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Young Women's Christian Assocation photograph collection

 Collection
Identifier: P0353

Scope and Contents

This collection contains both black-and-white and color prints, mostly snapshots, of YWCA activities from about 1957-1975. There is one 1935 portrait. Included are photos of pre-schoolers, fashion shows, and women working on arts and crafts projects. Some photographs were used in the Salt Lake Tribune and Deseret News.

Dates

  • circa 1935-1990s

Conditions Governing Access

Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.

Conditions Governing Use

The library does not claim to control copyright for all materials in the collection. An individual depicted in a reproduction has privacy rights as outlined in Title 45 CFR, part 46 (Protection of Human Subjects). For further information, please review the J. Willard Marriott Library’s Use Agreement and Reproduction Request forms.

Organizational History

The Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) was started in 1855 in London, England. Mrs. Arthur Kinnaird founded the North London Home, or General Females Training Institute, as a home for nurses returning from the Crimean War. The Industrial Revolution prompted Emma Robarts to open the Prayer Union for Women and Girls at the same time. By 1859 these two groups merged under the name of Young Women's Christian Association.

The first United States group was formed in New York City in 1858, known as the Ladies' Christian Association. The full title, Young Women's Christian Association, was first used in the United States in Boston in 1866.

In 1906, the national board of the YWCA accepted the Salt Lake City YWCA as a charter member, and the first national convention was held in Salt Lake City. The first president of the local YWCA was Mary Willis Critchlow. By 1907 the Salt Lake City YWCA was providing educational classes, club rooms, an employment bureau, and a lunch room in the Brooks Arcade Building. In 1909 the women's residence was established in the old Keyser Home. The YWCA moved in 1912 to its present location at 322 East Third South. The building had been the Gordon Academy, organized in 1878, and housed the Salt Lake College at the time of its purchase by the YWCA. Today the Salt Lake City YWCA residence serves as a correctional half-way house, a shelter for battered women and their children, and a home for independent women.

The YWCA is the largest international membership organization for women and girls that provides services and programs. The YWCA is open to all economic, occupational, racial, religious, cultural backgrounds and all age groups. It is a volunteer agency with an elected board of directors representing its members.

The Salt Lake City Chapter of the YWCA had been maintained throughout the years by contribution from businesses and individuals, and the United Fund (now The United Way).

The following is the YWCA Statement of Purpose adopted in 1973:

We Recognize that many women and girls in search of new skills and experiences turn to the YWCA. This may lead them to become involved in educational classes, HPER activities, residential services, clubs, special events and other program opportunities. These programs have within them the potential to foster new understandings, to help individuals acquire vocational and leisure time skills, to be fully themselves and to develop their full potentialities as persons, secure in themselves and capable of contributing in an association that is truly pluralistic. The building of deeper relationships and the appreciation of others is fostered in all that we do when participants are helped to join in the struggle for peace, freedom, justice and dignity for all people.

Some of the information for this history was obtained from the Cityview column "New Functions Keep YWCA Busy at Gordon Academy Site," that appeared in the Salt Lake Tribune, April 30, 1989. A copy of the column in located in box 26, folder 1, Ms 550.

Extent

.8 Linear Feet (2 archives boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

The Young Women's Christian Assocation photograph collection contains photographs of various YWCA activities, including arts and crafts projects, fashion shows, swimming lessons, and parades.

Arrangement

Collection is arranged topically.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of the YWCA in 1978, 1980 and 1993.

Separated Materials

Manuscript materials were transferred to the Young Women's Christian Assocation records (MS 0550).

Processing Information

Processed by Peter Schmid in 1994 and Dale Larsen in 2003.
Title
Guide to the Young Women's Christian Association photograph collection
Status
Completed
Author
Finding aid prepared by Peter Schmid
Date
1994
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English.

Repository Details

Part of the J. Willard Marriott Library Special Collections Repository

Contact:
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City Utah 84112 United States
801-581-8863