Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) of Miami-Dade records - 1919-1990

Identity elements

Reference code

HMA0031

Name and location of repository

Level of description

Collection

Title

Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) of Miami-Dade records - 1919-1990

Date(s)

  • 1919-1990 (Creation)

Extent

9.00 Linear Feet

Name of creator

Administrative history

The Miami YWCA's mission was to improve the social, religious and economic needs of women in the community through a variety of social and self help programs. The association received a charter in 1919 and started operating out of the Breakers Hotel on Miami Beach. The following year a permanent site was secured at the Ft. Dallas Hotel in Miami. Several residential properties were constructed, including the "Murrel" for African-Americans.

Miami received a charter from the National YWCA office in 1919 and began a membership campaign in June in which 1,738 members were initiated in a single day. That first summer they leased the old Breakers Hotel on Miami Beach, but by the following year a permanent site was found at the old Fort Dallas Hotel at 108 S.E. 1 Street. The intention of the YWCA was to meet the social, religious and economic needs of women and girls of the Miami area. This was achieved through various programs, including employment services, business classes, home-economics courses, religious education, athletics and dances. The YWCA garnered monies through loans, contributions, assistance from the National Organization, membership dues and its own fund-raising efforts. The properties included financially self-sufficient residencies for guests and permanent residences. Eventually several additional sites were established, including Murrel, a “Negro” branch. According to the records in this collection, the last site to be constructed was the North-West Dade property.

Today the only YWCA in Miami-Dade is situated on 351 N.W. 5 Street.

Content and structure elements

Scope and content

Records of the organizational, community activities and property development. Includes board minutes, reports, correspondence with builders, blue prints, photographic prints, feasibility studies, deeds of trusts and agreements with residential hotels.

The records include minutes from board meetings and various committee meetings, reports to the national board and personnel data. The information regarding new construction contains correspondence with builders, blueprints, photographic prints, property feasibility analysis, surveys, deeds of trust and agreements with residential hotels. The collection also contains books and magazines published by the Women’s Press. Also encompassed in the collection are newspaper clippings and scrapbooks.

System of arrangement

The YWCA’s original order was maintained, and file names and contents were kept intact. Materials are arranged chronologically (usually by decade) and alphabetically by folder heading.

Chronological organization:  Boxes 1 and 2. 1919-1939. -- Box 3. 1940-1959. -- Box 4. 1950s-1960s. -- Box 5. 1960-1969. -- Box 6. 1970-1979. -- Box 7. 1958-1970s. -- Box 8. 1980-1990. -- Box 9. 1919-1972.

Conditions of access and use elements

Conditions governing access

The collection is open for research.

Physical access

Technical access

Conditions governing reproduction

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    Scripts of the material

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      Finding aids

      Acquisition and appraisal elements

      Custodial history

      Immediate source of acquisition

      Gift of YWCA of Miami-Dade County, 2000

      Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information

      Accruals

      Related materials elements

      Existence and location of originals

      Existence and location of copies

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      Notes element

      General note

      Other Information

      Accession 2000-506

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      Alternative identifier(s)

      Description control element

      Rules or conventions

      Sources used

      Archivist's note

      Finding Aid Authors: Brooke Roberts-Webb and Rebecca A. Smith.

      Archivist's note

      © Copyright 2019 HistoryMiami Archives & Research Center. All rights reserved.

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      Accession area