Germany, circa 1920-1950
Scope and Contents
Following World War I, YWCA of the U.S.A. secretaries visit Germany and write letters and reports describing the economic and social conditions affecting the country and the women served by the YWCA. As Hitler rises to power, the YWCA of the U.S.A. takes interest in the political situation. The toll it takes on the citizens of Germany and the refugee crisis becomes important as more and more people are displaced. Correspondence and reports from the American Committee for Christian German Refugees shed some light on the situation and document efforts made towards the refugee crisis. Seeking to educate its members on the German situation, the YWCA of the U.S.A. disseminates information regarding the Nazi rise and their propaganda. The published pamphlet, "Modern Christian German Martyrs," contains translated portions of Nazi pamphlets concerning religion and is meant to inform readers of the dangers of Nazi thinking. YWCA of the U.S.A. attention to Germany and its women continues after World War II through reconstruction efforts. The end of the microdex contains a few frames from the Holland subject file that are repeated in the Holland materials.
Dates of Materials
- Creation: circa 1920-1950
Language of Materials
English; German
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for use without restriction beyond the standard terms and conditions of Smith College Special Collections.
However, by agreement with the YWCA of the U.S.A., microdexes known to contain financial records or personal health information (usually on job applications) were not digitized and/or not published in our online repository as part of the CLIR Digitizing Hidden Collections grant. These microdexes may still be accessed on the original microfilm, and digital files may be made available to individual researchers upon request.
Extent
341 frames (1 partial reel)
Subject
- YWCA of the U.S.A. Foreign Division (Organization)
Genre / Form
Geographic
- Germany
- Germany -- Description and travel
- Germany -- Economic conditions
- Germany -- Politics and government -- 1933-1945
- Netherlands
- Netherlands -- Description and travel
- Netherlands -- Religious life and customs
Topical
- International relations
- National Socialism
- Reconstruction (1939-1951)
- Refugees -- Germany
- Women -- International cooperation
- Women -- International cooperation
- Women -- International cooperation
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Refugees
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Religious aspects -- Christianity
- World War, 1939-1945 -- War work
- World War, 1939-1945 -- War work
- World War, 1939-1945 -- War work
- World politics -- 1945-1989
- Young Women's Christian associations -- Germany
- Youth movements -- Germany
Repository Details
Part of the Sophia Smith Collection of Women's History Repository