Young Women's Christian Association Williams Avenue Center records, 1918-1961

In 1918, Mrs. C. A. Jenkins of Portland began to organize an African American branch of the Young Women's Christian Association. Other organizers were Mrs. George Benjamin, Mrs. Garner Hayson, and Lewis B. Stewart. By-laws were adopted in 1921 and a temporary building was opened on N. Tillamook Street at Williams Avenue. In 1926, a new building was given to the branch by Mrs. E. S. Collins. Efforts to facilitate interracial dialogue were conducted in the early 1930s. The building was used as a USO center catering to African American troops in the years 1942-1944. After World War II, the branch attempted to become more interracial in character, but it remained largely African American. After a 1955 study by the YWCA, it was recommended that the Williams Avenue Branch be changed into a community center under an interracial board of directors. Around 1961, the Williams Avenue building was sold to the Order of Elks.