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YMCA Armed Services Department general administrative records

 Collection
Identifier: Y.USA.4-4

SCOPE AND CONTENTS OF THE COLLECTION

The collection consists of records documenting the administration of the YMCA's Army and Navy Department, later known as the Armed Services Department (and subsequently spun off as the Armed Services YMCA), which worked to meet the recreational, spiritual, educational, and other welfare needs of individuals serving in or associated with the United States armed services. Records date from the era of the Civil War through the early 1990s, particularly during the period from the time of the first world war through the Korean war, and include histories and other background information, correspondence, reports, financial data, personnel records, and other material.

Dates

  • 1863-1992
  • Majority of material found within ( 1890-1981).

Creator

Language of Materials

English

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.

KEY DATES IN THE HISTORY OF YMCA ARMED SERVICES WORK

1861
The New York YMCA organizes an effort to aid an encampment of soldiers on their way to fight in the Civil War. Following the lead of the New York Association, in November a coalition of 15 northern Associations join together to form the United States Christian Commission, the nation's first large-scale civilian volunteer service corps.
1861-1865
During its four years of operation, the U.S. Christian Commission recruits 5,000 volunteer "delegates" who served in every theater of the war. They distribute more than 100,000 cases of food, clothing and medical supplies, and 12 million books, magazines and pamphlets, write more than 90,000 letters for the sick and wounded, and distribute $1,000 a week in postage for the soldiers' use.
1889
The YMCA establishes its first permanent Army YMCA in Fort Monroe, Virginia.
1898
The Army and Navy Christian Commission of the International Committee of the YMCA is organized to provide relief efforts during the Spanish-American War. With the end of the war later that year, the name changes to the Army and Navy Department.
1899
The first Army/Navy YMCA building is constructed in Brooklyn, New York.
1917
The United States entered World War I on 6 April. On that same day, John Mott, General Secretary of the International Committee of North American YMCAs, informs President Wilson that the YMCA would help provide services for the military forces. Less than a week later, the International Committee appoints the National War Work Council to coordinate this work.
1921
The War Work Council is dissolved
1925
The National Council replaces the International Committee and assumes control over the Army and Navy Department.
1941
The YMCA joins five other national voluntary organizations — the YWCA, the National Catholic Community Service, the Jewish Welfare Board, the Salvation Army, and the National Travelers Aid Association — to create the United Service Organizations for National Defense, or USO.
1948
The Army and Navy Department changes names to become the Armed Services Department of the National Board.
1984
On January 1st, following a two-year organizational review, the YMCA's Armed Services Department is reorganized as the Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) of the USA and chartered as a National Member Association of the National Council of YMCAs of the USA.

Extent

61.2 Cubic Feet (68 boxes)

Abstract

Records documenting the administration of the YMCA's work with the United States armed services from the era of the Civil War through the late 1980s, particularly during the period from the time of the first world war through the Korean war.

ORGANIZATION/ARRANGEMENT OF THE RECORDS

These documents are organized into the following sections:

  1. Histories
  2. Administrative/Topical Files
  3. Financial Files
  4. Personnel
  5. Committees
  6. Conferences, Meetings, Assemblies
  7. Programs
  8. Girls' Service Organization
  9. Print Materials
  10. Local Armed Service Associations

Physical Location

See Detailed Description section for box listing.

OTHER FINDING AIDS

See the summary inventory for the YMCA Armed Services Records for information on other Armed Services records in the Kautz Family YMCA Archives. >> Go to the summary inventory

Note on Language in the Collection and this Guide

Please note that some of the descriptive language found in this collection guide reflects and re-uses the words and ideas of the people and organizations that created the material. Historical records represent the opinions and actions of their creators and the society in which they were produced. This historical language was retained in cases where we believe it provides important context about the materials, is a Library of Congress Subject Heading, or is the official title of an item, organization, or event. As such, please be aware that this material and the guide describing it contains racial and other language and/or imagery that is outdated, offensive and/or harmful.

Processing Information:

Processed by: Chan Harries, 2004. Additional accession of material, primarily from the late 1970s-early 1990s, transferred from the Armed Services YMCA added in October 2017.

Catalog Record ID number: 4339656

Title
YMCA ARMED SERVICES DEPARTMENT:
Subtitle
An Inventory of Its General Administrative Records
Author
Finding aid prepared by Chan Harries and Lara Friedman~Shedlov.
Date
2004
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
English

Revision Statements

  • 2021-12-28: Language was edited slightly to clarify when outdated or harmful terms from original source material are being quoted for historical accuracy. Content warning notes were also added regarding language that was retained and may be found in the collection material.

Collecting Area Details

Contact The Kautz Family YMCA Archives Collecting Area

Contact:

612-625-3445