 Folder 33
Board Reports, 1942.
Box 2 Folder 1
Board Reports, 1972-1974.
Box 2 Folder 2
Board Reports, 1975-1976.
Box 2 Folder 3
Board Reports, 1977.
Box 2 Folder 4
Board Reports, 1978-79.
Box 2 Folder 5
Reports, Reviews and Surveys. Report of the National Review Team, 1972, 1978.
Box 2 Folder 6
Reports, Reviews and Surveys. United Fund-Agency Review, 1966.
Box 2 Folder 7
Reports, Reviews and Surveys. Exploratory Survey of Kensington Branch YWCA, 1962.
Box 2 Folder 8
Personnel. Board list, 1972-1979.
Box 2 Folder 9
Personnel. Board of Directors Nominations, 1975-1979.
Box 2 Folder 10
Personnel. Personal Personnel Data Folder, undated.
Box 2 Folder 11
Personnel. Job Descriptions and Responsibilities, undated.
Box 2 Folder 12
Personnel. Retirement, 1975.
Box 2 Folder 13
Personnel. Salary Scales and Classifications, undated.
Box 2 Folder 14
Personnel. Staff Contract, circa 1977-1980.
Box 2 Folder 15
Personnel. Middle Atlantic Staff List and Maps, circa 1974.
Box 2 Folder 16
Personnel. Employment of Work Study Students, 1976.
Box 2 Folder 17
Procedures and Policies. General, 1943.
Box 2 Folder 18
Procedures and Policies. General, 1964.
Box 2 Folder 19
Procedures and Policies. General, 1964.
Box 2 Folder 20
Procedures and Policies. General, 1964.
Box 2 Folder 21
Personnel, 1960-65.
Box 2 Folder 22
Personnel, 1972, 1976.
Box 2 Folder 23
Finance, 1953, 1964.
Box 2 Folder 24
Finance, 1968.
Box 2 Folder 25
Public Relations, 1964.
Box 2 Folder 26
Fire Drill, undated.
Box 2 Folder 27
Miscellaneous, undated.
Box 2 Folder 28
Office Files, 1943.
Box 2 Folder 29
Office Files, 1958-1962.
Box 2 Folder 30
Office Files, 1964.
Box 3 Folder 1
Office Files, 1979.
Box 3 Folder 2
Administration Attendance Statistics, 1960.
Box 3 Folder 3
Administration Attendance Statistics, 1961.
Box 3 Folder 4
Administration Attendance Statistics, 1962.
Box 3 Folder 5
Administration Attendance Statistics, 1963.
Box 3 Folder 6
Administration Attendance Statistics, 1965.
Box 3 Folder 7
Administration Attendance Statistics, 1970.
Box 3 Folder 8
Administration Attendance Statistics, 1971.
Box 3 Folder 9
Administration Attendance Statistics, 1972.
Box 3 Folder 10
Administration Attendance Statistics, 1973.
Box 3 Folder 11
Administration Attendance Statistics, 1978.
Box 3 Folder 12
Administration Attendance Statistics, 1979.
Box 3 Folder 13
Administration Attendance Statistics, 1980.
Box 3 Folder 14
Proposals. Inter-racial Crisis Team to Serve Three Contiguous Philadelphia Neighborhoods, undated.
Box 3 Folder 15
Establish City Wide League, undated.
Box 3 Folder 16
Outreach Program for Endangered Teen-aged Women, undated.
Box 3 Folder 17

Scope and Contents

Series 2 includes information concerning fund raising, budgets, payroll, expenses, and financial statements.

Fundraising. Annual Support Campaign, undated.
Box 3 Folder 18
Fundraising. The Philadelphia Foundation and United Fund, undated.
Box 3 Folder 19
Budgets, 1961-1962.
Box 3 Folder 20
Budgets, 1964-1965.
Box 3 Folder 21
Budgets, 1965-1966.
Box 3 Folder 22
Budgets, 1965-1966.
Box 3 Folder 23
Budgets, 1966-1976.
Box 3 Folder 24
Budgets, 1980.
Box 3 Folder 25
Payroll, 1978-1979.
Box 3 Folder 26
Revenue and Expense Reports, 1978-1979.
Box 3 Folder 27
Invoices/Bills/Payments, undated.
Box 3 Folder 28

Scope and Contents

Series 3 covers the operations of administrative committees, programs and services committees, and special committees.

Committee on Administration, undated.
Box 4 Folder 1
Liaison Committee, undated.
Box 4 Folder 2
Membership Committee, undated.
Box 4 Folder 3
Teen Program Committee, undated.
Box 4 Folder 4
Program Planning and Coordinating Committee, undated.
Box 4 Folder 5
Religious Resources Committee, undated.
Box 4 Folder 6
Cooperative Living Committee, undated.
Box 4 Folder 7

Scope and Contents

Series 4 contains letters from inside and outside the organization, which are chronologically arranged within each individual. One general correspondence file is also included.

Ballard, Bernice, 1979-1981.
Box 4 Folder 8
Graham, Joanne, 1977-1978.
Box 4 Folder 9
Grant, Maria, 1970-1971.
Box 4 Folder 10
Hartman, Holly, 1978.
Box 4 Folder 11
Mayer, Joan L., 1978.
Box 4 Folder 12
Perez, Margarita, 1977-1978.
Box 4 Folder 13
Sims, Carolyn S., 1977-1978.
Box 4 Folder 14
Skucas, Susan E., 1977-1978.
Box 4 Folder 15
Temple, Phyllis, 1978-1980.
Box 4 Folder 16
Wright, Charlotte B., 1970-1972.
Box 4 Folder 17
General, undated.
Box 4 Folder 18

Scope and Contents

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.

Programs, 1891-1900.
Box 4 Folder 19
M.R.J. Club, 1911-1917.
Box 4 Folder 20
M.R.J. Club, 1917-1935.
Box 4 Folder 21
Reports, undated.
Box 4 Folder 22
Procedures and Policies, undated.
Box 4 Folder 23
Program Proposals, undated.
Box 4 Folder 24
Inspection Reports, undated.
Box 4 Folder 25
Evaluation of Program Units, undated.
Box 4 Folder 26
Unit Plans, 1963.
Box 4 Folder 27
Unit Plans, 1964-1965.
Box 4 Folder 28
Unit Plans, 1967, 1969.
Box 4 Folder 29
Pool Maintenance, undated.
Box 4 Folder 30
Accident Reports, 1966, 1975-1980.
Box 4 Folder 31
Financial. Rental, undated.
Box 4 Folder 32
Financial. Budgets and Bills, undated.
Box 4 Folder 33
Publicity. Brochures, undated.
Box 4 Folder 34
Flyers, 1965-1969.
Box 4 Folder 35
Flyers, 1970-1976.
Box 4 Folder 36
Flyers, 1967-1968.
Box 5 Folder 1
Flyers, 1969.
Box 5 Folder 2
News releases, 1964-1965.
Box 5 Folder 3
News releases, 1966-1968.
Box 5 Folder 4
News releases, 1969-1970.
Box 5 Folder 5
News releases, 1971.
Box 5 Folder 6
News releases, 1971.
Box 5 Folder 7
News releases, 1972.
Box 5 Folder 8
News releases, 1973.
Box 5 Folder 9
News releases, 1974.
Box 5 Folder 10
News releases, 1975-1977.
Box 5 Folder 11
Registrations, undated.
Box 5 Folder 12
Programs. Careers for Peers, undated.
Box 5 Folder 13
Programs. T.W.A.A. (Teen Women Athletic Association), undated.
Box 5 Folder 14
Programs. Neighborhood Youth Corps Program, undated.
Box 5 Folder 15
Programs. W.O.W. (Women Organizing Women), undated.
Box 5 Folder 16
Programs. Teen Program, undated.
Box 5 Folder 17
Clubs. Action Audit, undated.
Box 5 Folder 18
Clubs. Elizabeth Golden Age Club, undated.
Box 5 Folder 19
Clubs. Women's Club, undated.
Box 5 Folder 20
Clubs. Blue Triangle, undated.
Box 5 Folder 21
Clubs. KEN-VAR Club, undated.
Box 5 Folder 22
Events. World Fellowship Dinner, 1968.
Box 5 Folder 23
Events. A Cultural Extravaganza, undated.
Box 5 Folder 24
Classes. Child Care, undated.
Box 5 Folder 25
Classes. Spanish, undated.
Box 5 Folder 26
Classes. English, undated.
Box 5 Folder 27
Classes. Swimming, undated.
Box 5 Folder 28
Correspondence. Rebecca Grantz Club, undated.
Box 5 Folder 29
Correspondence. General, undated.
Box 5 Folder 30
Correspondence. Worship Materials, undated.
Box 5 Folder 31
Residence. Residence Requests, undated.
Box 5 Folder 32
Residence Sign-Up Book, 1968.
Box 6 Folder 1
Residence Sign-Up Book, 1969.
Box 6 Folder 2
Visitors Register, 1957-1970.
Box 6 Folder 3
Visitors Register, 1957-1970.
Box 6 Folder 4

Scope and Contents

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.

Board of Managers. Central Unit, undated.
Box 6 Folder 5
Board of Managers. Correspondence, 1978-1979.
Box 6 Folder 6
Board of Managers. Minutes, 1977-1979.
Box 6 Folder 7
Board of Meetings. Reports, 1977-1979.
Box 6 Folder 8
Meetings. All Staff Meetings, 1977.
Box 6 Folder 9
Meetings. Staff Meeting, 1977-1978.
Box 6 Folder 10
Meetings. Organization and Procedures, undated.
Box 6 Folder 11
Personnel. Job Description, undated.
Box 6 Folder 12
Personnel. Staff List, undated.
Box 6 Folder 13
Personnel. Teens Summer Jobs, undated.
Box 6 Folder 14
Personnel. Employment Plan, undated.
Box 6 Folder 15
Personnel. Plans, 1977-1978.
Box 6 Folder 16
Reports. Milestone Chart, undated.
Box 6 Folder 17
Reports. Monitoring Reports, undated.
Box 6 Folder 18
Reports. Technical Reports, undated.
Box 6 Folder 19
Committees. Advisory Committee. Meeting, 1975-1977-1979.
Box 6 Folder 20
Committees. Teen Council, undated.
Box 6 Folder 21
Committees. Liaison Committee. Meeting, 1977-1978.
Box 6 Folder 22
Financial. Budgets, 1977.
Box 6 Folder 23
Financial. Budgets, 1978.
Box 6 Folder 24
Finanical. Budgets, 1978.
Box 6 Folder 25
Budgets, 1979-1981.
Box 6 Folder 26
Reports. Agendas, 1978.
Box 6 Folder 27
Miscellaneous, undated.
Box 6 Folder 28
Correspondence, 1978-1980.
Box 6 Folder 29
Correspondence, 1978.
Box 7 Folder 1
Correspondence, 1979.
Box 7 Folder 2
Proposals. LEAA Funds, 1977.
Box 7 Folder 3
Proposals. Capacity Building, 1980.
Box 7 Folder 4
Publicity. News Release, undated.
Box 7 Folder 5
Publicity. Miscellaneous, undated.
Box 7 Folder 6
Publicity. Miscellaneous, undated.
Box 7 Folder 7

Scope and Contents

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.

Metropolitan. Board of Directors. Office Files, 1960.
Box 7 Folder 8
Metropolitan. Board of Directors. Office Files, 1961.
Box 7 Folder 9
Metropolitan. Board of Directors. Office Files, 1962.
Box 7 Folder 10
Metropolitan. Board of Trustees, undated.
Box 7 Folder 11
Committees. Program Planning Committee. Minutes, 1960.
Box 7 Folder 12
Committees. Program Planning Committee. Minutes, 1961.
Box 7 Folder 13
Committees. Membership Committee, undated.
Box 7 Folder 14
Committees. Volunteer Leadership Committee, undated.
Box 7 Folder 15
Committees. Research and Action Committee, undated.
Box 7 Folder 16
Committees. Committee on Handicapped, undated.
Box 7 Folder 17
Committees. Personnel, undated.
Box 7 Folder 18
Committees. Financial, undated.
Box 7 Folder 19
Publications. The YWCA News, 1932-1940.
Box 7 Folder 20
Publications. YWCA Interchange, 1974-1975.
Box 7 Folder 21
Publications. Miscellaneous, undated.
Box 7 Folder 22
Publications. Convention Working Paper, undated.
Box 7 Folder 23
Publications. All-Staff Conference, undated.
Box 7 Folder 24
Publications. Staff Consultations, undated.
Box 7 Folder 25
Publications. Emerging Aid Program, undated.
Box 7 Folder 26
Publications. Miscellaneous, undated.
Box 7 Folder 27
Publications. YWCA of USA, undated.
Box 7 Folder 28
World YWCA. Fundraising, undated.
Box 7 Folder 29
World YWCA. Publications, undated.
Box 7 Folder 30

Scope and Contents

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.

KAN (Kensington Action Now), undated.
Box 7 Folder 31
ASPIRA, undated.
Box 7 Folder 32
Kensington Community Council, undated.
Box 7 Folder 33
25th District Parent Youth Aid Committee, undated.
Box 7 Folder 34
Philadelphia Welfare Rights Organization, undated.
Box 7 Folder 35
District V Coordinating Council, undated.
Box 7 Folder 36
Delaware Valley Association/Directors of Volunteer Programs, undated.
Box 8 Folder 1
Pennsylvania Bureau of Consumer Protection, undated.
Box 8 Folder 2
Miscellaneous. Publications from Various Organizations, undated.
Box 8 Folder 3
Miscellaneous. Booklets from Various Organizations, undated.
Box 8 Folder 4

Scope and Contents

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.

100th Anniversary, Kensington Branch Celebration, undated.
Box 8 Folder 5
Newspaper Clippings. General, 1963.
Box 8 Folder 6
Newspaper Clippings. General, 1964.
Box 8 Folder 7
Newspaper Clippings. General, 1965.
Box 8 Folder 8
Newspaper Clippings. General, 1966.
Box 8 Folder 9
Newspaper Clippings. General, 1967.
Box 8 Folder 10
Newspaper Clippings. General, 1970-1976.
Box 8 Folder 11
Neighborhood Newspaper Clippings, 1966, 1969-1970.
Box 8 Folder 12
Neighborhood Newspaper Clippings, 1969-1970.
Box 8 Folder 13
Scrapbook, 1915-1918.
Box 8 Folder 14
Conference Materials, undated.
Box 8 Folder 15
Notes and cards, undated.
Box 8 Folder 16
Physical Description

found loose in box

Series 10: Photographs and Clippings, circa 1965-1972.
Box 9-10
Scope and Contents

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.

Print, Suggest