YWCA History

Throughout our history, the YWCA has been in the forefront of most major movements in the United States as a pioneer in race relations, labor union representation, and the empowerment of women.

01
Jan
2021

1858

The first Association in the U.S., Ladies Christian Association, was formed in New York City
01
Jan
2021

1860

The first boarding house for female students, teachers and factory workers opened in New York, NY
01
Jan
2021

1866

“YWCA” was first used in Boston, MA
01
Jan
2021

1872

The YWCA opens the first employment bureau in New York City
01
Jan
2021

1874

The YWCA opens a low-cost summer “resort” for employed women in Philadelphia, PA
01
Jan
2021

1889

The first African-American YWCA branch opened in Dayton, OH
01
Jan
2021

1890

The first YWCA for Native American women opened in at Haworth Institute in Chilocco, OK
01
Jan
2021

1894

The United States of America, England, Sweden and Norway together created the World YWCA, which today is working in over 125 countries
01
Jan
2021

1904

YWCA St. Louis was incorporated, eventually becoming YWCA Metro St. Louis
01
Jan
2021

1906

The YWCA was the first organization to introduce the positive health concept and sex education in all health programming
01
Jan
2021

1907

YWCA of the USA incorporated in New York City
01
Jan
2021

1908

The YWCA was the first industrial federation of clubs to train girls in self-government
01
Jan
2021

1911

YWCA opens the Chapman Branch, later renamed the Phyllis Wheatley Branch, in St. Louis to serve African American women and girls, only the fifth such branch in the nation
01
Jan
2021

1915

The YWCA held the first interracial conference in Louisville, KY
01
Jan
2021

1918

The YWCA was the first organization to send professional workers overseas to provide administrative leadership and support to U.S. Armed Forces
01
Jan
2021

1920

Based on its work with women in industrial plants, the YWCA Convention voted to work for “an eight-hour/day law, prohibition of night work, and the right of labor to organize”
01
Jan
2021

1921

Grace Dodge Hotel completed construction of a Washington, D.C. residence initially designed to house women war workers
01
Jan
2021

1934

The YWCA encouraged members to speak out against lynching and mob violence, and for interracial cooperation and efforts to protect African Americans’ basic civil rights
01
Jan
2021

1938

The YWCA in Columbus, Ohio, establishes a desegregated dining facility and is cited by The Columbus Urban League “for a courageous step forward in human relations.”
01
Jan
2021

1942

The YWCA extends its services to Japanese American women and girls incarcerated in World War II Relocation Centers
01
Jan
2021

1944

The National Board appears at the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate hearings in support of permanent Fair Employment Practices Committee legislation
01
Jan
2021

1946

Interracial Charter adopted by the 17th National Convention; in St. Louis, the Phyllis Wheatley Branch merges with YWCA St. Louis to become one and serving both white and African American women and girls
01
Jan
2021

1949

The National Convention pledges that the YWCA will work for integration and full participation of minority groups in all phases of American life
01
Jan
2021

1955

National Convention commits local Associations and the National Board to review progress towards inclusiveness and decides on “concrete steps” to be taken
01
Jan
2021

1960

The Atlanta, Ga., YWCA cafeteria opened to African Americans, becoming the city’s first integrated public dining facility
01
Jan
2021

1965

The National Board of the YWCA created the Office of Racial Justice to lead the civil rights efforts
01
Jan
2021

1970

The YWCA National Convention, held in Houston, adopted the One Imperative: “To trust our collective power towards the elimination of racism, wherever it exists, by any means necessary”
01
Jan
2021

1972

The YWCA started the ENCORE program for women who had undergone breast cancer surgery
01
Jan
2021

1982

YWCA establishes Fund For The Future
01
Jan
2021

1983

The YWCA National Board urges Congress to support legislation that opposes the South African policy of apartheid
01
Jan
2021

1992

The YWCA National Day of Commitment to Eliminate Racism began in response to the beating of Rodney King, an African American man, the acquittal of four white Los Angeles police officers accused of the crime, and the subsequent riots and unrest across the country
01
Jan
2021

1995

The YWCA Week Without Violence was created as a nationwide effort to unite people against violence in communities. The annual observance is held the third week of October
01
Jan
2021

2001

Steps to Absolute Change was adopted. The YWCA shifted from a top down to a bottom up grassroots organization. Local associations joined regions and elected their regional representatives to the National Coordinating Board
01
Jan
2021

2004

Igniting the Collective Power of the YWCA to Eliminate Racism, the YWCA USA’s Summit on Eliminating Racism, was held in Birmingham, AL
01
Jan
2021

2008

The YWCA celebrates its Sesquicentennial Anniversary, 150 years of service, with the launch of the “Own It” campaign. The campaign focused on igniting a new generation of 22 million young women aged 18 to 34, inspiring them to get involved with important issues facing women and the country today.
01
Jan
2021

2016

Today 2.6 million people participate in YWCA programs at over 1,300 sites across the United States.
01
Jan
2021

1858

The first Association in the U.S., Ladies Christian Association, was formed in New York City
01
Jan
2021

1860

The first boarding house for female students, teachers and factory workers opened in New York, NY
01
Jan
2021

1866

“YWCA” was first used in Boston, MA
01
Jan
2021

1872

The YWCA opens the first employment bureau in New York City
01
Jan
2021

1874

The YWCA opens a low-cost summer “resort” for employed women in Philadelphia, PA
01
Jan
2021

1889

The first African-American YWCA branch opened in Dayton, OH
01
Jan
2021

1890

The first YWCA for Native American women opened in at Haworth Institute in Chilocco, OK
01
Jan
2021

1894

The United States of America, England, Sweden and Norway together created the World YWCA, which today is working in over 125 countries
01
Jan
2021

1905

YWCA St. Louis was incorporated, eventually becoming YWCA Metro St. Louis
01
Jan
2021

1906

The YWCA was the first organization to introduce the positive health concept and sex education in all health programming
01
Jan
2021

1907

YWCA of the USA incorporated in New York City
01
Jan
2021

1908

The YWCA was the first industrial federation of clubs to train girls in self-government
01
Jan
2021

1911

YWCA opens the Chapman Branch, later renamed the Phyllis Wheatley Branch, in St. Louis to serve African American women and girls, only the fifth such branch in the nation
01
Jan
2021

1915

The YWCA held the first interracial conference in Louisville, KY
01
Jan
2021

1918

The YWCA was the first organization to send professional workers overseas to provide administrative leadership and support to U.S. Armed Forces
01
Jan
2021

1920

Based on its work with women in industrial plants, the YWCA Convention voted to work for “an eight-hour/day law, prohibition of night work, and the right of labor to organize”
01
Jan
2021

1921

Grace Dodge Hotel completed construction of a Washington, D.C. residence initially designed to house women war workers
01
Jan
2021

1934

The YWCA encouraged members to speak out against lynching and mob violence, and for interracial cooperation and efforts to protect African Americans’ basic civil rights
01
Jan
2021

1938

The YWCA in Columbus, Ohio, establishes a desegregated dining facility and is cited by The Columbus Urban League “for a courageous step forward in human relations.”
01
Jan
2021

1942

The YWCA extends its services to Japanese American women and girls incarcerated in World War II Relocation Centers
01
Jan
2021

1944

The National Board appears at the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate hearings in support of permanent Fair Employment Practices Committee legislation
01
Jan
2021

1946

Interracial Charter adopted by the 17th National Convention; in St. Louis, the Phyllis Wheatley Branch merges with YWCA St. Louis to become one and serving both white and African American women and girls
01
Jan
2021

1949

The National Convention pledges that the YWCA will work for integration and full participation of minority groups in all phases of American life
01
Jan
2021

1955

National Convention commits local Associations and the National Board to review progress towards inclusiveness and decides on “concrete steps” to be taken
01
Jan
2021

1960

The Atlanta, Ga., YWCA cafeteria opened to African Americans, becoming the city’s first integrated public dining facility
01
Jan
2021

1965

The National Board of the YWCA created the Office of Racial Justice to lead the civil rights efforts
01
Jan
2021

1970

The YWCA National Convention, held in Houston, adopted the One Imperative: “To trust our collective power towards the elimination of racism, wherever it exists, by any means necessary”
01
Jan
2021

1972

The YWCA started the ENCORE program for women who had undergone breast cancer surgery
01
Jan
2021

1982

YWCA establishes Fund For The Future
01
Jan
2021

1983

The YWCA National Board urges Congress to support legislation that opposes the South African policy of apartheid
01
Jan
2021

1992

The YWCA National Day of Commitment to Eliminate Racism began in response to the beating of Rodney King, an African American man, the acquittal of four white Los Angeles police officers accused of the crime, and the subsequent riots and unrest across the country
01
Jan
2021

1995

The YWCA Week Without Violence was created as a nationwide effort to unite people against violence in communities. The annual observance is held the third week of October
01
Jan
2021

2001

Steps to Absolute Change was adopted. The YWCA shifted from a top down to a bottom up grassroots organization. Local associations joined regions and elected their regional representatives to the National Coordinating Board
01
Jan
2021

2004

Igniting the Collective Power of the YWCA to Eliminate Racism, the YWCA USA’s Summit on Eliminating Racism, was held in Birmingham, AL
01
Jan
2021

2008

The YWCA celebrates its Sesquicentennial Anniversary, 150 years of service, with the launch of the “Own It” campaign. The campaign focused on igniting a new generation of 22 million young women aged 18 to 34, inspiring them to get involved with important issues facing women and the country today.
01
Jan
2021

2016

Today 2.6 million people participate in YWCA programs at over 1,300 sites across the United States.
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