Records of local Young Men's Christian Associations

The YMCA movement in North America was organized initially in the city of Boston and almost simultaneously in Montreal, Canada in late 1851. Based on the examples of Young Men’s Christian Associations springing up in prominent cities along the east coast, YMCAs were soon established in various locations throughout the country. While a central governing body was formed in order to schedule conventions for the purpose of communication and advice between associations as well as to set up a generalized set of standards that each association was expected to adhere to, these local associations remained primarily autonomous. The movement recognized early on that local associations required individualized structures and programs in order to assist their populations in a manner that best suited their own unique needs. This was facilitated through the use of studies and reports attempting to classify problems common to individual areas.

Local associations remained generally community-based and independent. They interacted with the national council of YMCAs primarily for the purpose of maintaining common goals and structures. They also received policy and program ideas through the national council and other local associations by attending YMCA national conferences. Many popular programs such as Y-Indian Guides began on a local level and then spread to other local associations before becoming national programs. Annual dues were paid to the central national body of the YMCA and the individual associations were required to adhere to and support the central YMCA's primary mission, guidelines and membership basis as determined by the Executive Committee, later the National Council of YMCAs of the USA. The national body of the YMCA of the USA also was consulted by individual associations when they became involved with national and international programs such as war work and disaster relief.

Local associations formed research committees that performed studies and surveys on subjects such as future policy, local public opinion on the YMCA and/or specific issues such as joblessness, race relations or urban expansion. Reports were then presented to local boards of directors and presidents, detailing specific areas that could be impacted by YMCA efforts as well as how these efforts might progress into programs and regulations of individual YMCAs. Many decisions concerning local policy and program development were defined based upon these studies. The founding of associations and establishment of building projects were also accomplished primarily at local levels through the use of funding drives, sale of other lesser used buildings and the creation of local development services offices. These offices organized area studies, determining where new associations would prosper and where they were needed.

Physical education programing and popular sports that were established at local associations also spread throughout the country to many other YMCA locations and beyond. The inventions of Basketball by James Naismith instructor at Springfield College and Racquetball by YMCA volunteer Joe Sobek in Greenwich, Connecticut influenced the physical education programs of many other local associations as well as the country as a whole. Local YMCA programing and invention influenced the YMCA on a national and international level. Outside educational and aid based organizations were also influenced through various examples of community studies and support established by YMCA over the years. Civil rights were also fought for on an local level initially, with many African American YMCAs as rallying points, until 1967, when racial discrimination was banned in all YMCAs at the national level.