It’s International Women’s Day. I’ve been immersed in the records of the YWCA of the USA for the past year and would be remiss if I let this day go by without noting the amazing resources available in the YWCA of the USA records documenting an organization working to empower all women. Through advocacy, social justice, education and programming the YWCA USA has worked with and for women and girls in cooperation with other organizations and movements. You can read more about the history of the organization and the YWCA of the USA records in a previous blog post. Describing the microfilm, photographs and serials has been a powerful reminder to me of what great things women can accomplish when we put aside our differences and work together in support of a better life for all. In creating robust metadata records I hope to connect researchers to these documents and through increased access create opportunity for greater learning from and connecting to the past. The YWCA of the USA records are part of the Sophia Smith Collection where one can find the records and collections of individuals, organizations and subjects documenting women’s history.

It’s impossible to select an image or document that represents the long history and wide ranging activities of the YWCA USA. I’ve selected a few of the photographs that have recently come back from digitization that offer a very small sample of the work of the YWCA USA.

The YWCA USA has a long history of working towards an inclusive organization and advocating for equal rights for all. This mission is put into action in many ways and to varying degrees of success over the years. The microfilm records of national conventions, regional conventions, local associations and the public affairs department provide insight into the practices, actions and challenges of the organization’s fight against racism. The documents reveal internal struggles and insight into the national anti-racism movements. This insight into the practical aspects of the movement are enlightening and provide opportunities for learning about an organized response to racism.

In 1970 in response to national events and strong feelings of action within parts of the YWCA USA the 25th National Convention passes the One Imperative, “the elimination of racism wherever it exists and by any means necessary.” The One Imperative is a bold stand against racism making it the driving force behind all initiatives of the organization. Below are images from an article on the convention and excerpts from a booklet on the One Imperative by Dorothy Height.