Collection is open for research.
Portions of this collection were donated to the Whitman College and Northwest Archives by Harriette W. Robinson in 1988. The accession number associated with this donation is retro-0090. Donations were also made by Mary Meeker in 2016. The accession number associated with this donation is 2016-09. For additional materials in the collection provenance is unknown.
The Young Men's Christian Association of Walla Walla (Y.M.C.A.), Washington was founded in 1886 by William Parkhurst Winans, who was the president of this organization in its early years. The organization was originally founded to prevent alcoholism in Umatilla County by providing a reading room for men to gather. Although the Y.M.C.A. disbanded, it was resurrected again in 1903, and added many physical facilities, such as a pool, gymnasium, and sleeping rooms. The Y.M.C.A continues to be an active organization in Walla Walla, offering many programs for men, women and children.
The Young Men's Christian Association of Walla Walla Records spans from 1903 through 1995. It consists of annual reports, newspaper clippings, financial records, meeting minutes, correspondence, programs, and a register of bonds. The organization's articles of incorporation, building blueprints, and a publication, "People-All Kinds-A Centennial History of the Walla Walla Y.M.C.A." are included. Materials about the organization's presence at Whitman College, the Fred D. Applegate appreciation dinner, and joint efforts with the Y.W.C.A. of Walla Walla are part of these records. These records give insight into the history of the Y.M.CA. and the impact it had on the Walla Walla community.