Young Women's Christian associations -- China

Scope and Contents

Annual, interim and statistical reports concerning YWCA of the U.S.A. work in China. Reports and pamphlets summarize work in China with women through YWCA organizations in many cities, towns, and regions. As the country is disrupted by cultural, political, social and economic changes the YWCA work in China meets new challenges. American secretaries train Chinese women to be leaders, organize programming and associations and advise existing associations.

Scope and Contents Documents concerning the YWCA of China. Since its beginning as a student association in the late nineteenth century through 1950, the YWCA of China sees women through times of political, social, economic and international change. The organization grows from student associations to serving rural populations, industrial and employed women and women in home life. The YWCA of China employs both Chinese and Western leaders, some of whom come from the YWCA of the U.S.A. Annual reports and...

Scope and Contents

Correspondence with and about general secretaries serving on the National Committee of the YWCA of China. American and Chinese secretaries write to arrange travel plans and visits, give updates on programs and associations, discuss social, economic, and political problems faced in China and request support of funds and people. The correspondence concerning Grace Coppock and Ting Shu-Ching include memorials and condolences following their untimely deaths due to illness.

Scope and Contents Documents concerning finance and bookkeeping of the YWCA of China, indemnity payments to missionaries in China and the Ting Shu-Ching memorial fund. As Americans working in China and giving support to the YWCA of China, challenges arise in bookkeeping, making payments of salaries and donations and keeping bank accounts and endowments due to changing political and economic situations in China in addition to the challenges of working at a great distance and in different exchange rates....

Scope and Contents Documents concerning YWCA of China leaders and staff and Chinese trainees in America. YWCA of China members and secretaries spend time in the United States for leadership training, observing of local associations and conventions, and attending American colleges and universities if desired. Clippings and reports summarize their experiences while correspondence and lists concern the logistics of planning such programs and travels. Also included are lists and directories of the YWCA of China...

Scope and Contents Correspondence with and reports from YWCA of the U.S.A. staff in China. The YWCA of the U.S.A. has a long history of cooperation with the YWCA of China. Secretaries are sent on shorter visits to assess programming and associations or longer terms to serve as leaders and trainers and to establish or develop programming and associations. Correspondence and reports from the American secretaries provide accounts of their travel and descriptions of conditions in addition to summarizing work their...

Scope and Contents

Documents concerning the sale, transfer, maintenance and use of YWCA of the U.S.A. Foochow, Hangchow-Mudken, Peking and Shanghai properties in China. Buildings are used as residences and headquarters for American and Chinese YWCA activities. The Shanghai property is used as a headquarters for the National Committee of the YWCA of China and pamphlets and articles give an overview of its development.

Scope and Contents Reports of studies conducted to assess the work and progress of the YWCA of China. "A Study of the YWCA in China" presents a detailed overview of the work with women in China including the origins of the YWCA in China, programs with various constituent groups, religious work and international relations. Following the overview, the report makes recommendations for the future of the organization. Several reports concern the status of women in China and the women's movement. These studies look...

Scope and Contents

Photographs of young women's Christian association buildings, hostess houses, recreation facilities and residences in China.

Scope and Contents

Photographs of celebrations, ceremonies and pageants of the young women's Christian associations in China. These special activities are part of the YWCA program and they highlight local customs, share international traditions and celebrate the life and people of the young women's Christian associations in China. Included are photographs of Christmas decorations, a halloween party, pageants, plays and a YWCA secretary's wedding photograph.

Scope and Contents

Photographs of children participating in young women's Christian association programs in China and individual and group snapshots of children. YWCA programs for children in China include providing essentail care, classes and skills training, recreational opportunities and child care services.

Scope and Contents

Photographs of young women's Chrisitan association classes in China. The YWCA education program in China includes evening classes for girls and young women working in industry, classes for young children, adult literacy classes and english language classes. Photographs include images of classes in session, instructors and groups of students.

Scope and Contents Similar to the YWCA of the USA, young women's Christian associations in China hold regional and national conferences to meet other women, unite under shared purpose, develop leadership skills and discuss issues affecting the women of China and women around the world. Photographs include group portraits and images of conference sessions for industrial, student, regional and national. Also included are several photographs of staff meetings, board meetings and World YWCA conference...

Scope and Contents

Young women's Christian associations in China use plays, pageants and music performances for recreation, entertainment and cultural education. In these photographs young tobacco workers, Girl reserves and other YWCA members demonstrate folk dances and participate in plays such as Mu-Lan and Sleeping Beauty. Also included are images of a music performance, a puppet show and may pole festivities.

Scope and Contents From the Series: This series consists of photographic prints, most black and white before the 1990s, as well as negatives and albums contianing photographic prints.Subseries A. General and History includes Anniversaries, Exhibits, photographs of YWCA symbols and logos, such as the blue triangle and the YWCA purpose statement, World YWCA photographs, and miscellaneous and unidentified photographs. There is also a large file of photographs of individuals (arranged...

Scope and Contents As a result of war and food shortages in China local children and adults are in need of food assistance and community health services. The young women's Christian associations in China help fill the needs by organizing milk stations for daily supplemental nutrition, community meals, nursery care for young children of working mothers and family health services. Photographs include images of children drinking their milk rations, community service proejcts and a photograph of university...

Scope and Contents

Photographs of young women's Christian association hostels in China. Hostels provide inexpensive food and lodging for employed women in China who may need access to safe and affordable rooms. The need for such accomodations is high and one photographer's caption notes that the number of girls on the waiting list for the hostel is in the hundreds. Photographs show hostel guests in their rooms and community areas.

Scope and Contents Photographs of the industrial program of young women's Christian associations in China. The industrial programs offer classes, recreation and social opportunities for women employed in idustries such as textiles and tabacco. For unemployed women, industrial centers are a place to develop skills and interact with others in similar situations and in rural areas, the industrial programs help groups of women establish cooperative cotton and wool productions. The photographs include women at...

Scope and Contents

Photographs of young women's Christian association members and activiites in China. Young women's Christian associations in China serve its women and girls through clubs, education programs and community services. During times of war, the YWCAbecome vital hubs for communities. The YWCA war services and the effect of the war on its community is documented and described in an unbound scrapbook. In addition, there are photographs of scenes of Chinese communities and YWCA activities.

Scope and Contents

Photographs of physical education programs at young women's Christian associations in China. These programs include athletics such as track and field, gymnasium classes and outdoor recreation. In addition, the YWCA in China operates a training school for physical education that trains leaders in the field. Photographs include images of physical education classes, college athletics and classes of the national training schools.

Scope and Contents

Photographs of young women's Christian associations programs for refugees and family sufferers in China. During times of war, conflict and famine, young women's Christian associations provided aid and support to refugees and famine sufferers, especially in rural areas. Photographs document those affected by such conditions, residents in refugee camps and rural programs.

Scope and Contents

Volunteers from young women's Christian associations in China dedicate time to bringing programs to rural communities that would otherwise not be reached. Photographs include a group portrait of these volunteers as well as scenes of rural life in China.

Scope and Contents

Scenes of rural and city life in China including images of people, buildings and landmarks. Most photographs are not of YWCA activity but are instead of scenes of daily life in China.

Scope and Contents

Photographs taken by Ella Bennett, a YWCA of the USA representative working in China. Ms. Bennett documented the work of the young women's Christian associations in China, the people she encountered and the scenes around her. Some photographs have brief descriptions or identifying information but many are unidentified.

Scope and Contents

Photographs of local and international staff working with young women's Christian associations in China. Photographs include individual and group portraits as well as photographs of staff meetings and conferences. Also included is a photograph of Madame Chiang Kai Shek remotely delivering an address to the YWCA of the USA convention in Columbus, Ohio.

Scope and Contents

Photographs of young women at work and taking part in YWCA employment services. Young women's Christian associations in China may offer vocational guidance and classes in typing and job skills.

Scope and Contents Documents concerning the international aspects, news and reports, worship services and program of the Fifteenth National Convention of the Young Women's Christian Associations of the United States of America. As part of the YWCA of the U.S.A.'s strong ties to work in China and in response to the tensions between China and Japan, Madam Chiang Kai-Shek gives an address to the convention via radio. In addition there is a formal note of appreciation and greetings from the YWCA in China....

Abstract YWCA executive, YWCA worker, Social welfare worker. The Edith M. Lerrigo Papers are primarily related to her professional and public life, dating from 1922 to 1989. Types of materials include correspondence, sermons, prayers, meditations and worship services, photographs, reports, subject files, and writings. The bulk of the papers date from 1930s to 1981 and consist primarily of notes, outlines, and texts for Lerrigo's many speeches and presentations, the bulk of which were given at YWCA...

Scope and Contents

The China section of the Foreign Division of the YWCA of the U.S.A. is responsible for studying the conditions for women and girls in China, identifying urgent needs and opportunities and determining the role of the YWCA in China. In addition, they facilitate cooperation with the National Committee of China in its development. Reports from YWCA of the U.S.A. secretaries in China describe the development of their work, the conditions in their community of work and possible future needs. 

Scope and Contents

The National Committee of the YWCA of China meets to discuss the development of the YWCA and its programs in China. Members of the National Committee hear updates from secretaries concerning local associations and their needs, appoint leadership and personnel, discuss program needs and emphases and assess the needs of the overall YWCA development.