Prospect Park YMCA records
SCOPE AND CONTENTS OF THE COLLECTION
The Prospect Park YMCA records consist of brochures, flyers, and program announcements, primarily from the period 1891-1910 and 1940-1960. Other materials include Board of Managers minutes and agendas principally from the period 1960-1990, although the original minute book, from the years 1891-1899, is present. In addition, the collection includes clippings and other memorabilia from the years 1928-1977, financial materials from scattered years from 1926 through 1990, and correspondence, planning materials, and reports covering the years 1891 through 1977, with the bulk of the materials from the 1890s and 1960s. Includes digital files in PDF format.
Dates
- 1891-2017
Creator
- YMCA of Greater New York. Prospect Park Branch. (Organization)
Language of Materials
English
Conditions Governing Access
Analog (non-digital) material open for use in the Elmer L. Andersen Library reading room. The digital files are available upon request. Please contact the University Archives to arrange access to these materials.
Use of Materials:
This collection is 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 the necessary permissions prior to the reproduction, publication, or other use of any portion of these materials.
HISTORY OF THE PROSPECT PARK YMCA
The Prospect Park YMCA, currently located at 357 9th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues in Brooklyn, has been serving Brooklyn for more than 112 years. A feature of the Park Slope neighborhood, the Prospect Park YMCA began its operations in a converted mansion in 1891. By 1923, the huge population growth in Brooklyn placed demands on the YMCA that made its building hopelessly inadequate. The branch was closed, making way for an ambitious building campaign. On July 7, 1925, ground was broken on the Prospect Park Y's present site, and 18 months later, the current building was opened. In the spring of 2000, an $8.5 million renovation left practically no corner untouched. The facade was restored, the old lobby was replaced and all program spaces were transformed.
The Prospect Park YMCA has a long-standing commitment to housing programs and today offers affordable housing for sailors, echoing the work of the Bethelship Seaman's Branch that operated on the corner of Richards and Sullivan streets between 1921 and 1948. The branch also maintains a tradition of linkages with community groups such as literary societies, book clubs, and dance groups. The branch has offered literacy classes, job search training, and day camp programs for many years.
(Information taken from the YMCA of Greater New York, Prospect Park Branch web site at http://www.ymcanyc.org/prospectpark/pages/about-the-prospect-park-ymca )
Extent
4.1 Cubic Feet (10 boxes)
32 Megabytes (6 digital files)
Abstract
Collected minutes, brochures and flyers, correspondence, and other materials related to the Prospect Park YMCA branch buildings, camps, residence program, and athletics.
ORGANIZATION/ARRANGEMENT OF THE RECORDS
These documents are organized into the following sections:
- Board of Managers. .
- Brochures and Flyers.
- Buildings.
- Clippings and Memorabilia.
- Finances.
- Publications.
- Reports and Correspondence.
Physical Location
See Detailed Description section for box listing.
Processing Information:
Processed by: Louise Merriam, August, 2006.
Catalog Record ID number: 4884211
- Brooklyn (New York, N.Y.) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Brooklyn and Queens Young Men’s Christian Association. . Bethelship Seamen's Branch.
- Low-income housing -- New York (State) -- Brooklyn Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Park Slope (New York, N.Y.). Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Photographs Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Scrapbooks Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- YMCA of Greater New York. Prospect Park Branch.
- Young Men's Christian associations -- Buildings Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Young Men's Christian associations -- New York (State) -- Brooklyn Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Title
- YMCA OF GREATER NEW YORK PROSPECT PARK BRANCH.
- Subtitle
- An Inventory of Its Records
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by Louise Merriam.
- Date
- 2006
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- English
Collecting Area Details
Contact The Kautz Family YMCA Archives Collecting Area
