YMCA and YWCA

YMCA and YWCA. The Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) and Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) are service organizations that arose as part of evangelical Protestantism's response to urbanization and industrialization.

The YMCA movement began in London in 1844; the first American YMCA started in Boston in 1851. YMCAs were subsequently established for African‐Americans (1853), students (1856), railroad workers (1872), and Native Americans (1879). The National Council of Young Men's Christian Associations (or YMCA of the USA) was founded in 1854. Early Ys were “fellowships” of young men seeking “spiritual and mental improvement” through prayer, Bible study, lectures, and good works. During the Civil War, the YMCA‐led Christian Commission provided social services for Union soldiers. After the war the YMCA added “social” and “physical” to its statements of purpose while limiting full participation to active members of certain evangelical churches. YMCA staff members invented basketball (Springfield, Massachusetts, 1891) and volleyball (Holyoke, Massachusetts, 1895).

Eventually abandoning its evangelical membership test, the YMCA gradually expanded its services to boys, women and girls, families, and seniors, while still emphasizing character‐building and youth work. The YMCA pioneered in nontraditional education, residential camping, teaching English as a second language, ecumenical relations, and more. The autonomy of local Ys and the involvement of community members guaranteed diversity of membership and a range of programs responsive to local needs. In 1999, with 971 separately‐incorporated branches nationwide, the YMCA of the USA was part of an international association representing YMCAs in 120 countries.

The YWCA, America's “largest and oldest women's organization,” originated with a “Ladies Christian Association” founded in New York City in 1858. The YMCA name originated in Boston in 1859. The early YWCA opened a boarding house for young women (1860); a day‐nursery (1864), and a student branch (Normal, Illinois, 1873). Based in New York, the YWCA by 2000 had 326 local associations in every state and was affiliated with the World YWCA operating in 101 countries. Focusing on female empowerment, it addressed many social issues including racism, peace, and voter education. In 1941, the YWCA, the YMCA, and other groups formed the United Service Organizations (USO) which provides social services to soldiers.

Two related organizations, the Young Men's Hebrew Association (YMHA) and Young Women's Hebrew Association (YWHA) provide lectures, discussion groups, and other activities for their members.
See also Feminism; Religion; Sports: Amateur Sports and Recreation.

Bibliography

C. Howard Hopkins , History of the YMCA in North America, 1951.
Nina Mjagkij and Margaret Spratt, eds., Men and Women Adrift: The YMCA and YWCA in the City, 1997.

Andrea Hinding