Young Women's Christian Association Records, 1906-1980

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Young Women's Christian Association
Title
Young Women's Christian Association Records
Dates
1906-1980 (inclusive)
Quantity
7 containers., (3 linear feet of shelf space.)
Collection Number
Cage 541
Summary
Chiefly advisory board and cabinet minutes. Also includes business records, correspondence, miscellanea, newspapers, and project files.
Repository
Washington State University Libraries' Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections (MASC)
Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections
Terrell Library Suite 12
Pullman, WA
99164-5610
Telephone: 509-335-6691
mascref@wsu.edu
Access Restrictions

This collection is open for research use.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Historical NoteReturn to Top

The YWCA of Washington State College was established in 1895. It provided the women of the college a place to worship, held bible classes, and located housing and employment. It also served as a social organization that participated with the YMCA of Washington State College. A popular social event in the 1910s-1930s were the conferences held at Seabeck, Washington. Topics at Seabeck focused on issues of the YWCA and the YMCA of the Pacific Northwest.

During the 1940s, the chapter concentrated on global issues; the YWCA had plans to send care packages overseas, although the lack of funds prohibited such action. In the 1950's and 1960's the organization studied politics and world relations, presenting programs on various subjects including the war in Vietnam and the democratic system. In 1969 the YWCA adopted the imperative of "the elimination of racism." During the 1970's and the 1980's the YWCA offered more projects on cultural awareness in the United States.

Membership grew steadily throughout the years, peaking in 1954 with 711 members. By 1972 the membership had dropped to 219 members. The student body provided sole support for the YWCA until 1917 when the University partially funded the secretary's position. Other assistance came from the Helen A. Fuller Endowment Fund, established by Fuller in 1929. Presently, the United Way provides 75% of the YWCA's budget.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Preferred Citation

[Item Description]. Cage 541, Young Women's Christian Association Records. Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

These records are organized into six series: Business, Correspondence, Financial, Miscellaneous, Newspapers, Projects. All papers are arranged chronologically within each series. The bulk of material centers on the minutes and annual reports.

The Business series contains the advisory board and cabinet minutes, and the annual reports. The annual reports discussed points that were significant to that year, (i.e. 1931- the Brides Parade and the Helen A. Fuller Endowment fund).

The Correspondence series contains letters concerning wages for employees and hiring requirements, letters from politicians, letters from President Holland, National Board announcements, personal letters and letters on the YWCA-YMCA split.

The Financial series contains annual reports and fund raising outcomes.

The Miscellaneous series contains information on the Business Committee, the Constitutions and By-Laws, Membership Lists, and national and local chapter descriptions.

The Newspaper series encompasses articles from 1913 to 1964, primarily from The Evergreen.

The Project series includes information on the programs established from 1973 to 1980, as well as information on the YWCA Centennial, conferences, political discussions the Student Christian Movement, and the Summer Migration Project.

Box #7 is the oversize box.

Acquisition Information

The records of the Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) were gifted to the Washington State University Libraries in May of 1987.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

Series 1: BusinessReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Annual Reports
Box Folder
1 1
1911-1918
1 2
1919-1927
1 3
1928-1932
1 4
1933-1950
1 5
1952-1973
Minutes
Advisory Board
Box Folder
1 6
1908-1915
1 7
1916-1924
1 8
1925-1937
1 9
1938-1949
2 1
1950-1955
2 2
1956-1971
Cabinet
Box Folder
2 3
1906-1911
2 4
1912-1915
2 5
1916-1918
2 6
1919-1920
2 7
1921-1925
3 1
1926-1928
3 2
1929-1935
3 3
1936-1945
3 4
1946-1947
3 5
1948-1950
3 6
1951-1952
3 7
1953-1954
3 8
1955-1961
4 1
1962-1964
4 2
1965-1967

Series 2: CorrespondenceReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
4 3
Employment, Hiring, Resignation,Salary
4 4
Letters from Politicians
1931-1933
4 5
Letters to and from President Holland
1917-1939
4 6
Miscellaneous
1914-1971
4 7
National Student Board
1916-1928
4 8
Personal
1933-1969
4 9
YWCA-YMCA Split
1928

Series 3: FinancesReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
4 10
Annual Reports
1909-1980
4 11
Budgetary Definitions and Allotments
1916-1948
4 12
Fund Raisers: Christmas Mart
1926-1947
4 13
Fund Raisers: International Festival
1926-1947
4 14
Helen A. Fuller Endowment Fund
1928-1958

Series 4: MiscellaneaReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
5 1
Building Committee/Student Council
1947-1975
5 2
Constitutions/By-Laws (undated)
5 3
Membership Lists
1916-1973
5 4
Miscellaneous: Play, Article
1910-1929
5 5
National/Local YWCA History
1916-1973
5 6
Propaganda
1928-1936

Series 5: Newspapers ClippingsReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
5 7
1930
5 8
1941-1942
5 9
1959-1963
5 10
1963-1964
5 11
Miscellaneous
1940-1956
5 12
Popcorn Forum
1965-1966
6 1
1911; 1918-1919
6 2
1937
6 3
1945
6 4
1947
6 5
1951-1952; 1957

Series 6: ProjectsReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
7 1
Centennial
1955
7 2
Conferences
1931-1964
7 3
Day Care
1952-1956
7 4
Objective, Goals, Programs of the YWCA
1946-1979
7 5
Political Thought
1966
7 6
Summer Migrant Project
1964
7 7
Women's Resource Guide
1980
7 8
Worship-Religious Definitions
1931; undated

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Social service--Societies, etc.--Washington (State)--Pullman--Records and correspondence

Corporate Names

  • Young Women's Christian Association (Pullman, Wash.) --Archives (creator)