New York City YMCA staff and board rosters

Collection

Identifier: Y.GNY.78

Staff Only

SCOPE AND CONTENTS OF THE COLLECTION

The YMCA of Greater New York collection of staff and board rosters consists of lists of employees and members of the Board of Directors, Board of Trustees and branch boards of managers. Also included are lists of changes to the rosters as well as lists of members of board committees.

Dates

1852-1988
Majority of material found within 1950-1980 (Bulk)

Creator

YMCA of Greater New York. (Organization)

Conditions Governing Access

Open for use in the Elmer L. Andersen Library reading room.

Conditions Governing Use

This collection may be protected by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U.S. Code). It is the user's responsibility to verify copyright ownership and to obtain all necessary permissions prior to the reproduction, publication, or other use of any portion of these materials. Researchers may quote from the collection under the fair use provision of the copyright law.

HISTORY OF BOARDS AND STAFF AT THE YMCA OF GREATER NEW YORK

The YMCA in New York City was at first administered and staffed by volunteers. By the 1860s, however, the Y in New York City had hired a librarian and other staff soon followed. The need for permanent staff became even more apparent when the YMCA began providing rooms for members in 1869 with the opening of the first building. In subsequent years, the Y began providing classes, operating restaurants and lunch counters, and offering physical programs, increasing the need for employees.

From its beginnings, the YMCA was managed by a Board of Directors. Members of this board were often wealthy members of the community. In the early years of the New York City Y, board members were important industrialists such as the Rockefeller, Vanderbilt and Dodge families. In addition to overseeing the operations of the association, including the operations of the 23rd Street building, many prominent board members made significant donations for buildings, special initiatives and operations.

Oversight of individual branches in metropolitan associations such as the YMCA in New York City was undertaken by a Board of Managers made up of prominent members of the communities surrounding the branches. In the late 1880s, the Board of Directors no longer managed the 23rd Street building, which was given branch status and its own Board of Managers.

A separate Board of Trustees with responsibility for financial oversight of the organization existed until the 1990s. This board was disbanded around 1990 and its role was assumed by the Board of Directors.

The names of the directors, managers and trustees also appear in the annual reports for the YMCA of the City of New York, the YMCA of Brooklyn and later the YMCA of Greater New York. However, the names of employees appear only in the rosters after the early years of the Y in New York City.