Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) of Los Angeles Collection, ca. 1890-1986

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Summary

Creators:
Young Women's Christian Association of Los Angeles
Abstract:
The Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) of Los Angeles was established in 1893 to promote the physical, social, spiritual, and educational well-being of young women. The collection documents the establishment, evolution, and achievements of the YWCA of Los Angeles.
Extent:
96.047 linear feet and 961 Megabytes
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

For information about citing items in this collection consult the appropriate style manual, or see the Citing Archival Materialsguide.

Background

Scope and content:

The Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) of Los Angeles Collection documents the establishment, evolution, and achievements of Los Angeles' YWCA branches. The bulk of the collection consists of publicity and memorabilia including brochures, pamphlets, newspaper clippings, newsletters, and scrapbooks. Also contained in the collection are extensive administrative records such as by-laws, constitutions, correspondence, financial statements, historical profiles, minutes of various boards and committees, position papers, studies, and reports. The collection is arranged in three major series: Young Women's Christian Association Administrative Records (ca. 1890-1984), Mary Andrews Clark Residence (1910-1986), and Hollywood Studio Club (1915-ca. 1979).

Series I, Young Women's Christian Association Administrative Records, is divided into seven subseries. Administrative Records (ca. 1890-1974), contains the YWCA's organizational records including annual reports, articles of incorporation, brochures and pamphlets, committee records, constitutions, correspondence, financial statements, various YWCA histories, reports, studies, and audio recordings. Audio recordings are available digitally. It is arranged alphabetically by subject. Board Records (1903-1966), documents the meetings of several YWCA boards, committees, and various joint committee meetings. The files are arranged by board and chronologically within. Committee Records (1904-1971), includes materials from the many committees created to handle the work of the ever-expanding organization. The bulk of the subseries contains minutes and reports of the Executive Committee. The files are arranged in alphabetical order by name of committee. YWCA Branch Records (1908-1975), contains annual reports, brochures, correspondence, fact sheets, histories, pamphlets, and related publicity material on the many branches, campuses, clubs and residences maintained or supported by the YWCA of Los Angeles. The records document the activities of the Mary Andrews Clark Residence, Hollywood Studio Club, International Institute, Japanese Branch, and the San Fernando YWCA Project. YWCA Publicity Files (ca. 1890-1984), includes brochures, handbooks, newsletters, and related reference items documenting the activities of the YWCA of Los Angeles. Newspaper clippings constitute the bulk of the subseries. The subseries is arranged by type of material and chronologically within each category. Scrapbooks (1893-1970), includes completed and fragmented scrapbooks documenting the YWCA's activities throughout the decades, including local and national events and conventions. Photographs (ca. 1900-1964), includes photographic prints, negatives, and albums documenting the people and events associated with the Los Angeles chapter of the YWCA.

Series II, Mary Andrews Clark Residence, is divided into eight subseries. Administrative Records (1910-1982), contains correspondence and monthly reports by Esther May Carter, as well as financial reports and ephemera. Board and Committee Records (1915-1969), contains reports from the William Andrews Clark Memorial, Clark Residence Committee, Study Committee, Committee of Management and the Ellen Groshon Loan Fund Committee. Publicity Files (1943-1965), contains newspaper clippings from 1948 as well as postcards. Scrapbooks (1912-1986), contains brochures, invitations, letters, newsletters, newspaper clippings, photographs and programs. Resident Files (1913-1976), consists primarily of correspondence. Resident Committee Files (1947-1967), contains a variety of minutes and activities for the local and the national YWCA. Personnel policies, night hostess manual, notices and room rates are included. National Publications (1927-1970), contains copies of the journal, The Women's Press.Photographs (1911-1976), includes photographic prints, negatives, and slides documenting the people and events associated with the Mary Andrews Clark Residence.

Series III, Hollywood Studio Club, documents the YWCA's philanthropic work with young women who came to Los Angeles to seek fame and fortune in the movie industry. The material contained in this series includes resident files, newspaper clippings, magazine clippings, announcements, magazines, guest books, photographs, invitations, and ephemera. It is divided into six subseries. Administrative Records(1919-ca.1979), contains the Hollywood Studio Club account books, annual reports, broadsides, by-laws, correspondence, architectural drawings, history, resident lists, and materials concerning the operations of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee. Committee Records (1917-1970), includes notes, minutes, and records of the Study Committee as well as the Advisory, Management, and Administrative Committees. Publicity Files (ca. 1915-ca. 1979), contains articles, artwork, newspaper clippings, press releases, and the report to the national YWCA. Many items central to Hollywood publicity are also contained in the subseries. Scrapbooks (1915-ca. 1970), contains oversized materials including photographs, newspaper clippings, invitations and other ephemera. Non-YWCA Materials (1921-1968) includes the book, The History of Hollywood.Photographs (ca. 1920-1974), includes photographic prints, negatives, slides, and albums documenting the people and events associated with Hollywood Studio Club.

Biographical / historical:

The YWCA of Los Angeles was established in 1893 when Miss Emma Reeder came from San Francisco expressly to organize a local branch. Incorporated the following year, the Los Angeles chapter served to promote the physical, social, spiritual, and educational well-being of young women. In its first year of operation, the YWCA increased its membership from nine to over 360 members.

The YWCA of Los Angeles is a decentralized agency with many branches, boarding homes, club houses, and camping retreats throughout LA County. In 1899, a Traveler's Aid Department was established to care for new arrivals to the city. The first boarding home for women in Los Angeles was founded by the YWCA in 1905. Three years later the YWCA's first permanent residence opened, followed by the Hollywood Studio Club, a temporary residence for young women training for careers in the entertainment industry.

For over eighty years the YWCA of Los Angeles has provided shelter and counseling services for transient and needy women, sponsored camping trips, conducted educational, physical and religious classes, and encouraged women to achieve leadership roles in society.

Acquisition information:
Young Women's Christian Association of Los Angeles, 06/1981
Processing information:

Robert G. Marshall, Claire La Fia

Arrangement:

Series I: Young Women's Christian Association Administrative Records, ca. 1890-1976

Subseries A: Administrative Records, ca. 1890-1974

Subseries B: Board Records, 1903-1966

Subseries C: Committee Records, 1904-1971

Subseries D: YWCA Branch Records, 1908-1975

Subseries E: YWCA Publicity Files, ca. 1890-1984

Subseries F: Scrapbooks, 1893-1970

Subseries G: Photographs, ca. 1900-1964

Series II: Mary Andrews Clark Residence, 1910-1986

Subseries A: Administrative Records, 1910-1982

Subseries B: Board and Committee Records, 1915-1969

Subseries C: Publicity Files, 1943-1965

Subseries D: Scrapbooks, 1912-1986

Subseries E: Resident Files, 1913-1976

Subseries F: Residence Committee Files, 1947-1967

Subseries G: National Publications,1927-1970

Subseries H: Photographs, 1911-ca. 1976

Series III: Hollywood Studio Club, 1915-ca. 1979

Subseries A: Administrative Records, 1919-ca. 1979

Subseries B: Committee Records, 1917-1970

Subseries C: Publicity Files, ca. 1915-ca. 1979

Subseries D: Scrapbooks,1915-ca. 1970

Subseries E: Non-YWCA Materials, 1921-1968

Subseries F: Photographs, ca. 1920-1974

Accruals:

1991, 1995

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Indexed terms

Subjects:
Ephemera
Documents
Photographs
Scrapbooks

Access and use

Restrictions:

The collection is open for research use.

Terms of access:

Copyright for unpublished materials authored or otherwise produced by the creator(s) of this collection has been dedicated to the public. Copyright status for other materials is unknown. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.

Preferred citation:

For information about citing items in this collection consult the appropriate style manual, or see the Citing Archival Materialsguide.

Location of this collection:
18111 Nordhoff Street
Northridge, CA 91330, US
Contact:
(818) 677-4594
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