Topeka Y.W.C.A.

Manuscript Collection No. 212

• Introduction
• Organizational History
• Scope and Content
• Contents List

Introduction

The Topeka YWCA collection was donated on April 4, 1988 by the organization’s Executive Director, Joan Wagnon. The collection details the organization’s history from its origins in 1887 through the 1980s.

Initially, the Topeka YWCA mirrored the international organization’s goals and objectives. Its twofold function was to provide affordable accommodations for single women while helping them find employment. As the Young Women’s Christian Association name signifies, these efforts were conducted in a religious environment with members participating in daily Bible study groups. The materials in the collection reflect this Christian emphasis as the organization expanded to serve the Topeka community through children’s clubs, young married women’s groups, and through health and physical fitness training. Evidence of YWCA growth can be found in the organization’s minutes, constitution and by-laws, and reports by the various departments. The objectives of the organization are revealed in the records of various clubs and YWCA publications. There are no restrictions on the use of the collection.

Organizational History

Organized in the home of Mrs. W. F. Parker in November, 1887, the Young Women’s Christian Association was affectionately dubbed the “YW” by the Topeka press. The first president, Mrs. Henry Bennett, was also a co-founder and, according to contemporary opinion, its earliest moving force. In march 1889, the YWCA was located in rooms over Fish’s spice mills at 108 E. 6th Ave. Its first assistance to young, single women in the area included maintaining a list of boarding houses and an employment directory, while offering classes in bookkeeping, stenography, penmanship, physical culture, and dressmaking. As early as 1898 Flo Menninger inaugurated the Menninger Bible Classes as an extension of the YWCA religious education program. These classes, a four year Bible course leading to a “Degree,” continued to be taught in 1989.

After several moves YWCA officers decided they needed permanent quarters and the first building fund campaign was initiated. YWCA members campaigned door-to-door and donor’s names, along with the dollar amount of their contributions, were published in the newspaper. This aggressive determination to provide the best facilities for its Topeka members has been a hallmark of the local organization. With the dedication of a new building at 7th and Van Burin in 1911, the YWCA provided rooms on its own premises for single women. In addition to office space and dormitory rooms, the building had a cafeteria, basement swimming pool, gymnasium, and one meeting room. These kinds of facilities were previously unavailable to young women in Topeka at a time when social custom restricted women from sharing the men’s pool and gymnasium.

The main goal of the YWCA, to provide a clean, Christian environment for young women, prompted the Topeka organization to buy an additional building in 1919. The Eagles Club at 615 Van Buren was converted into bedrooms for working girls. Salary, age, and marital restrictions previously imposed on residents were removed. Service goals were broadened to include girls in grade school and high school. The Sunflower Girls Club and Girl Reserve groups were encouraged to practice Christian principles. The concepts of helping each other and sharing were essential elements of camping trips and other group activities. These clubs participated in drives to donate flour to the hungry in Belgium during World War I. During the Depression the Topeka YWCA opened its cafeteria to needy families.

YWCA programs continued to expand, reaching a broad spectrum of women in the Topeka area. Some used the YWCA as a meeting place while others took advantage of job training programs. For female immigrants arriving in Topeka following the second world war, the YWCA quickly became a second home and was affectionately known as the “Friendly Y.” In addition to being “Americanized” at the YWCA, these women were trained for jobs as housekeepers, maids, and cooks. Many found employment in Topeka’s wealthier homes. Community service groups were also established, including the Y-Wives, later changed toY-Women, and the Young Matrons, which first met in 1934. By 1935 its 350 members were volunteering for other service organizations, including the Salvation Army, Capper’s Crippled Children, and both the State and Veteran’s Hospitals.

For over a century the YWCA’s commitment to helping women encompassed issues such as women’s suffrage, working rights, and family problems. Two groups, the Business Girls League and the Business and Professional Club, were established to assist women trying to advance their careers.

An important feature of the Topeka YWCA was the support it received from all clubs operating within its framework. Every group helped raise money for YWCA building maintenance and to continue YWCA community activities. In 1975 it was determined that a new building was needed. The Topeka community raised one and a half million dollars for the current building at 12th and Jackson. The YWCA further expanded in 1986 when a $1.7 million dollar addition was built adjoining the 1976 structure. The high regard Topeka residents have for the YWCA and its programs is demonstrated by these efforts to improve the facilities.

The Topeka YWCA grew into a center for recreation as well as refuge. From its beginnings providing a safe haven for a small number of women, YWCA programs expanded to serve the needs of the entire community. Included among services offered in1989 were the battered woman’s helter program and the Career Assistance Network. Educational programs consider single parents, displaced homemakers, and personal development. YWCA programs have changed to meet the changing needs of the community. However, the goals of the Topeka YWCA, to help women emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually, have remained constant.

Scope and Content

Records in the collection date from the first meeting of the Topeka YWCA Board of Directors in November 1887 through 1986. The majority of the records are organizational reports. Evidence of the organization’s growth can be found in the minutes of the Board of Director’s meetings, 1887-1973. Gaps in the record exist for short periods from 1907-1911, 1958-1959, and 1965-1966. The Board minutes, along with departmental reports, provide the bulk of the information in the collection. Early gaps in the material are filled by a history of events kept by the organization from 1887 through 1951. Used in combination, these records provide an overview of changes within the YWCA and illustrate the manner in which it grew in importance for Topeka women.

During the YWCA’s first century the role of women in the Topeka community changed dramatically. Researchers of women’s history will find, for example, that the functions of the YWCA changed as the attitudes of women changed toward their role as workers in the larger community. From 1887 to 1916 the YWCA nurtured and provided refuge for single women who were trying to survive financially in a growing industrial economy. Minutes of Director’s meetings describe the goals established by the leadership and the evolution of plans to implement those goals. The minutes also revealing how the YWCA functioned as an organization. Hotel registers provide information on the numbers of women living in YWCA rooms.

The first world war changed the focus of the organization from individuals to the community at large. This change in attitude is reflected in the Departmental Reports of the various clubs. By 1919 social service projects were considered an essential element of each club’s function. This was particularly true during the 1930s when the YWCA’s role expanded from nurturing women to helping entire families survive the economic crisis. Club constitutions describe the goals of groups established within the YWCA framework. Newspaper clippings contained in scrapbooks describe the role played by the YWCA during the depression.

The greatest change in women’s attitudes about their role in the working world came after the turn of the century. YWCA records, particularly files for the Business Girls League and the Business and Professional Club, illustrate the concerns of Topeka’s working women. The jobs for women were essential for those who were widowed, faced with the responsibility of providing a living for themselves and their children. An increase in the number of divorces in the 20th century also focused interest on issues outside the home. Additional concerns included child psychology and improving the emotional environment of a postwar world.

Topeka women used the services of the YWCA to seek out other women for support and help in solving problems. Evidence of this can be found in the various club records and scrapbooks. Departmental Reports and club minutes show how women used YWCA services and how they developed group interests within the larger organization. Statistical data can also be derived from these reports.

The weakest portion of the collection are the numerous scrapbooks of newspaper clippings about the YWCA’s activities which, because of their age, are in fragile condition. Also, the collection does not contain specific information about the women assisted by the YWCA. Despite these shortcomings, the collection provides insights into the birth, growth, and development of an organization created by and for women and a general picture of women in Topeka, their needs, and interests.

Contents List

Series Description

The collection has been arranged in ten series as follows: history; organizational records; correspondence; financial records; 50th Anniversary; activities; publications; songbooks and miscellany; and oversize volumes including treasurer’s books and hotel registers, and scrapbooks. All materials are in their original form with the exception of newspaper articles that have been copies onto acid-free paper. Photographs have been transferred to the photograph department while posters, certificates, buttons, and a bracelet were transferred to the museum.

Series I, History, contains press releases for the national organization. The series also includes a copy of an account of the Topeka Y.W.C.A. prepared for the organization’s 50th anniversary by Annie B. Sweet, along with a listing of historic events.

Series II, Organizational Records, 1887-1974, includes constitutions, by-laws, annual meeting materials, Board of Director’s files, Elector’s Assembly minutes, Executive Director’s reports, General Secretary’s files, and various committee reports. Some Board of Director’s meeting minutes have been bound with Finance Committee Reports. Refer to the folder listing that follows for a complete description of the contents of the collection.

Series III, Correspondence, is arranged by subject and filed chronologically. The series dates from 1921 through 1970. (Letters and telegrams received in connection with the 50th Anniversary celebration are filed with series V, Fiftieth Anniversary.)

Series IV, Financial Records, includes payroll books, oversize treasurer’s and ledger books, audits, bank statements and reports, wills, and contractor’s bids for building projects for the years 1931 through 1986. Oversized material is filed in Series IX, Oversize Bound Volumes.

Series V, YWCA 50th Anniversary, includes tickets, programs, fliers, invitations, newspaper clippings, and a skit performed for the event.

Series VI, Activities files, encompasses the years 1933 through 1978 and includes records of the religion and physical fitness education departments and departments that sponsor the various clubs. Records include reports, minutes, programs, newspaper clippings, and pamphlets.

Series VII through X consist of printed pamphlets, songbooks, and oversized materials. Printed items and songbooks are located in box 8. Oversized volumes are shelved with the collection.

Catalog cards have been prepared for this collection under the following subjects:

Black Women’s Organizations
Butterfield, Hazel-General Secretary (1927-1946)
Children’s Programs
Education
Business Girl’s League
Business and Professional Club
Girl Reserve
Health and Physical Fitness
Menninger Bible Classes
Sunflower Girl’s Club
Topeka-Organizations
Topeka-Women
Women
Women-Blacks
Women’s Organizations
Y-Women
Young Matrons Club
Young Women’s Christian Association, Topeka

Additional information on the Topeka YWCA is available in the Society’s library. See also, Sara W. Tucker, “The Topeka Y.W.C.A. In an Era of Changing Women’s Lives, 1887-1987.” The Topeka Y.W.C.A.’s Centennial Celebration in Honor of the Women of Topeka Series. Topeka: Kansas Committee for the Humanities, 1987.

Joyce Boswell
Lela Barnes Intern
August, 1989

Box List

Added Accession, May 11, 1993. Inventory

Sustainer Committee, Minutes of Meetings, June 24, 1991 -- see box 2, folder 19.

Financial Development Committee Minutes, June 17, 1991 -- see box 3, folder 18.

Scrapbook - Frances Smith -- volume 33.
Scrapbook - Mildred Jane Kelly -- volume 34.

Added Accession, July 24, 1998
Inventory
Young Women's Christian Association
Business Girls League
Scrapbooks

Kansas Historical Foundation
Honor · Educate · Inspire

The Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation organized in 1875 to support and promote Kansas history.

Kansas Historical Society
Your Stories. Our History.

Our state agency safeguards and shares the state’s history, touching the lives of Kansans every day.