Massachusetts, circa 1911-1950

Documents concerning affiliation, history, leadership, administration, finance, work with students and studies of the YWCA of Boston, Massachusetts. The YWCA of Boston, originally organized in 1866 and affiliated with the YWCA of the U.S.A. in 1911, has a long history of programs for the women and girls of Boston. This history and affiliation is documented in historical notes and timelines, correspondence with the YWCA of the U.S.A. and governing documents such as constitutions and bylaws. Residence surveys and pamphlets describe and assess the residence buildings and facilities of the association. Residence services provide affordable and safe housing to women passing through the city or more permanent women needing housing such as single employed women. The city association's relationship to the greater Boston area, the metropolitan Boston area and the student associations are described in correspondence and reports. In order to inform decisions, improve program and improve services, the YWCA of Boston, like the YWCA of the U.S.A. and other associations, conducts careful studies of its environment in addition to making use of studies conducted by other community organizations. The studies are then compiled into reports containing narrative and quantitative assessments. Reports included in the association's files include community studies of Boston, a review of the central registration process in the YWCA of Boston, a study of housing for women in Boston, a study of the YWCA of Boston program and a review of the Industrial Department of the YWCA of Boston.