Near East, circa 1919-1931

File — Box: 1, Reel: 64, microdex: 3

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Formed to united the YWCA activities in the Middle East regions supported by the YWCA of the U.S.A., the YWCA in the Near East supports the physical, mental, social, intellectual and spiritual development of all women and girls in the area. The development of women and girls in the area is aided through recreation programs, summer camps, job and skills training and language classes. Due to unstable political situations the YWCA activities in the region also include a lot of work with refugees and migrants including displaced Russians and Armenians. Correspondence, reports and transcripts of radio speeches from staff working in the region describe the YWCA activities, request additional funding or assistance, assess the current and future needs of the people and describe the situations faced by women of diverse backgrounds. In her reports, Ms. Woodsmall makes a detailed assessment of the position of women in the region, their social status and the possible changes ahead. A report of the study on social conditions in Turkey provides a detailed analysis of the status of the people of Turkey. The report includes analysis of the status of women in the home and at work, matters of child welfare, crime and imprisonment, marriage and the attitudes of men towards women, government influence, education and recreation.

Dates of Materials

Creation: circa 1919-1931

Language of Materials

English

Conditions Governing Access

From the Record Group:

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.