Girl Reserve, circa 1917-1945

File — Box: 2, Reel: 93, microdex: 2

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Materials concerning YWCA of the U.S.A. Girl Reserve health education, history, honors and awards, insignia, Japanese Americans, Japanese relocation centers, and junior counselors. Health education materials exercise activities, dietary suggestions and tracking, and other health programming. Girl reserve history is comprised of several documents the bulk of which is a difficult to read hand written essay. Honors and awards documents the many ways that girls could earn Girl Reserve Honors. Included in this section are Girl Reserve honors lists, publications that detail honors requirements and allow for the girls to track their completion. Insignia materials analyze the meaning of the Girl Reserve symbol, provide examples of insignia from other countries, and guidance on the use of the symbol and insignia. Japanese American and Japanese relocation sections offer reference materials relating to the experiences of Japanese Americans during World War II, possibly for use in discussion or education of Girl Reserve members. Included are lists of YWCA leaders in relocation camps and information on how to assist and contact those members in relocation camps. Materials include communications from the YWCA, publications by the American Council on Public Affairs, the California Monthly, the Committee on Japanese Americans, the War relocation authority, the American Committee for Non-participation in Japanese Aggression, and others. Topics include treatment of Japanese Americans, reasons for relocation, living conditions in relocation camps, aide and assistance to relocated Japanese Americans, and other matters.

Dates of Materials

circa 1917-1945

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.