ohy_mss2384.xml Guide to the Young Women's Christian Association Williams Avenue Center records Young Women's Christian Association Williams Avenue Center records Geoffrey B. Wexler Oregon Historical Society Research Library 2006; revised 2024

1200 SW Park Ave. Portland, OR 97205 Business Number: 5033065204 Business Number: 5033065240 libreference@ohs.org https://www.ohs.org/research-and-library/

This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2024-02-23. Finding aid is written in English. Finding aid based on DACS (Describing Archives: A Content Standard), 2nd Edition. 2024-02-23 Minor revisions to conform to current standard. Oregon Historical Society Research Library Young Women's Christian Association Williams Avenue Center records Young Women's Christian Association (Portland, Or.). Williams Avenue Center Mss 2384 0.45 cubic feet 1 document case 1918-1961 Records of a YWCA center located in the Albina neighborhood of northeast, Portland, Oregon, which served the African American community. Includes historical background, minutes of meetings, correspondence, reports, surveys, study workbook, and papers on relief for people displaced by the 1948 Vanport flood. English

Collection is open ror research.

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.

Young Women's Christian Association Williams Avenue Center records, Mss 2384, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.

Records of the Young Women's Christian Association Williams Avenue Center include general correspondence, statistical reports, surveys, and special studies; minutes and agendas; papers on refugee work after the Vanport flood of 1948; and a study workbook.

The Oregon Historical Society owns the materials in the Research Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from copyright owners.

Young Women's Christian Association (Portland, Or.). Williams Avenue Center--Records and correspondence Albina (Portland, Or.) Portland (Or.)--Social life and customs--20th century African American women--Oregon--Portland--Societies and clubs African Americans--Oregon--Portland Community centers--Oregon--Portland Women--Oregon--Portland--Societies and clubs Portland African Americans Women Clubs and Societies correspondence minutes (administrative records) reports Historical background 1918-1950 1 1

Includes chronology, charter members, and program for dedication of Williams Avenue Branch building, 1926.

Historical background 1932-1946 undated 1 2

Includes bylaws, 1932; and "Report of first five months' operation," circa 1947.

General correspondence, reports, and questionnaires 1942-1944 1 3 General correspondence, reports, minutes 1945-1946 1 4

Includes report to the national YWCA, and report titled "A study of the needs of the Albina area and proposed group work and recreation services," dated April 1946.

Statistical reports 1936-1946 1 5 General correspondence and reports 1946-1948 1 6

Includes papers on Vanport flood refugee work, 1948.

Correspondence and petitions 1949-1953 1 7

Includes letter from Lewis B. Stewart, August 19, 1953.

YWCA study 1956 1 8 General correspondence and reports 1954-1956 1 9 Study workbook 1955 1 10 General correspondence 1957-1959 1 11

Includes photographs of the Williams Avenue Center, circa 1959.

General correspondence 1960-1961 1 12

Includes letter from Essie L. Maguire detailing history of the center.