Elizabeth Steel Genné Papers, 1952-2008
General International Standard for Archival Description
Sophia Smith Collection Smith College Northampton, MA
Finding aid encoded in NoteTab Pro. Encoded by Margaret Jessup. Revised by Annie-Sage Whitehurst 2009-06-10
Encoded Archival Description
Encoded Archival Description (EAD) Version 2002
collection
Elizabeth Steel Genné Papers
Creation of Elizabeth Steel Genné Papers
Time of Creation of Elizabeth Steel Genné Papers
Genné, Elizabeth
Biographical History for: Elizabeth Steel Genné Papers
Biographical Note Elizabeth Steel was born August 30, 1911 on a farm outside Albany, Oregon, to Charles and Winifred Steel. The family later moved to Portland, Oregon, where Elizabeth graduated from Washington High School. Steel's lifelong involvement in the YWCA began early at the Portland YWCA. In 1930 she attended the Christian Youth Conference of North America as President of the Portland YWCA Girl Reserve Club. There, she first met her future husband, William H. Genné. Steel earned a B.Sc. from Oregon State College in 1935 and an M.A. from Teachers' College, Columbia University in 1936. She and William Genné were married in 1937. The couple had four children. William Genné began a career as a college chaplain working at Michigan State University, Alfred University, and Pacific University over the next eighteen years. Meanwhile Elizabeth, who described herself as "primarily a homemaker and volunteer" worked in the Flint, Michigan, YWCA and as a teacher-counselor, teacher, staff in-service training lecturer, and Parent Education Consultant. During World War II she and her husband sponsored six interned Japanese-American students, making it possible for the students to complete college degrees. Beginning in the 1950s the Gennés pioneered in the field of family life and sex education, working for the Clara Elizabeth Fund for Maternal Health in Flint, Michigan, and then the National Council of Churches from a home base in Montclair, New Jersey. They co-authored eight books and numerous articles and pamphletson family life, maternal health education, and sex education. The couple also gave joint presentations and organized workshops all over the U.S. and internationally. In each of the cities where the Gennés lived, "Betty" was active in the local YWCA, usually serving on teen, college student, or young adult committees. Once the Gennés moved to New Jersey, she also began serving on national YWCA committees. Elected to the National Board in 1957, she continued as a member of that group until 1979, including a term as National President from 1973 to 1979. She is credited with helping the YWCA to make more effective use of its human and financial resources. In addition to her volunteer activities for the YWCA, Betty Genné was active in the PTA, Montclair Civil Rights Commission, American Association of University Women, League of Women Voters, United Council of Church Women, and UNICEF. The Gennés retired to Claremont, California in 1984. William Genné died in 1997. Three years later Betty married Stanley Conover, who died in 2006. Elizabeth Steel Genné died on February 29, 2008 in Claremont, California.
The Elizabeth Steel Genné Papers came to the Sophia Smith Collection with the Records of the YWCA of the U.S.A. in 2002. Elizabeth Genné donated them to the YWCA in 1984.
Scope and Contents of the Collection The Elizabeth Steel Genné Papers consist of 1.75 linear ft. and are primarily related to her professional and public life, dating from 1952 to 1984. Types of materials include biographical materials, correspondence, minutes, reports, news clippings, notes, press releases, speeches, and memorabilia. The bulk of the papers date from 1957 to 1980 when Genné was a member of the National Board of the YWCA of the U.S.A., including a term as President, 1973-79. Genné served on a number of committees examining particularly difficult issues during turbulent times for the Association from the 1960s to the early 1980s. There are significant materials generated by Genné's committee work in the College and University Division of the YWCA in the 1950s and 60s. Genné served on the influential Committee to Study YMCA-YWCA Cooperative Experience (1959-60) which worked with Professor Dan Dodson to examine whether the YWCA should merge with the YMCA. The Committee's final report, known internally as the "Dodson Report," urged the YWCA to reaffirm its role as an autonomous women's organization. There are also materials from the YWCA's Teen Sexuality Education Advisory Committee from the early 1980s. A small amount of material from Genné's work for the YWCA on the local and state level in New Jersey is also included. The Speeches files include texts, programs, clippings, and correspondence about local arrangements, primarily from Genné's term as President of the National YWCA. They are filed chronologically.
The papers are open to research according to the regulations of the Sophia Smith Collection without any additional restrictions.
Permission must be obtained to publish reproductions or quotations beyond "fair use." Copyright ownership of Elizabeth Genné's writings is unknown. Copyright to materials authored by persons other than Elizabeth Genné 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. Permission to publish reproductions or quotations beyond "fair use" must also be obtained from the Sophia Smith Collection as owners of the physical property.
Associated material located in the YWCA USA Records, Sophia Smith Collection
Processed by Maida Goodwin, 2008
lcnaf
Young Women's Christian Association of the U.S.A. -- History -- Sources
lcsh
Biographical materials and miscellaneous 1952-2008, n.d.
Montclair (New Jersey) YWCA
Board of Directors 1968
The Right to Live Conference, Nov 1969
New Jersey State Council of YWCAs 1974-84, n.d.
YWCA of the U.S.A.
General 1957-83, n.d.
Committees
Fleischmann Project (Leadership Development Center) 1979-83, n.d.
Leadership Development Goal Group 1980-82
Program and Budget Apportionment Committee 1968
Teen Sexuality Education Advisory Committee
General 1981-82
Site reports 1981-82
Utilization of National Volunteers Subcommittee
Convention
Learning Center X, Presidential Leadership and Association Committee Chairpersons' Workshop (faculty) 1979-80
Public Affairs
General 1973-81
Abortion 1973-80, n.d.
Gun control 1973, n.d.
Student/College and University Division
Anniversary (110th) Tea, Apr 1984
Consultation on Future Relationships of YWCA to New York State Student Christian Movement 1958-59
National Student YWCA Administrative Committee
Proposal to Ford Foundation for Training Program for a Leadership Cadre on Urban Affairs Related to a National Student Assembly (NSAY) Dec 1966-Jan 1967 1965-66
Regional Advisory Committee 1968
World YWCA Pre-Council Consultation on Work with Students 1967
YMCA
Committee to Study YMCA-YWCA Cooperative Experience ("Dodson Study") 1959-60
Consultation on YM-YW Relationsips 1971
"YWCA Looks to the Future" Year One meetings (convenor) 1979-82
Speeches
Miscellaneous 1968-80, n.d.
Burlington County (NJ) YWCA 50th Anniversary Apr 1968
New Castle County (DE) YWCA Annual Meeting Apr 1972
Philadelphia (PA) YWCA Friendship Fete Luncheon Apr 1975
Nashville (TN) YWCA 75th Anniversary Apr 1975
Knoxville (TN) YWCA and Travelers Aid Annual Meeting May 1975
Memphis (TN) YWCA Annual Meeting May 1975
Savannah (GA) YWCA Annual Meeting Jan 1976
Detroit (MI) YWCA Annual Meeting Feb 1976
Charlotte (NC) YWCA Annual Meeting Feb 1976
Buffalo and Erie County (NY) YWCA Annual Meeting Feb 1976
Roanoke Valley (VA) YWCA Annual Meeting Mar 1976
Sioux Falls (SD) YWCA Leader Luncheon III May 1976
High Point (NC) YWCA Annual Meeting Jan 1977
Southern Methodist University Symposium '77 Feb 1977
San Antonio (TX) YWCA Dedication of Recreation Center Feb 1977
Canton (OH) YWCA Annual Meeting Mar 1977
American Association of University Women, Indiana State Division Convention Apr 1977
Fort Wayne (IN) YWCA Annual Meeting Apr 1977
St. Louis (MO) YWCA Biennial Dinner Jan 1978
Columbia (SC) YWCA Annual Meeting Jan 1978
Mountain Lakes Women Jan 1978
Danville (VA) YWCA Annual Meeting Feb 1978
York (PA) YWCA Annual Meeting Feb 1978
Bethlehem (PA) YWCA 50th Anniversary Apr 1978
San Francisco (CA) YWCA Centennial Jun 1978
High Point (NC) YWCA Women in Society lecture series Nov 1978
Dallas (TX) YWCA Sustaining Membership Campaign Kickoff Feb 1979
Salt Lake City (UT) YWCA Annual Meeting Apr 1979
Summit (NJ) YWCA Annual Meeting Feb 1980
Durham (NC) YWCA Annual Meeting Apr 1980
Plainfield and Westfield (NJ) TWIN Dinner Jun 1980