Finding aid for the Young Men's Christian Association of Cleveland Photographs


Title:
Young Men's Christian Association of Cleveland Photographs
Repository:
Western Reserve Historical Society
Phone: 216-721-5722
http://www.wrhs.org
Creator:
Young Men's Christian Association
Dates:
1897-1955
Quantity:
0.40 linear feet (1 container)
Abstract:
The Cleveland, Ohio, branch of the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) is the local branch of an international civic and social organization for men and boys. It was established in 1854 and quickly expanded to include numerous branches throughout the Cleveland area which offer a full range of community, recreational and educational activities. The collection consists of photographs of YMCA functions, facilities, and past presidents and other officials. Includes loose photographs and 2 unbound scrapbooks. Photographs include the Fenn Hall and Central YMCA buildings, the Lakewood West Side and the Collinwood branches; East End photographs, photographs of a YMCA building being built, various unidentified group portraits, and one photo of Billy Sunday and Douglas Fairbanks playing baseball for the YMCA. Activities pictured include swimming, athletics, camping, and classes. Many interior views of YMCA facilities are included.
Identification:
PG 087
Location:
closed stacks
Language:
The records are in English

History of the Young Men's Christian Association of Cleveland

The Young Men's Christian Association of Cleveland, Ohio, was an outgrowth of the international YMCA movement begun in England in 1844. The Cleveland YMCA was established on February 28, 1854, three years after the first American branch was founded.

The Cleveland YMCA initially operated out of a suite of rented rooms at what is now Superior and West 3rd Streets. Efforts of all the early branches were directed toward the moral and mental rehabilitation of young men. To this end, the Cleveland branch offered prayer meetings, a mission Sunday school, a lending library, and lectures, some of which were delivered by such men as Henry Ward Beecher and Cassius M. Clay.

The Cleveland YMCA disbanded in January 1863 when the American Civil War drew off most of the active membership. Following the Civil War, the Cleveland YMCA was re-established in 1867. Charles E. Bolton led the move for re-establishment and was assisted in his efforts by such prominent Clevelanders as Sereno P. Fenn, Henry A. Sherwin, and Charles J. Dockstader.

The Association grew quickly during the following two decades. By 1872, the Cleveland YMCA had established the first "Railroad" YMCA in the country. this operation was directed toward transient railroad workers and eventually became the Collinwood Branch of the YMCA. Religious and missionary work was intensified during the 1870s. In 1875 the Association began to take an interest in the welfare of the younger members of the community and opened a home for newsboys and bootblacks.

The year 1879 marked the beginning of a new era in the history of the Cleveland YMCA as Joseph B. Meriam assumed the presidency of the organization. Meriam redirected the Association's efforts toward the development of individual character in large numbers of young men instead of placing emphasis on the reformation of derelicts.

This redirection resulted in the establishment of education classes and a physical education program in 1881. The YMCA established its Junior Department in 1887, thus extending its work from young men to boys.

Along with the continued development of Meriam's new programs, the last years of the nineteenth early years of the twentieth century saw a tremendous expansion of the Association's physical plant. Aided by large gifts from men such as John D. Rockefeller, the Cleveland YMCA built several new main buildings and branches. the Broadway branch was established in 1883, the West Side Branch in 1901, and the East End (University Circle) Branch in 1911. The YMCA built and equipped new central buildings in 1891 and 1912.

The early decades of this century saw the Cleveland YMCA working closely with the city's social settlements and welfare agencies to alleviate the plight of the poor and the immigrant. World War I found the Cleveland YMCA totally committed to the War Work campaign and actively involved in promoting the Allied cause.

Following the war, the Cleveland YMCA continued to enlarge and improve both its buildings and programs. A branch was established in the suburb of Lakewood in 1921 and several new branches, including the Cedar branch, were established in the city. Increased attention was given to physical training and work with young boys. Scouting activities, with which the Cleveland YMCA was first associated in 1910, were greatly expanded during the 1920s.

In 1921, the educational activities of the YMCA were formally organized into the Cleveland School of Technology of the Young Men's Christian Association. In 1930 this organization was renamed Fenn College. Fenn College continued to be associated and partially directed by the Cleveland YMCA until 1951. In 1967, Fenn College became part of Cleveland State University.

The Great Depression forced the Cleveland YMCA into deep financial difficulties. Nevertheless, it provided services such as employment counseling during this period.

The Cleveland YMCA recovered quickly from the Depression and began some of its most ambitious expansion programs in the following years. Fund drives in 1954 and 1962 resulted in a tremendous expansion of the Cleveland YMCA.


click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for the Young Men's Christian Association of Cleveland

Scope and Content

The Young Men's Christian Association of Cleveland Photographs, ca. 1897-1950, consist of approximately 300 black and white photographs of YMCA functions, facilities, and past presidents and other officials. Includes loose photographs and 2 unbound scrapbooks. Photographs include the Fenn Hall and Central YMCA buildings, the Lakewood West Side and the Collinwood branches; East End photographs, photographs of a YMCA building being built, various unidentified group portraits, and one photo of Billy Sunday and Douglas Fairbanks playing baseball for the YMCA. Activities pictured include swimming, athletics, camping, and classes. Many interior views of YMCA facilities are included. The photographs measure 8 x 10 inches and smaller.

This collection will be useful to researchers studying the history of recreation, fitness, and neighborhood social services in Cleveland, Ohio, in the late nineteenth century and the first half of the twentieth century.

Statement of Arrangement

The collection is arranged by subject.

Restrictions on Access

None.

Related Material: Related Material

The researcher should also consult MS 3547 Young Men's Christian Association Records; and MS 4458 Young Men's Christian Association Records, Series II.


Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.

Subjects:

Boys -- Ohio -- Cleveland -- Societies and clubs -- Photographs.
Charities -- Ohio -- Cleveland -- Photographs.
Cleveland (Ohio) -- Social conditions -- Photographs.
Men -- Ohio -- Cleveland -- Societies and clubs -- Photographs.
Recreation -- Ohio -- Cleveland -- Photographs.
Social work with youth -- Ohio -- Cleveland -- Photographs.
Young Men's Christian Association (Cleveland, Ohio) -- Photograph collections.

Preferred Citation

[Container ___, Folder ___ ] PG 87 Young Men's Christian Association of Cleveland Photographs, Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, Ohio

Acquisition Information

These photographs were removed from MS 3547 Young Men's Christian Association Records. Gift of the Young Men's Christian Association in 1972.

Detailed Description of The Collection



Young Men's Christian Association of Cleveland Photographs, ca. 1897-1955

Box 1 / Folder 1
Scrapbook one: "Knowing an Opportunity," including interior and exterior views of several YMCA buildings and activities, ca. 1890s-1950s




Box 1 / Folder 2
Scrapbook two: camping, including exterior views of camps and camping activities and group portraits of campers, ca. 1900s-1910s




Box 1 / Folder 3
Photographs of various functions and facilities, including interior and exterior views of several locations, signage, exercise and fitness activities, sports, parades, orchestras, residential suites, lounges and lounging activities, groundbreaking of the Prospect and Perry Avenue building, banquets, offices, auditorium, swimming activities, a convention, and rooftop sunbathing, ca. 1910s-1950s




Box 1 / Folder 4
Various unidentified group photographs, including sports teams, classroom activities, and officers; and one photograph of Billy Sunday and Douglas Fairbanks playing ball for the YMCA, ca. 1910s-1920s




Box 1 / Folder 5
Construction photographs of a YMCA facility, ca. 1910s




Box 1 / Folder 6
Fenn Hall YMCA Building, exterior views, 1928




Box 1 / Folder 7
Central YMCA Building, including interior and exterior views of residential suites, lounge activities, pool tables, kitchen work, dining hall, classrooms, seasonal decorations (Fall), tailoring room, auditorium, gymnasium activities, barber shop, and locker room, ca. 1910s-1920s




Box 1 / Folder 8
Lakewood West Side Branch, group portraits of a basketball team and dining hall activities, ca. 1910s




Box 1 / Folder 9
East End Branch, including exterior landscaping crew and boys entering the building, ca. 1910




Box 1 / Folder 10
Collinwood Branch, group portraits of workers, banquets, and residents, 1955




Box 1 / Folder 11
Miscellaneous photographs, including a check from John D. Rockefeller, individual portraits of officers and supporters, banquets, and exterior building drawings, ca. 1890s-1950s




Box 1 / Folder 12
Negatives removed from Scrapbook Two in Folder 2, dates vary