West Indies and Foreign Division, 1951-1960

Documents concerning young women's Christian associations in the West Indies in addition to the history of the YWCA of the U.S.A. Foreign Division and secretaries working abroad. An interested group in Haiti corresponds with the YWCA of Canada concerning the development of an association there. In Puerto Rico an existing association works with the YWCA of the U.S.A. Foreign Division for leadership development and a grant for the development of Y-Teen programs. In addition, a trainee from Puerto Rico makes arrangements to study in the United States. Additional documents concerning the YWCA in the West Indies include association summaries and correspondence discussing the needs of associations in the West Indies. The Foreign Division of the YWCA of the U.S.A. sends secretaries as representatives of the YWCA of the U.S.A. to work in other countries as advisors, leaders and trainers where they train local leadership and strengthen programs. Newsletters from the Foreign Division to the secretaries serving abroad keep them informed of the happenings in the department's, major news concerning the YWCA of the U.S.A. and selected updates from the foreign field. The Foreign Division field staff manual provides details to the secretaries concerning their terms of service and job expectations including policy and procedure for travel, time off, medical needs, salaries, hours of work, furlough and length of term. Additional documents include correspondence and notes containing updates on former Foreign Division secretaries and two versions of "At Home Abroad" a historical summary of the work of the YWCA of the U.S.A. in foreign countries.