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Dates of creation area
Date(s)
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1876-1981 (Creation)
- Creator
- YMCA-YWCA fonds
Physical description area
Physical description
2.229 m of textual records; 436 photographs : contact sheets; 361 photographs : b&w; 286 photographs : b&w negatives; 233 photographs : slides; 146 photographs : col ; 1 photograph : reproduction ; 50 volumes; 4 postcards
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Archival description area
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Administrative history
The Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA), founded in London, England, was established on religious beliefs and provided opportunities for young men to make constructive use of their leisure time. The London, Upper Canada branch of the YMCA is presumed to have been founded in 1856 by William Bowman, a railway construction supervisor. The organization provided leisure activities including camps, fitness and education programming, and various social events, and would evolve over time to take on a growing religious role, even partaking in missionary work in Asia.
The Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) was founded in London, England in 1855. In 1889, Miss Tilley, the daughter of the Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick, inspired community members in London, Ontario to organize a Young Women’s Christian Temperance Union (YWCTU). The YWCA began as a branch within the YWCTU, but they developed into a separate organization. The YWCA provided social and religious services and activities to young women around London and the surrounding area.
Ultimately, the YMCA and the YWCA amalgamated in 1951, becoming the Young Men’s and the Young Women’s Christian Association. It was officially incorporated in April 1953 by an Act of Ontario. The function of the organization remained largely the same as its predecessors, proving spiritual, physical, and mental support to the young men and women around the city.
Today, the YM-YWCA, known simply as the YMCA or the ‘Y’, has the same function as it has had historically, as a multi-service charity that provides opportunities for personal growth in spirit, mind and body for people of all backgrounds, beliefs and abilities. They operate gymnasium facilities, child care centres, community programs, and camps for over 135,000 members across South Western Ontario area.
Custodial history
The Young Men’s Christian Association, the Young Women’s Christian Association, and the Young Men’s-Young Women’s Christian Association (YM-YWCA) records remained in the custody of the YM-YWCA until 1981 when a fire destroyed their downtown London headquarters. Following the fire, the records sustained heavy water damage. They were transferred to the Regional Collection at Western University to be preserved and placed into a deep freezer in order to stop any further damage. Though the material was in the possession of the archives, the documents were held on deposit, and not formally donated until 2017.
Scope and content
This fonds contains records relating to the organizational activities of; the Young Men’s Christian Association of London (YMCA), 1856-1951; the Young Women’s Christian Association of London (YWCA), 1889-1951; and the amalgamated Young Men’s-Young Women’s Christian Association of London (YM-YWCA), 1951-present. These records consist of; financial papers, meeting minutes, annual reports, photographs, correspondence, scrapbooks, membership information, and club service files. The records are arranged chronologically.
Notes area
Physical condition
Immediate source of acquisition
The YM-YWCA sent the documents to be held in-deposit in 1981 following a fire that claimed their downtown headquarters. The material was not formally donated to the archives until 2017.
Arrangement
Sous-fond 1 YMCA
Series 1 Meeting Minutes and Annual Reports
Series 2 Historical Papers and Scrapbooks
Series 3 Financial Records
Series 4 Photographs
Sous-fond 2 YWCA
Series 1 Meeting Minutes and Annual Reports
Series 2 Historical Papers, Photographs, and Scrapbooks
Sous-fond 3 YM-YWCA
Series 1 Financial Records
Subseries 1 Budget Reports/Financial Statements
Subseries 2 Operations Statements
Subseries 3 Funds, Fundraising, and Donations
Subseries 4 Other Financial Documents
Series 2 Photographs
Series 3 General Operations Documents
Series 4 Correspondence
Series 5 Club Activities: Camps, Service Clubs, and Programmes
Series 6 Historical Papers and Scrapbooks
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The material is in English.
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Open. Records are available for consultation without restriction.
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Accruals
Further accruals are not anticipated
Conservation
Material in boxes A00-026-001, A00-026-002, A00-026-003, and B5368 have been seriously affected by water damange, and are in cold storage in preperation for mould removal. The remaining boxes have light water damage, though are not in immediate need of conservation. Some volumes have damanged spines (AFC 454-SF1-S1-F8 and AFC 454-SF1-S1-F2).
Conservation
Material in boxes A00-026-001, A00-026-002, A00-026-003, and B5368 have been seriously affected by water damage, and are in cold storage in preparation for mould removal. The remaining boxes have light water damage.