The Young Men's Christian Association was organized in London in June, 1844. The YMCA branch at Washington State College began operation in 1894. An Advisory Board was organized in 1908. Governing bodies for the organization have included an Executive Council and an Advisory Board and later a Student Cabinet and Board of Trustees. Eventually, the organizations was able to maintain a staff of employees.
Services performed by the YMCA during its history on the campus of WSU include but are not restricted to the following activities: Bible study, devotional meetings, meeting of trains, temporary care of baggage, operation of an information bureau, location of housing for students, publication of the Student's Handbook, operation of an employment bureau, provision of a forum to discuss religious issues, sponsor symposiums and faculty-senior retreats, conduct model United Nations programs for high school students, show movies on campus, tutor children from the community, sponsor cultural exchange programs, support Big Brother and Big Sister Programs, and sponsor the New Student Camp Program.
The records of the YMCA at Washington State University span the years 1906 to 1971, with the bulk dates being 1930 to 1955. They have been organized into a single sequence, alphabetized except where other factors took priority. For example, all reports have been kept together. The collection is comprised of auditors' reports, council reports, annual reports, reports of news, handbooks, newsletters, booklets, programs, announcements, and other papers. Also included are a small number of items that refer to the YWCA.
The Collection is open for research use.
The records of the YMCA at Washington State University were transferred to Washington State University Libraries sometime prior to 1970 (WSU 169).
The records were reprocessed in February 1984 by Paul Green.
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