YWCA of the U.S.A. Records. Record Group 6. Program: Series III. Public Advocacy
General International Standard for Archival Description
Sophia Smith Collection Smith CollegeNorthampton, MA
Finding aid encoded by Carrie Baldwin. July 11, 2008
Encoded Archival Description
Encoded Archival Description (EAD) Version 2002
collection
Creation of YWCA of the U.S.A. Records. Record Group 6. Program: Series III. Public Advocacy
Time of Creation of YWCA of the U.S.A. Records. Record Group 6. Program: Series III. Public Advocacy
Young Women's Christian Association of the U.S.A.
Biographical History for: YWCA of the U.S.A. Records. Record Group 6. Program: Series III. Public Advocacy
Historical Note The Public Advocacy activities of the YWCA represent the Association as a social force and have been described as "prayer in motion." They encompass "[a]ny issue affecting our common life which requires collective citizen action, legislation, or the development of public policy or efforts to change or improve the conditions or quality of life for all citizens, or correct inequities." Cover of pamphlet by Joseph Camp, 1948 In a January 1911 report to the Department of Method, Economic Secretary Blanche Geary, spurred a new type of activity for the National Association when she pointed out that "preventative work for the girl who is not self-supporting is to a large degree futile if it is not coupled with a determined effort to secure her [a] minimum living wage." When Geary's argument was put before the membership later that year at the Third National Convention the YWCA went on record as in "sympathy with the great purpose of securing the determination by law of a minimum living wage for women." With this resolution, the National YWCA began to make use of its influence as a Christian organization in the public policy sphere. From this point, part of the goal of the Department of Method was to make each Association, club, and committee within the YWCA "a force for social and industrial righteousness." Most of the National Association's earliest public advocacy activities were related to employment issues in the "economic" sphere. World War I prompted the YWCA to expand its longstanding efforts to foster international understanding (known as its "World Fellowship" work) to include public policy efforts in support of international peace. At the 1920 YWCA National Convention (the first held after passage of the Nineteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guaranteeing women the franchise), the membership voted to "make a study of social and economic conditions affecting women, and of the possibilities of improving such conditions through legislation and that it use resources and influence to help secure such legislation as shall promote the welfare of young women." The National Board's recommendation for adoption of the "Social Ideals of the Churches" of the Federal Council of Churches of Christ in America as the social platform of the YWCA, reads in part: "To secure the practical application of these Social Ideals, there will be needed intelligent public opinion, social reform and wise legislation. Through the experience of the last five years [World War I] women have discovered their potential power in public affairs, and with the granting of the franchise there has come to them the responsibility for active participation in the life of the body politic. Many women are not as yet prepared to meet these responsibilities. Many have need of guidance in adjusting their private life to the challenging demands of full citizenship. There is necessity for careful study of the contribution which women can bring to national and international problems." The result was a resolution to use YWCA resources "to further the preparation of women for responsible citizenship and to direct their energies toward the achievement of social righteousness." When the Education and Research Division was established in the following year (1921), it coordinated the work of three committees concerned with public policy issues: the Legislative Committee, the Council on International Education (originally Council on International Peace), and the Council on Economic Relations. Acknowledging the "closely related and interwoven" aspects of the work of these three committees, the YWCA decided to merge them in 1929 to form the Committee on Public Affairs. The Public Affairs Committee had responsibility for formulating the National Public Affairs Program for action at Convention. It was also responsible for "interpretation" and implementation of the Program through the development of educational materials for use by Community and Student Associations. The Committee kept abreast of legislation in Congress and the states, kept files of "current and reliable" information related to the Program, and worked with other organizations expert in particular issues. It had responsibility for initiating suggested action on public policy and drafting statements on public policy issues for the National Board. Committee membership included "resident" (local) members and members-at-large who represented the various regions of the country and all divisions and departments of the National Association. The Committee worked in characteristic YWCA fashion, studying existing conditions, crafting resolutions or recommendations for Convention, and, once the program was approved by that body, working in various ways to advocate for legislation and sway public opinion through community education. To formulate the National Public Affairs Program, the Committee solicited suggestions from all departments and divisions of the staff and all members of the Committee. The tentative Program was sent to each Association for comment. Changes were then made at Convention and the final version adopted as the basis for public advocacy work during the following biennium/triennium. From early days, the Program was organized in categories called "sections" with a Subcommittee assigned responsibility for each section. Though the terms used to describe the various sections changed over time, they generally fell into the following broad, and often overlapping, categories: -civil liberties and democratic rights (including lynching, prayer in public schools, campus unrest, the House Un-American Activities Committee, loyalty oaths, military conscription, voting rights, gun control, and racial and sexual discrimination). -international relations (including post-war recovery/reconstruction, international labor issues, trade policy, United Nations, status of women, world government, and peace). -social and economic welfare (including child welfare, consumers, economic opportunity, employment training, health care and health insurance, housing, labor issues, social security, status of women, and women workers). -ethnic groups (including affirmative action, fair employment practices, race discrimination in the armed forces, segregation, exclusion laws, alien registration, anti-semitism, and refugee issues) -government and politics (including political party platforms, citizenship education, and the Supreme Court) -public education (including federal aid, and support for U.S. Department of Education) -public health and safety (including health insurance, maternity and infant care, prostitution, reproductive rights, and violence prevention) -youth (including employment opportunities, juvenile delinquency, and franchise) Science and the Environment became a new category in the late 1960s. Beginning in the 1930s through the end of the 1950s, Public Affairs was not so closely allied with other Program staff, being either a separate department or part of General Administration. In the 1930s, the YWCA worked on issues related to the Fair Labor Standards Act, Social Security Act, lynching, support for public education and the establishment of U.S. Dept of Education, refugees, world peace, and the rights of workers to organize. Issues in the 1940s included international peace, the relocation of Japanese-Americans during World War II, alien registration, fair employment practices, race discrimination in the armed forces, immigrant exclusion laws, European recovery, international human rights conventions, and the establishment of the United Nations. In the 1950s, the Public Affairs Office focused on legislation related to the restriction of civil liberties during the McCarthy era. Creation of the Bureau of Research and Program Resources in 1960 again grouped Public Affairs staff with other Program staff. Public Advocacy activities during the decade related to civil rights, campus unrest, gun control, the environment, economic opportunity, fair housing, and health care. The early 1970s Organization Renewal effort called for creation of a Program Development and Public Policy Unit focused on racial justice, religion, health, and the environment. The new "Public Policy Center" (one of various "centers" in the Unit) worked on issues related to women's rights, sex discrimination, affirmative action, school busing, the Vietnam war, reproductive rights, homelessness, agricultural migrant workers, and the minimum wage. Financial struggles prevented full implementation of plans envisioned as part of the Organization Renewal. In 1991, the National Association established an office in Washington, D.C., to enable the YWCA to become recognized presence in the national capital. To strengthen these efforts, it created the Advocacy and Research Division in 1992. The idea was to aggressively seek opportunities to speak on public policy issues and issues of concern to the YWCA, particularly child care, women's health, racism, domestic violence, and women's political participation. The Division handled financial record-keeping for the Women's Vote Project '96 sponsored by the Council of Presidents of National Women's Organizations. This Project developed a political skills training program for women known as "I Lead." After this experience, the YWCA sought funding from the Ford Foundation for an expanded Women's Political Empowerment Program to develop "program resources" and "training modules" to increase women's political participation. The resulting "I Vote" voter participation program and the "I Speak Out" advocacy training program were designed to augment "I Lead" political skills training program developed by the Women's Vote Project '96. Administrative History1911-Method Department, especially Economic Work Secretary1921-22Law Reporting Service in Research and Method Department1923-28 [-31]Legislation and International Education in Education and Research Division1932Economics, International Affairs in Laboratory Division; Public Affairs Correspondence in National Services Division1933-53Public Affairs Office in General Administration1954-59Public Affairs1960-70Bureau of Research and Program Resources1970Office of Public Affairs1971-78Public Policy Center in Program Development and Public Policy Unit1978-84Public Policy Center in Program Unit1984-Public Affairs, Public Policy in Program Services Division1991[Washington Office] Public PolicySep 1992Advocacy and Public Policy in Advocacy and Research Division Committees1922-Legislative Committee, under Education and Research Division1929-30 Public Affairs Committee under Education and Research Division1932-33Public Affairs Committee1933-39Public Affairs Committee under General Administration 1940-70National Public Affairs Committee1970-71Public Affairs Core Group [during Organization Renewal process] 1971-73Public Policy Committee1982-96Public Policy Committee1998-Public Policy and Advocacy Committee
The YWCA of the U.S.A. donated a portion of its records to the Sophia Smith Collection in 1964 and the remainder in 2002 and 2003.
Scope and Contents Forms part of the YWCA of the U.S.A. Records--Record Group 6. Program. NOTE: For the most part, the Microfilmed Records and the Original Format Records do not duplicate each other and both should be consulted. This description covers materials in both formats. See the Contents List for a folder-level inventory of the Original Format Records. See the Microfilmed Records Reel Lists for a detailed inventory of the microfilm. Public Advocacy files include general historical materials, committee and subcommittee records, mailings to Associations, publications, program materials, reference files on program issues, reports, surveys, and training materials dating from 1911 to 2000. Committee records, publications and a few reference files were kept as part of the organization's Central File and were therefore microfilmed. The extensive Program Subject files, maintained separately from the Central File were not microfilmed. These chronicle the YWCA's activities in a wide variety of public policy areas and are available only in original format. Committee and Subcommittee records document formulation of the National Public Affairs Program as well as drafting of related correspondence with legislators, letters to editors, and other kinds of public statements. It was the duty of Public Advocacy staff to keep abreast of developments related to the Program, monitoring the progress of legislation and collecting related newspaper clippings, pamphlets, and brochures to gauge public opinion and keep informed about ongoing developments. Regular mailings to Associations and a variety of publications, including both pamphlets and serials, such as Public Affairs News Service, were tools for "interpretation" of the Program. These materials provided ideas and strategies for use by Community and Student Associations to help mold public opinion. The records reflect the challenges of dealing with controversy stirred by some of the YWCA's more radical stances, and the effects of those stances on funding of the Association. Though the YWCA came to see its public policy work as part of its Christian duty, many in the general public expected a religious organization to stay out of the public sphere. Microfilmed Records, 1906-70 only [see Microfilmed Records Reel List] Records on the microfilm consist of only those materials kept in the Central File and are less extensive than those that survive in original format. Both should be consulted. Microfilmed records include minutes and reports of the Public Affairs Committee, general subject files on selected public advocacy issues (such as the U.S. Government, labor, peace, communism, and narcotics), and the extensive serials and other publications produced by the program. They can be found on the microfilm under: Minutes and Reports Public Affairs CommitteeSubject Files Government-United StatesLaborPeacePublic Affairs [publications]CommunismNarcotics Original Format Records, 1906-2000, 34 linear feet [see Original Format Records folder list] The original format records are arranged in two subseries: Subseries A. General Subseries B. Program Subject Files Subseries A. General is divided in nine sections: General and History, Office/Staff, Committees and Subcommittees, Mailings, Programs and Projects, Publications, Reports, Surveys, and Training. Much of the material in General and History appears to have been gathered or created as part of the 50th Anniversary of the Public Affairs Program which was celebrated jointly with the National Council of Jewish Women in 1961-62. Included are a variety of chronologies and subject indexes detailing the YWCA's public policy activities over time. There are also copies of the Program passed at each Convention. Office/Staff contains a variety of general materials about the office and its communications with Community Associations and others about the Program and about various controversies associated with it. Committees and Subcommittees consists primarily of minutes, reports, and rosters. A few notes and working drafts give a sense of the process for formulating the Program. The files are relatively comprehensive up to 1969, but contain almost nothing from the 1970s and 1980s and only a few items from the 1990s. To keep the membership informed about ongoing developments related to the Program, the Committee sent regular Mailings of "Circular Letters" to Community and Student Associations. Items date from 1922 to 1950 and the late 1980s through 2000. Records in Programs and Projects consists primarily of files related to Child Care, Political Participation, and Violence Prevention programs dating from the late 1980s to 2000. Included are funding proposals, publications, files from workshops, media kits, correspondence and clippings about events at Community Associations. Public Advocacy Publications consist of brochures, booklets, program materials, organizing kits, and serials to inform the membership about the issues and provide suggestions for activities aimed at forming public opinon. Reports consists primarily of Committee/Council reports to the National Board on Program activities, 1920-88. Surveys document late 1990s-2001 questionnaires to Community YWCAs about programs they offer, particularly anti-violence and child care. Training contains scattered study course, orientation materials, and kits dating from 1927 to 2002. Subseries B. Program Subject Files consists of files created and maintained by Public Advocacy staff to be a central source of information accessible by subject. They were maintained separately from the YWCA's Central File and were not microfilmed. They include copies of pending legislation, correspondence with legislators and other organizations, excerpts clipped from Committee and National Board minutes, excerpts clipped from YWCA publications, a wide variety of pamphlets, brochures, newsletters, and flyers put out by other organizations, congressional testimony, friend of the court briefs, texts of speeches, and press releases. The files were designed to allow YWCA staff to be well-informed about each topic, including the major arguments for and against it, the Association's past activities related to that subject, and the forces aligned against its position. The files originally contained clippings from the mainstream press (including the New York Times and Post, the Washington Post, The Nation, Congressional Record, and the National Capital Reporter). Due to deterioration of the poor-quality paper, any clippings used on for reference, that did not make mention of the YWCA were discarded. In some cases, the Program Subject Files contain carbon copies of YWCA officers' correspondence that was not retained as part of the Central File documenting activities that are not reflected elsewhere in the Records. As is true elsewhere in the Records, not much has survived from 1970s and 1980s. The Program Subject Files are arranged according to the categories or sections in the "Public Affairs Program" as follows: Civil Liberties and Democratic RightsEducationEthnic GroupsGovernment and PoliticsInternational RelationsMorality and the MediaPublic Health and SafetyScience and the EnvironmentSocial and Economic WelfareYouth It is not unusual for subject areas to overlap and for similar or even duplicate records to appear in more than one category. Related Materials In other Series in this Record Group Materials produced for presenting the Public Advocacy goals of the National Association, can be found particularly in the SERIES IV. CONSTITUENT GROUPS, especially in Conference files, and in SERIES V. PROGRAM SUBJECTS. The YWCA magazine (in SERIES VI. PUBLICATIONS) has extensive coverage of public advocacy issues. In other Record Groups Educational work in international relations appears throughout RECORD GROUP 5. INTERNATIONAL WORK. RECORD GROUP 4. CONFERENCES AND CONVENTIONS contains records of the process for formulating and approving the Public Advocacy Program including records of discussion on the floor of the Convention. The files also often contain press coverage with initial reactions to the Program as approved. The correspondence and controversy sections of SERIES I. GENERAL ADMINISTRATION in RECORD GROUP 3. NATIONAL ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE, reveal some of the public response to more controversial positions, and the associated effects on fund-raising, etc. Records of the Student Work in RECORD GROUP 7. reflect the students' strong influence on the Public Affairs Program. RECORD GROUP 10. AUDIOVISUAL MATERIALS includes footage of YWCA participation in a few demonstrations, television coverage and public service announcements related to the Week Without Violence campaigns of the 1990s, and Institute for Public Leadership training sessions from the late 1980s and early 1990s.
The records are open to research according to the regulations of the Sophia Smith Collection without any additional restrictions. Access to audiovisual materials may first require production of research copies.
The YWCA of the USA retains copyright ownership of the records, but has authorized the Sophia Smith Collection to grant permission to publish reproductions or quotations from the records on its behalf. Copyright to materials authored by persons other than YWCA staff may be owned by those individuals or their heirs or assigns. It is the responsibility of the researcher to identify and satisfy the holders of all copyrights for permission to publish reproductions or quotations beyond "fair use."
Additional Formats A copy of the microfilmed records of the YWCA of the U.S.A. Records is available to borrow from the William Allan Neilson Library at Smith College via Interlibrary Loan. To request the microfilm from our library you will need to submit the following information to your library's Interlibrary Loan department: Author: Young Women's Christian Association of the U.S.A. National BoardTitle: Records, 1876-1970 [microform]WorldCat Accession Number: OCLC 57415795Notes: "Call # 689" and reel number(s) you want to borrow Full descriptions and reel lists of the microfilm are available online.
This Record group forms part of the YWCA of the U.S.A. Records
Processed by Maida Goodwin, Amy Hague, Kara McClurken, Amanda Izzo, 2008 FY 07-08
African Americans--Civil rights--History--20th century--Sources
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Anti-communist movements--United States--History--Sources
Civil rights movements--United States--History--20th century--Sources
Labor laws and legislation--United States--History--20th century--Sources
Labor--United States--History--20th century--Sources
Race awareness--United States
Race relations--United States
series
SERIES III. PUBLIC ADVOCACY
This is the Contents List for the Original Format Records only. The reel lists for the Microfilmed Records are in a separate file. See Scope and Content note for more description.
Subseries A. General
General and History
History, 1911-74
Chronology (by subject), 1924-38
Public Affairs Program as adopted at Convention, 1924-98
Convention and National Board Actions
Public Affairs, 1911-38
Chronological lists of Convention Actions, 1885-1943
Index to Convention Actions, 1906-40
Summary (chronological), 1915-38
Social Ideals of the Churches, 1920-34
National Board Public Affairs Actions, 1948-72
50th Anniversary of Public Affairs Program (celebrated jointly with National Council of Jewish Women), 1961-62
Planning
Press releases and news clippings
Program and speeches
National Council of Jewish Women
Local Associations
National Forum on Women: Strategies for the Decade (part of International Women's Year), 18 Nov 1975
Office/Staff
Legislative Service, 1920-28
Public Affairs/Public Policy
Advocacy and Research Division
General, 1994-2000, n.d.
Public Policy text for YW Link, 1997
Reference book, 1997
Child Care Services and Advocacy
Clippings, 1994, 1997
Child Care Network, 1995-2001
Child Care Advisory Panel, 1998-2001, n.d.
Child Care Affinity Group, 2000
Correspondence, 1995-2001, n.d.
Correspondence to legislators from Member Associations, 1998
Lobbying and testimony, 1994-99, n.d.
Controversy
General, 1940-97
Public Affairs Issues, 1920-76
Correspondence re relations with Community Chests and Councils, 1947-48
Seattle, Washington, and Eunice P. Clise, 1946-48
Strategies of other organizations, 1948-70
Committees and Subcommittees
Legislative Committee
Council on International Peace/International Education [aka Peace Council], 1924-28
Public Affairs Committee
General, 1941-73
Appointments, 1940-50
Rosters, 1961-72
Minutes and reports
State members
Rosters, 1935-39
Correspondence, 1930-49
Subcommittees
Civil Liberties Group/Sub-committee, 1939-49
Economic Section/Subcommittee, 1933-41, 1947
International Education/International
General, 1936-49
Minutes, 1929-50
Race Relations
Social Responsibility (Local Public Affairs)
General, 1940-44
Minutes, 1940-44
Social Security, 1936-37
Washington, DC segment of Public Affairs Committee, 1963-71
Ad-hoc Group on Public Policy, 1969
Ad-hoc Committee on New Focus for Public Affairs Program, 1969-70
Public Policy Committee, 1987-97
Public Policy and Advocacy Committee, 1998
Mailings ["Circular Letters"]
Legislative Committee, 1922-28
Public Policy
General, 1989, 1997
Child Care, Dec 1994-2000
Programs and Projects
Child Care
Child Care Marketing Campaign
Child Care Project: funding proposals, 1995-96
Family Communications, Inc., anti-bias pilot project, 1998
Goizueta Foundation grants, 1999-2002
Lifetime Television "Caring for Kids" Project, 1999
"Same and Different" anti-bias pilot program, 1995
21st Century Community Learning Center grants, 1999
Stand for Children Day 2000 Event Planning Kit
Mothers' Center Pilot Project, 1987-91
Political Participation/Empowerment
YWCA/National Women's Education Fund Model Political Campaign Seminars, 1985-86
Election Year '88 Voter Participation Project, 1988
1992 Voter Participation Project
Institute for Public Leadership
General, 1985-90, n.d.
Local Sponsor Kit, n.d.
Women's Political Empowerment Program
Overview, 1997-98, 2001
"Campaign Sourcebook," Jan 1995
"Making Your Workshop a Winner: A Step-by-step Guide to Planning and Marketing Your IPL Workshop," 1995
Voter registration and education activities at member associations, 1996
Women Empowered to Shape Public Policy Project
Proposal to Ford Foundation, 1996
Final Report to Ford Foundation, 1998
Campaign Skills Workshop
Campaign Sourcebook, 1997, 1998, 2002
Step-by-Step Planning and Marketing Guide
Trainers' Manual
EmPowerNet News, 2000
"I Speak Out" advocacy training program
General, 1997, n.d.
Workshops
Cast packet, May 1997
Coordinators Sourcebook, 1997
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, May 1997
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Mar 1997
Salem, Oregon, Mar 1997
Individuals' evaluations, 1997
YWCA of Western New York: Advocacy Sourcebook, Child Care Packet Apr 2000
"Advocacy Sourcebook," Nov 1999, 2000
"Step-by-Step Planning and Marketing Guide," Jul 1999
Follow-up questionnaires, 1998
"I Vote" voter participation project
General, 1996
Orientation, Sep 1996
Reports from participating YWCAs, 1996
Voter Education Discussion Papers
Voter Education reference materials, circa 1996
Women's Vote Project '96: The Deciding Vote
General, 1995-96, n.d.
Affiliate sites, 1996
Committees
Administrative, 1995-96
Grassroots, 1996
Consultants, 1996-97
Council of Presidents of National Women's Organizations, 1996
Financial
General, 1995-97, n.d.
Reports and tax forms, 1995-97, n.d.
Final reports to funders, 1997
Grant applications, 1996
HumanSERVE: correspondence and reference materials, 1995-96
Local events, 1995-96
State Coordinators
Training, Jul 1996
Reference materials
YWCA Campaign 2000…We Vote and Our Voices are Heard
Violence Prevention
Week Without Violence, 1995
General
Media Kit
Organizers Kit
Follow up: Confronting Violence in our Communities
Week Without Violence, 1996
Alabama: Birmingham
California
Los Angeles
Mid-peninsula/Palo Alto
Orange, North
Orange, South
San Francisco
Santa Monica
Watsonville
Other YWCA events
Colorado: Boulder
Connecticut
Darien-Norwalk
Greenwich
Hartford
Meriden
District of Columbia
Florida
Jacksonville
Palm Beach County
Georgia
Central Savannah River Area
Cobb County
Hawaii
Hawaii Island
Kauai County
Idaho: Southeastern
Illinois
Aurora
Chicago
Freeport
McLean County
Pekin
Sauk Valley
Indiana
Elkhart County
Fort Wayne
Gary
Lafayette
St. Joseph County
Iowa
Ames-Iowa State University
Des Moines
Washington
Kansas
Salina
Topeka
Wichita
Louisiana
Baton Rouge
New Orleans
Northwest Louisiana (Shreveport)
Massachusetts
Boston
Cambridge
Central Massachusetts
Lawrence
Southeastern Massachusetts
Maryland: Morgan State University
Maine
Bangor-Brewer
Lewiston-Auburn
Mount Desert Island
Portland
Michigan
Bay County
Lansing
Missouri: Kansas City
Montana
Billings
Missoula
Nebraska
Adams County
Omaha
New Jersey
Bergen County
Eastern Union County
Montclair-North Essex
Plainfield/North Plainfield
Princeton
North Carolina
Asheville
Central Carolinas
Greensboro
High Point
Rocky Mount
Wilmington
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County
North Dakota: Fargo/Moorhead
South Carolina: Upper Lowlands
Utah: Salt Lake City
1-3 of 5
4-5 of 5
Week Without Violence, 1997
Executive report
Week Without Violence, 1998-2000, n.d.
Publications
Miscellaneous, 1958-59, n.d.
Backgrounds and Foregrounds in the National Public Affairs Program for the Foreign Born by Mabel Brown Ellis, 1938
Hunger: An Action Guide, 1969
Implementing the Nestle Resolution: A Program Paper, 1980
Interpreting International Relations and the YWCA, 1930
Locally Speaking-being an exchange of program ideas, methods and techniques in the real of Public Affairs, 1941
The Past is Prelude: Fifty Years of Social Action in the YWCA by Elsie D. Harper, 1963
A Primer on Economics by Elsie D. Harper, 1935
A Primer of Public Affairs by Margaret Hiller, 1932
Program Help on International Relationships, Program series no. 32, 1926
Public Affairs and the YWCA, 1931, 1933 revised
The Public Affairs Committee by Elsie D. Harper, 1943
Public Affairs in the YWCA, 1957
"Reproductive Choice Action Packet," 1995
Toward International Organization by Margaret E. Burton and "Program Suggestions for the Use of Toward International Organization" by Margaret Hiller, 1940
Toward World Government by Henrietta Roelofs, 1942
The Traffic in Arms by Myra A. Smith, 1934
Uncle Sam at Geneva: The United States and the League of Nations, Programs for Clubs and Committees by Margaret Hiller, 1938
What About the YWCA and Labor? by Dorothy Hubbard Bishop, 1946
"What Every YWCA Should Know About Gun Abuse: A Program Paper," Public Policy Center, May 1974
The World and All: Programs about the League of Nations and the International Labour Organisation for use by YWCA groups in various countries by Margaret Hiller, 1938
"Your Vote is Your Voice: A Kit for Voter Registration, Education and Turnout Programs," 1983
The Y's Word: An All-Association Project, 1931
YWCA Cares for Children: A Guidebook for YWCA Child Care Centers, 1998
Serials
Public Affairs Newsletter
Public Affairs News Service
Series 1-2, 1936-Aug 1938
Series 3-8, Oct 1938-May 1944
Series 9-Volume 14, Oct 1944-51
Public Affairs Size 16, parts 1-3 by Margaret Hiller, 1939-40
Public Policy Bulletin
Violence Against Women Network Newsletter, 1999-2000
Womans Press columns, "The Capital Letter" and "Public Affairs," 1939-49
YWCA Cares for Children: A Newsletter for YWCA Child Care Advocates, 1997-2001
Reports
Law Reporting Service/Legislative Service, 1920-28
Peace Council [Council on International Peace], 1924-25
Public Affairs Committee/Program
State Members, 1933-41
Surveys
Anti-Violence Programs of the YWCA, 2000
Report
Child Care and School-Age Programs
General, 2000-2001, n.d.
Contractors, 2000
Responses by question
Responses by state
Maine-Massachusetts
Michigan-North Carolina
Telephone Follow-up Survey, 2001
Survey forms, California - Virginia
Use of Vans in Transporting Children, 1999
"Working Women Count!," 1994, 1999
Training
Miscellaneous training materials, 1970-99, n.d.
"Do You Know Your Community?" a beginning study course in what all citizens ought to know by Alice Standish Buell, circa 1922
Pre-Convention Public Policy Event, 1982
Public Policy Forum: To Promote Empowerment Through Public Policy, May 1990
Workshop on Freedom and Its Responsibility, Oct 1956
The YWCA and World Problems, Outline No. II, Mexico, 1927
Public Policy and Advocacy Orientation, 1999
YWCA Cares for Children Seminars
8 Nov 2002
20 Nov 2002
Subseries B. Program Subject Files
Civil liberties and democratic rights
American defense-civil defense, 1946-62
Anti-lynching-mob violence, 1932-52
Bible reading and prayers in the public schools, 1962-71, n.d.
Campus unrest
General, 1965-69
Correspondence in response to National Board Action, 1970-71
Killings at Southern University, 1972-73
Capital punishment, 1958-76
Civil liberties
Civil Liberties Group (Public Affairs Committee), 1939-48
Civil rights, President's Commission on, 1946-60
Communism
General, 1924-58, n.d.
Behind the Lace Curtains: YWCA response, 1948-49
House Un-American Activities Committee, 1945-63
Loyalty issue
Oct 1950-70
Dies Committee, 1939-43
Internal Security Act, 1950, 1971
Repeal of Emergency Detention Act, 1970-71
YWCA Panel on Communism, 1947
Conscription
Compulsory military training and selective service, 1926-46
Conscientious objectors, 1940-70
Conscription of women, 1941-44
YMCA-YWCA Ad Hoc Committee on "War Affected Persons," 1972-74
Criminal Justice Codification, Revision, and Reform, 1972-76
Fascism: List of typical organizations, 1934-40
Franchise
Armed forces, 1942-44
District of Columbia residents, 1959-75
Freedom programs
General, 1936-63, n.d.
Freedom Agenda Program of the Carrie Chapman Catt Memorial Fund, 1954-59
Fund for The Republic grant to YWCA, 1955-57
Library project with National Council of Jewish Women, United Church Women, and National Council of Negro Women, 1954-55
Speak Up for Freedom with National Council of Jewish Women, 1952-54
Gun control, 1967-98
Hawaii-Alaska statehood, 1946-59
Poll tax, 1939-51
Racism: Angela Davis Case
General, 1970-72
YWCA Statement of Concern, 1970
Correspondence, 1970-72
Ad-hoc Committee on the Open Letter to YWCAs, 1971
Advisory Committee on the trial and the YWCA position, 1971-72
Sex discrimination: Title IX, 1972-81
Sexual orientation
General, 1973-92
Conference Call, 1995
NOW Lesbian Rights Resources Kit, 1993
Education
Beverly Hills Tri-Y Club project, 1940
Education for citizenship, 1922-50
Federal aid to education
General, 1933-71
Higher education legislation, 1957, 1965
Chronologies, 1940-54
Public aid to private/parochial schools, 1938-72
National Board support for a U.S. Department of Education, 1922-39
Postal rules for educational material, 1953-58
Reference materials, 1944-50, n.d.
Ethnic Groups
General, 1945, 1972-95
African Americans
Affirmative action: The Bakke case, 1976-78
Civil rights and race relations, 1932-67, 1996-97
Economic opportunities, 1933-41
Fair Employment Practices Commission
General, 1940-54
Summary of National Board Actions, circa 1952
Race discrimination in the armed forces
General, 1940-53, n.d.
ACLU Conference Against Discrimination in the War Effort, 1943-44
National Public Affairs Committee Actions and Education towards elimination of race discrimination in the war effort, 1940-42
Race relations and the YWCA
General, 1920-63
Dodge Hotel interracial practices, 1933-36
Race relations advisory group, 1946-50
Scottsboro Case, 1931-48
Segregation
and integration in education
General, 1931-73, n.d.
School busing, 1971-76
in Washington, D.C., 1948-53
in transportation, 1942-50
American Indians
Handbook of Federal Indian Law, Mar 1940
Asian-Pacific peoples
Repeal of exclusion laws affecting eastern hemisphere Indians, Filipinos, 1928-46
Repeal of exclusion laws affecting the Chinese, Koreans, 1940-49
Japanese/Japanese Americans
Japanese Exclusion Clause, 1922-35
World War II Relocation and Resettlement
General, 1942-52, 1981, n.d.
YWCA Japanese Evacuee Project, Jan 1942- Sep 1946: report by Esther Briesemeister
Molly Kitajima case, 1946-47
The Foreign Born
General, 1926-69
Alien registration, 1925-42
Deportation, 1926-40
Separated families 1922-40
Reference Materials
Common Council of American Unity, 1951-52
National Committee on Immigration Policy, n.d.
Third Special Conference, Immigration and Naturalization Service in Conjunction with National Conference on Citizenship, n.d.
Jewish Americans
Anti-Semitism, 1942-60
National Council of Jewish Women, National Committee on Social Legislation, 1943-44
Mexican- and Latin-Americans
Puerto Rico, 1944-51
Refugees
General, 1922-42
YWCA National Committee on Refugees, 1938-39
Government and politics
Citizenship
General, 1924-65, 1995
Voter participation, 1983-99
Congress
Appropriations, 1939-53, 1995
Blocs in Congress, 1943-44
Congressional reform, proposed YWCA resolution, 1964
Filibuster
Federal-state relations, 1958-65
Political party platforms, 1948-88
Politics and political action, 1956-67, 1992
Presidents, 1956-69
Reorganization of federal government, 1945-60
Supreme Court
General, 1971-75
Nomination of G. Harrold Carswell, 1970
International relations
General, 1930-53
Human welfare
History and general reference, 1938, 1950
Africa (Angola, Biafra/Nigeria, South Africa), 1958-78
Bretton Woods Agreement, 1944-46
European Recovery Program/Marshall Plan
General, 1947-50
Aid to Britain/Lend-Lease Bill, 1941-46
British Loan, 1946
Germany, 1946-59
Greece and Turkey, 1947
Human Rights, International Covenant/Declaration, 1946-68
India, 1951-58
Information and Cultural Exchange program, 1944-61
International Development Association (IDA), 1974
International Labor Organization (ILO), 1930-77
Korea, 1949-53
Latin America, 1927-39
Mutual security/Foreign Aid, 1952-71
Narcotics, 1921-32
National YWCA Institute: The Web of Racism and its International Dimensions, 1970-71
Nestle boycott, 1980-92, n.d.
Pan American cooperation
General, 1940-45
Monroe Doctrine, 1923-63, n.d.
"Point Four" Program for World Economic Progress Through Cooperative Technical Assistance, 1949-55
Refugees and Relief, 1938-73
Slavery, 1928-36
South Africa, 1964-86
Soviet Union, 1937-58
Spain, 1944-50
Surplus food, "Food for Peace," 1955-75
Turkey, 1922-27
United Nations
Bricker Resolution
Conference on International Organization, 1945
Economic and Social Council
General, 1946-56
Status of Women Commission, 1945-68
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organizations (UNESCO), 1944-76
Expanded Technical Assistance Program (UNETAP), 1954-59
Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), 1943-63
Founding of
General, 1943-45
Ratification of Treaties, 1943-44
Human rights conventions, YWCA ratification drive, 1965-87
International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF), 1947-77
International Refugee Organization (IRO), 1946-52
International Trade Organization (ITO), 1946-50
International Women's Year, 1974-75, n.d.
North Atlantic Treaty (NATO), 1949-52
Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA)
May 1946-Dec 1947
Women United for United Nations, 1946-47
World Health Organization, 1947-53
Vietnam, 1965-75
White House Conference on International Cooperation, 1965-66
Women
Status of, 1935-38
Traffic in women, 1933-37
US follow up to UN Fourth World Conference on Women, 1996
Women's Charter, 1936-38
World Government, 1948-53
World without War
General, 1941-56, n.d.
American policy
Bosnia, 1995
China, 1920-72
Ethiopian conflict, 1935-36
Middle East and Far East, 1945-74, 1998
Panama Canal, 1997-98
Russia/Soviet Union, 1930-36, 1967
Sino-Japanese conflict, 1931-43
Spanish Civil War, 1936-39
Anti-ballistic missile system, 1969
Atomic energy/weapons, 1945-74, n.d.
Cause and Cure of War conferences, 1924-40
Displaced persons/Refugees
Foreign Policy Association, 1939, 1961-64
Genocide, 1948-73
International Cooperation Year (1965)
Correspondence, 1963-66
Projects, 1965-66
Pacem in Terris (Peace on Earth) International Convocation to examine the requirements for peace, 1965
International Court of Justice (World Court), 1923-46, n.d.
League of Nations, 1923-40, n.d.
Limitation of armaments
General, 1921-77
Poison gas, 1926-38
Neutrality
General, 1935-41
Aid to victims of aggression, 1937-40
Pacifism and isolationism, 1935-40
Peace
Peace and Disarmament Committee of the Women's International Organizations, 1931-38, n.d.
National Peace Conference, 1931-42
Party platforms, 1932-52
Peace pact (Kellogg-Briand treaty), 1927-28, 1934
Peace and the YWCA, 1938, 1952-59
People's Mandate to End War, 1935-36
Role of Industrialists, 1935-38
Peace corps, 1960-62
Sanctions, 1926-39
United Nations trusteeship
General, 1945-47
South Africa, 1949-51
Universal military training/Peacetime conscription, 1939-71, n.d.
War profits, 1935-39
World economic conferences, 1927-39
Morality and the media
Mass media, 1964-69
Motion pictures, 1924-43
Obscenity and pornography, 1971-73
Public health and safety
General, 1937-99
Breast and cervical cancer, 1984-97, n.d.
Food, Drugs, and Cosmetics, 1934-68
Highway safety, May-Jul 1967
Maternity and Infant Care, 1920-52
Mental health, 1940-45, 1975
Narcotics, 1932-56
Nutrition, 1936-40, 1969-76
Prostitution
Venereal disease, 1938-51
White slave traffic, 1935-36
Reproductive rights
Abortion
Birth control and world population, 1923-50, 1962-75, 1985
Smoking and cigarettes, 1964-70
Violence prevention, 1980-2000
Science and the environment
Conservation
Flood control, 1947-57
Highway Beautification bill, 1965
Wilderness Act, 1962-68, n.d.
Energy crisis, 1974-76
Environment, 1969, 1977
Outer space, 1958-62
Social and economic welfare
General, 1911-75
Child welfare
Child Care/Day Care, 1942-99
Child labor
General, 1922-69
During wartime, 1940-46
Children's Bureau, 1933-69, n.d.
Illegitimate children, 1973-74
Maternal and child health and welfare, 1938, 1945-46
School lunch, 1944-71
Conference on Unfinished Business in Social Legislation, National Council of Jewish Women, May 1946
Consumers
General, 1933-75
Grade labeling, 1943-44
Economic Opportunity
National Recovery Act, 1933-35
Economic Opportunity Act/Office of Economic Opportunity
Employment training and vocational guidance
The aged, 1950-67
Full and equal employment, 1941-79
Household employment, 1928-64
Unemployment, 1928-38
United States Employment Services (USES) and Social Work Manpower Training Act, 1933-69
Works Progress Administration (WPA) and National Youth Administration (NYA), 1936-42
Health care and health insurance
Housing
Fair housing, 1945-71
Homelessness, 1913, 1975-91
Housing and Home Finance Agency, 1949
Local associations and community housing problems, 1946-63
Middle income housing, 1949-50
National Public Housing Conference, Inc., 1946-50
Hunger, 1969
Labor
YWCA historical summaries, 1956, 1962
Agricultural migrant workers
United Farm Workers, 1970-76
Continental Congress of Workers and Farmers for Economic Reconstruction, 1932-34
Disability law, 1951-52
Labor Advisory Group, 1946-47
Labor education, Labor Extension Bill, 1947-48
Labor movement, 1937-72
National defense
Maintenance of fair labor standards in industry, 1939-45
Migration, 1941-43
Protection of organized labor, 1940-44
National Labor Relations Act, 1935-42
Nike, Inc.'s labor practices, 1996-98
Right of workers to organize
General, 1928-34, 1978
White collar workers, 1934-50
Southern Council on Women and Children in Industry, 1929-33
Strikes
Brooklyn YWCA strike, 1946-47
U.S. Dept of Labor, 1920-38
Wages and hours
Fair Labor Standards Act
Guaranteed annual wage, 1955-58, n.d.
Minimum wage
National, 1974-77
New York State, 1936-42
Portal to Portal Pay Act, 1947
Walsh-Healy Act (Public contracts), 1935-42
YWCA and unions, 1933-47, n.d.
Liquor control, 1922-41
Price control
Economic stabilization: Defense Production Act
General, 1951-53
Rent control, 1946-53
Hearings on cost of living, 1947-48
Office of Price Administration, 1940-46, n.d.
Recreation
General, 1945-46
Surplus property, 1958-59
Rural
Agricultural economic and social problems, 1929-54
Aid to farmers, 1940-58
Social Security
General, 1932-56
Food stamps, 1940-41, 1971-77
Health care for the aged
General, 1958-70
Correspondence with American Medial Association, 1961-62
Community YWCAs, 1961-63
Organization and Corporation statements, A-Z, 1961-63
Old age pensions, 1929-35
Social Security Act of 1935
General, 1934-36
Amendments, 1936-77
Benefits for women, 1960-98
Social insurance for non-profit organizations, 1935-65
Unemployment insurance, 1929-40
Welfare
Taxation
General, 1946-80
Tax-exempt status of YWCA, 1941-74
Trade policies
Monopolies, 1943-49
Reciprocal trade agreements
General, 1963-75
Status of women
General, 1962-75
Equal Rights Amendment
Women's Bureau, 1941-75
Women workers
General, 1915-96
Equal economic rights for women, 1969-73, 1998
Equal Employment Opportunities Commission, 1965-72
Equal pay for equal work, 1938-74
Married women at work, 1929-41
Pregnant women at work, 1977
Protective labor legislation, 1962-71
State labor legislation, 1949-71
Virgin Islands, 1935-36
Youth
General, 1933-77
Employment opportunities, 1940-75
Juvenile justice and delinquency
Vote for eighteen-year-olds, 1954-71