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Young Women's Christian Association of Philadelphia (Pa.), Metropolitan 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 Young Women's Christian Association of Philadelphia (YWCA) statement of purpose is "The Young Women's Christian Association of the United States of America, a movement rooted in the Christian faith as known in Jesus and nourished by the resources of that faith, seeks to respond to the barrier-breaking love of God in this day. The Association draws together into responsible membership women and girls of diverse experiences and faiths, that their lives may be open to new understanding and deeper relationships and that together they may join in the struggle for peace and justice, freedom and dignity for all people."
Worldwide the YWCA was founded in 1855 in England; the National USA YWCA was founded in New York in 1858; the YWCA of Philadelphia was founded in 1870 and is the city's oldest and largest women's organization. YWCA groups rapidly sprang up in city after city. Urged by John Wanamaker and others, a small band of women organized Philadelphia's Women's Christian Association in December 1870. In less than six months, the Association had established its first boarding home located at 1605 Filbert Street. The cost for accommodations was two and a half and three dollars weekly for forty young women under twenty-five years of age.
By 1880, evening classes were offered at a rate of .25 or .50 cents per class. The educational classes were filled to capacity and the YWCA was selected as "a center of University Extension Teaching.". They outgrew the Filbert Street location and they purchased and moved, in 1895, to 1117 Arch Street. At this location they were able to serve up to seven hundred meals daily. It was said that this was the largest, most modern, and best equipped YWCA building in the world. This site was to be known as Central.
A branch in Kensington was opened to include the women employed in the industrial plants. By 1900, the Association's boarders numbered two hundred and fifty and the weekly fees had increased to three and five dollars. A Southwest branch was formed on Catherine Street and then a Frankford branch was established. The Belmont Center became a part of the Southwest branch. Other branches were formed as well to serve the young women of Philadelphia: Columbia Center, Community "Y" of Eastern Delaware, and the Mid-City. There were at least six branches throughout the city.
In 1934, the Association was host to over nineteen hundred delegates when the National YWCA Convention came to Philadelphia. By 1958, through a decentralized program the YWCA work was taken to neighborhood groups remote from their buildings.
The Young Women's Christian Association of Philadelphia (Pa.), Metropolitan Branch Records contains administrative records, correspondence, minutes, financial records, photographs, publications, committee records, project records, photographs, and other materials by and related to the YWCA of Philadelphia, Metropolitan Branch, as well as other Philadelphia branches of the organization.
This collection is organized into 1 series as follows:
- Series 1: Accession 635, 1889-1987
- Subseries 1.1: Administration, 1901-1981
- Subseries 1.2: Branches, 1918-1983
- Subseries 1.3: Projects, 1932-1984
- Subseries 1.4: Committees, 1913-1987
- Subseries 1.5: Financial, 1934-1984
- Subseries 1.6: Events, 1955-1985
- Subseries 1.7: Membership, 1959-1981
- Subseries 1.8: Publications, undated
- Subseries 1.9: Photographs (PC-85), 1889-1980s
- Subseries 1.10: Audiovisual, undated
- Subseries 1.11: Memorabilia, undated
- Subseries 1.12: Miscellaneous, undated
Accession 635 is a merger of accessions 399, 467, 529, 553, 560, 572, and 635. Accession 399 was deposited through Pat Feeney in September 1979. Accession 467 was deposited through Belle Henderson in July 1981. Accession 529 was deposited through Belle Henderson in August 1982. Accession 553 was deposited through Belle Henderson in March 1983. Accession 560 was deposited through Belle Henderson in August 1983. Accession 572 was deposited through Belle Henderson in April 1984. Accession 625 was deposited through Janet Hartman, November 25, 1986. Accession 902 was deposited through Judy Foley and Belle Henderson.
Original audiovisual materials, as well as preservation and duplicating masters, may not be played. Researchers must consult use copies, or if none exist must pay for a use copy. Certain digital files may also be inaccessible. Please contact the Special Collections Research Center for more information.
Originally processed in 1999. Finding aid revised according to contemporary archival standards in June 2015 by Patrick Stalter, student worker.
Subject
- Associations, institutions, etc. -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia
- Women -- Employment -- 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
- September 2024
- Sponsor
- Funds to process Accessions 635 and 902 were provided to the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.
- Access Restrictions
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Collection is open for research.
- Use Restrictions
-
The Young Women's Christian Association of Philadelphia (Pa.), Metropolitan Branch Records are the physical property of the Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries. The creator/donor has not assigned their rights to Temple University Libraries. Other creators' intellectual property rights, including copyright, belong to them 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, Accession 635, contains administrative records including Board of Directors and Trustees records, records related to individual branches, project and committee records, financial records, membership records, publications, photographs and audiovisual materials, and other records.
Subseries 1.1: Administration, contains Board of Directors and Trustees minutes, correspondence, and lists of staff; by-laws and charters; job descriptions, policies, time sheets and information about individuals; correspondence to and from individuals; deeds, titles and leases, service contracts and insurances; use of and repairs to buildings; Minutes of the administrative staff, and Minutes from annual meetings; reports of the annual meetings; case histories, some Minutes, and policies regarding those who stayed or requested information about staying at the YWCA; correspondence, publications and other materials related to the interaction between Philadelphia Metropolitan and the National office and general information; correspondence to and from the YWCA Metropolitan and the United Fund of which the YWCA is a recipient of support; and statistical data done by the YWCA metropolitan regarding their programs and activities.
Subseries 1.2: Branches, has materials such as minutes, correspondence, financial and publications about the individual branches. Researchers should be aware that additional information about the branches can be found in other series and subseries in particular subseries Board of Directors and Trustees in the Administration series.
Subseries 1.3: Projects, includes information about the involvement of YWCA Metropolitan in projects that were not initiated by the YWCA, and materials about projects that the YWCA developed and was directly involved in the activities such as day camps, summer programs and teen programs.
Subseries 1.4: Committees, includes primarily minutes of the many committees that served various functions which contributed to the successful running of the YWCA in Philadelphia.
Subseries 1.5: Financial, contains materials regarding budgets, campaigns, contributions, foundations, proposals, statements, and taxes.
Subseries 1.6: Events, includes materials about the various events that the YWCA assembled and sponsored.
Subseries 1.7: Membership, includes materials regarding the YWCA membership.
Subseries 1.8: Publications, contains mostly unsorted brochures, pamphlets, and loose papers collected by the YWCA. Although some of the publications are by the YWCA and contain information about the early running of the organization.
Subseries 1.9 Photographs, includes images of individuals, events, and buildings among other depictions. Among the photographs are many images of activities at the Mid-City, Southwest Belmont, Frankford, Kensington, and Northeast branches of the YWCA. Among the images of note are a file depicting Camps Arcola and Whelen, a photograph album belonging to Katherine T. McCollin which includes Rau Studio interior and exterior images ca. 1908 of the YWCA League Branch and Business Women's Christian League building at 1222 Locust Street, and miscellaneous images of the Spring Garden section of Philadelphia ca. 1950.
Subseries 1.10: Audiovisual, includes primarily magnetic 8 track tapes and 1 cassette tape.
Subseries 1.11: Memorabilia, contains a scrapbook cover.
Subseries 1.12: Miscellaneous, includes loose materials that did not fit in with the above established subseries, including some loose minutes and correspondence.