Main content

Young Women's Christian Association of Philadelphia (Pa.), Northeast 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

Call Number:
564, PC-88
Repository:
Temple University Libraries: Special Collections Research Center
Extent:
3 linear feet (7 boxes)
Language:
English
Preferred Citation:
[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], Young Women's Christian Association of Philadelphia (Pa.), Northeast Branch, Acc. 564, PC-88, Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Date:
1959-1983 (inclusive)
Creator:
Young Women's Christian Association of Philadelphia (Pa.). Northeast Branch
Form:
Administrative records, Correspondence, Financial records, Minutes (administrative records), Newsletters, Pamphlets, Photographs, Publications (documents), and Reports
Abstract:

The Young Women's Christian Association, known as the YWCA, opened its Philadelphia chapter in 1870. The Northeast Branch (also called the Frankford/Northeast Branch) was founded in 1921. The neighborhood branch used both volunteer and staff workers to provide services and programs geared toward women and children in the Northeast Philadelphia area. The Northeast YWCA provided physical education, advocacy and programs for social activism and community stabilization, mental health counselling and referral. Daycare, kindercare, and summer recreation programs were offered for young children, and there were numerous programs geared toward teens as well such as career planning and vocational skill training.

In addition to offering programs and recreation, the YWCA served as a community center providing a physical space for community groups to gather in and formed a network through which the people of Frankford could communicate with each other about community issues. The main goal of action, according to the organization, was the elimination of racism by any means necessary.

The collection includes Northeast YWCA's official records, correspondence, publications, news clippings, community documents, photos, and slides. These documents provide primary source information on the administrative organization of the YWCA as well as some of the issues that the community of Frankford/Northeast considered important during this period. The collection also provides some insight into the nature of women's roles in this community during the latter half of the twentieth century. Further, these documents demonstrate some of the organizational tactics of grassroots political activity and responses to problems facing the community.

The documents demonstrate both the centralized and decentralized nature of the YWCA through everyday administrative document, correspondence, information from the annual reports and demographic studies, national conference materials and international journals, such as the Barrier Breaker, A Newsletter by Third World Peoples. The staff correspondence is particularly useful for showing communication inside the branch office, to the headquarters in center city and nationally.

The collection is arranged into 7 series as follows:

Series 1: Administration, 1968-1979

Series 2: Bicentennial, undated

Series 3: Financial, 1968-1981

Series 4: Miscellaneous, 1978

Series 5: Programs, 1958-1981

Series 6: Publications, 1980-1982

Series 7: Photographs, undated

Initial materials were deposited in October 1983 by the YWCA Northeast Branch.

Collection was processed by Melanie E. Bork, July 1998. Finding aid revised according to contemporary archival standards in June 2016.

Organization
Subject
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
April 2023
Sponsor
Funds to process this collection were provided by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.
Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Use Restrictions

The Young Women's Christian Association of Philadelphia (Pa.), Northeast Branch Records are in custody of the Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries. Intellectual property rights, including copyright, belong to the authors 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: Administration, includes minutes from the member's council, finance committee, study committee, and the executive committee. These documents are arranged into subseries by committee name and include budget projections, correspondence, reviews and statistics. National conference documents form another subseries and is further divided into sub-subseries of printed materials, long range goals, and mission. Association review, personnel policies, progress reports and agendas, the Staff to Staff Newsletter, and statistics are divided into separate subseries as well.

General, undated.
Box Series 1: Box 1 Folder 1
General, undated.
Box Series 1: Box 1 Folder 2
Association Review, 1971-1976.
Box Series 1: Box 1 Folder 3
Convention, undated.
Box Series 1: Box 1 Folder 4
Minutes, Program Committee, undated.
Box Series 1: Box 1 Folder 5
Minutes, Study Committee, undated.
Box Series 1: Box 1 Folder 6
Minutes, Members Council, undated.
Box Series 1: Box 1 Folder 7
Minutes, Long Range Agenda, undated.
Box Series 1: Box 1 Folder 8
Minutes, Executive Committee, undated.
Box Series 1: Box 1 Folder 9
Minutes, Finance Committee, undated.
Box Series 1: Box 1 Folder 10
Membership Reports, 1968-1974.
Box Series 1: Box 1 Folder 11
National Conference, 1970-1976.
Box Series 1: Box 1 Folder 12
National Conference, 1970-1976.
Box Series 1: Box 1 Folder 13
National Conference, 1970-1976.
Box Series 1: Box 1 Folder 14
National Conference, 1970-1976.
Box Series 1-2: Box 2 Folder 1
National Conference, 1970-1976.
Box Series 1-2: Box 2 Folder 2
National Conference, 1970-1976.
Box Series 1-2: Box 2 Folder 3
National Conference, 1970-1976.
Box Series 1-2: Box 2 Folder 4
Personnel Policies, undated.
Box Series 1-2: Box 2 Folder 5
Personnel, Area Communicator, undated.
Box Series 1-2: Box 2 Folder 6
Progress Reports/Agendas, 1960-1964.
Box Series 1-2: Box 2 Folder 7
Resource Development, undated.
Box Series 1-2: Box 2 Folder 8
Printed Materials, Staff to Staff Newsletter, undated.
Box Series 1-2: Box 2 Folder 9
Statistics, 1979-1981.
Box Series 1-2: Box 2 Folder 10
Study Committee, 1964-1979.
Box Series 1-2: Box 2 Folder 11
Teen Program Action Alert, undated.
Box Series 1-2: Box 2 Folder 12

Scope and Contents

Series 2: Bicentennial, contains documents relating to Bicentennial activities and the documents of the Association of Associations. This association is an umbrella organization that combines members of Frankford's business community, church groups, area schools and any local community groups or associations. The Assoc. of Associations came together to address the issue of the proposed Bicentennial Exposition. The documents include minutes, committee member lists, plans and agendas for other issues. These documents are under one subseries, the Association of Associations. Another subseries, generally includes all correspondence and news releases relation to the 1976 Expo. Printed materials also form a subseries.

Association of Associations, undated.
Box Series 1-2: Box 2 Folder 13
Association of Associations, undated.
Box Series 1-2: Box 2 Folder 14
Association of Associations, undated.
Box Series 1-2: Box 2 Folder 15
General, undated.
Box Series 1-2: Box 2 Folder 16
General, undated.
Box Series 2-3: Box 3 Folder 1
General, undated.
Box Series 2-3: Box 3 Folder 2
General, undated.
Box Series 2-3: Box 3 Folder 3
Printed Materials, undated.
Box Series 2-3: Box 3 Folder 4
Printed Materials, undated.
Box Series 2-3: Box 3 Folder 5

Scope and Contents

Series 3: Financial, is arranged into subseries according to event or program, containing Minutes, Statistics, Annual Support Campaigns, 1977-1981, 1977-1978 Budget Calendar, Contribution Requests and Contributions, Facilities Expansion and History, Foundation Requests, Press Releases and the documents of the Men's Advisory Committee.

Annual Support Campaigns, 1977-1981.
Box Series 2-3: Box 3 Folder 6
Budget Calendar, 1977-1978.
Box Series 2-3: Box 3 Folder 7
Contribution Requests, undated.
Box Series 2-3: Box 3 Folder 8
Contributions, undated.
Box Series 2-3: Box 3 Folder 9
Contributions, undated.
Box Series 2-3: Box 3 Folder 10
Facilities Expansion, Development Programs, undated.
Box Series 2-3: Box 3 Folder 11
Facilities Expansion, Fundraising, undated.
Box Series 2-3: Box 3 Folder 12
Facilities Expansion, Fundraising, undated.
Box Series 2-3: Box 3 Folder 13
Facilities Expansion, Fundraising, undated.
Box Series 2-3: Box 3 Folder 14
Facilities Expansion, Fundraising, undated.
Box Series 2-3: Box 3 Folder 15
Facilities History, undated.
Box Series 2-3: Box 3 Folder 16
Foundation Requests, Notes, undated.
Box Series 2-3: Box 3 Folder 17
Foundation Requests, Correspondence, 1968-1970.
Box Series 2-3: Box 3 Folder 18
Men's Advisory Committee, Minutes, undated.
Box Series 2-3: Box 3 Folder 19
Men's Advisory Committee, Funding Plans, undated.
Box Series 2-3: Box 3 Folder 20
Men's Advisory Committee, Agendas, 1974.
Box Series 2-3: Box 3 Folder 21
Men's Advisory Committee, Press Release, 1967.
Box Series 2-3: Box 3 Folder 22
Northeast Building Campaign, 1979.
Box Series 3-5: Box 4 Folder 1
Northeast Building Campaign, 1979.
Box Series 3-5: Box 4 Folder 2

Scope and Contents

Series 4: Miscellaneous, includes minutes and administrative documents of Northeast Philadelphia associations not formally affiliated with the YWCA but that either made use of their facilities or joined with the YWCA to assess community problems such as the potential school strike of 1978. These documents are arranged under the name of the association involved or particular issue under scrutiny. The subseries are: Frankford Arsenal Citizen's Planning Committee, Potential School Strike, 1978, and Racism.

Frankford Arsenal Citizens Planning Committee, 1978.
Box Series 3-5: Box 4 Folder 3
Potential School Strike, 1978.
Box Series 3-5: Box 4 Folder 4
Racism, undated.
Box Series 3-5: Box 4 Folder 5
Racism, undated.
Box Series 3-5: Box 4 Folder 6
Racism, undated.
Box Series 3-5: Box 4 Folder 7

Scope and Contents

Series 5: Programs, is organized into subseries by program or convention name. The series gives a good overview of services offered by the YWCA and how the organization was perceived by the community. The subseries include Classes Offered, Convocation on Racial Justice, Headstart, Operation Prevent, Agendas, Staff Memos, and Woman to Woman Forum.

Classes Offered, 1980.
Box Series 3-5: Box 4 Folder 8
Convocation on Racial Justice, Literature, undated.
Box Series 3-5: Box 4 Folder 9
Convocation on Racial Justice, Literature, undated.
Box Series 3-5: Box 4 Folder 10
Convocation on Racial Justice, Literature, undated.
Box Series 3-5: Box 4 Folder 11
Convocation on Racial Justice, Evaluations, undated.
Box Series 3-5: Box 4 Folder 12
Convocation on Racial Justice, Staff Agendas, undated.
Box Series 3-5: Box 4 Folder 13
Convocation on Racial Justice, Staff Correspondence, undated.
Box Series 3-5: Box 4 Folder 14
Day camp, Correspondence, 1959-1973.
Box Series 3-5: Box 4 Folder 15
Day camp, Evaluations/Finance Reports, 1959-1975.
Box Series 3-5: Box 4 Folder 16
Day camp, Pamphlets and Programs, undated.
Box Series 3-5: Box 4 Folder 17
Day camp, Staff Training Manuals, 1970-1972.
Box Series 3-5: Box 4 Folder 18
Head start, Administrative Agendas, 1979.
Box Series 5: Box 5 Folder 1
Head start, Correspondence/Outreach, undated.
Box Series 5: Box 5 Folder 2
Head start, Financial, undated.
Box Series 5: Box 5 Folder 3
Head start, Minutes, 1979.
Box Series 5: Box 5 Folder 4
Operation Prevent, Correspondence, 1970.
Box Series 5: Box 5 Folder 5
Operation Prevent, Monthly Reports, 1970.
Box Series 5: Box 5 Folder 6
Operation Prevent, Proposals, 1970.
Box Series 5: Box 5 Folder 7
Operation Prevent, Proposals, undated.
Box Series 5: Box 5 Folder 8
Operation Prevent, Purchase of Services, undated.
Box Series 5: Box 5 Folder 9
Printed Materials, undated.
Box Series 5: Box 5 Folder 10
Printed Materials, undated.
Box Series 5: Box 5 Folder 11
Printed Materials, 1958-1971.
Box Series 5: Box 5 Folder 12
Summer Youth Employment, Courses, 1979.
Box Series 5: Box 5 Folder 13
Summer Youth Employment, Enrollee Guidelines, undated.
Box Series 5: Box 5 Folder 14
Summer Youth Employment, Memos/Notes, 1979.
Box Series 5: Box 5 Folder 15
Summer Youth Employment, Staff Manuals/Guidelines, undated.
Box Series 5: Box 5 Folder 16
Summer Youth Employment, Staff Position, 1980.
Box Series 5: Box 5 Folder 17
Summer Youth Employment, Staff Regulations/ Agendas, 1980.
Box Series 5: Box 5 Folder 18
Summer Youth Employment, Worksite Agreement, 1981.
Box Series 5: Box 5 Folder 19
Woman to Woman day, Program/ Registration, undated.
Box Series 5: Box 5 Folder 20
Women Today Forum, 1981-1983.
Box Series 5: Box 5 Folder 21
Women Today, 1981.
Box Series 5: Box 5 Folder 22
Women Today Forum, 1981.
Box Series 5: Box 5 Folder 23

Scope and Contents

Series 6: Publications, contains both documents published by the YWCA and documents published about the YWCA, including news clippings. It is divided into two subseries, Publications by the YWCA and Publications About the YWCA.

News Clippings, undated.
Box Series 6: Box 6 Folder 1
News Clippings, undated.
Box Series 6: Box 6 Folder 2
Printed Materials by YWCA, undated.
Box Series 6: Box 6 Folder 3
Publicity, 1980-1982.
Box Series 6: Box 6 Folder 4
Announcements, undated.
Box Series 6: Box 6 Folder 5
Announcements, undated.
Box Series 6: Box 6 Folder 6
News Clippings, undated.
Box Series 6: Box 6 Folder 7

Scope and Contents

Series 7: Photographs, include many that were intended for publicity. There are also photographs of members, volunteers and staff engaged in YWCA programs. Photocopies of the originals are stored with the records, while the originals are stored separately.

Photographs, undated.
Box Series 7: Box 1

Print, Suggest