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Indianapolis Young Men's Christian Association records

 Collection
Identifier: L406

Scope and Contents

The collection consists mainly of correspondence, bylaws, reports, meeting minutes, financial papers, pamphlets, publications and committee records from the Indianapolis Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA), ranging from 1943 to 1961, regarding the organization and its activities, including fundraising, programming, and collaborative efforts between the YMCA and YWCA.

Dates

  • 1940-1961

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Legal title, copyright, and literary rights reside with Rare Books and Manuscripts, Indiana State Library, Indianapolis, IN. All requests to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to Rare Books and Manuscripts.

Administrative History

The Indianapolis Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) formed in 1854. Over the course of its first ninety or so years, the YMCA constructed buildings, created programming, and formed relationships with the community. Presidents of the Indianapolis YMCA between 1934 and 1954 included Fermor Cannon, Earl H. Schmidt, and Harold F. Brigham. These relationships persisted into the World War II era. During the early 1940s, Parker P. Jordan became the general secretary of the Indianapolis YMCA. Jordan implemented the creation of branches of the Indianapolis YMCA around in the city to serve more people, leading to growing membership. The organization also contributed to the war effort during this period, providing servicemen a place to stay and organizing activities for them. By 1947, Indianapolis YMCA owned its own camp area at Flat Rock in St. Paul, Indiana. The early 1950s saw an increasing need for funding to expand branches and for community programming, leading to fundraising efforts.

Extent

1 Cubic Feet (3 manuscript boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Arrangement

This collection is arranged by subject.

Custodial History

This collection was received by Rare Books and Manuscripts as a donation from George Mercer.

Accruals

No further additions are expected.

Processing Information

Collection processing and finding aid completed 2003/11 by Amy C. Belcher. EAD finding aid created 2018/05/07 by Lauren Patton. EAD finding aid revised 2025/04/28 by Brittany Kropf.
Title
Indianapolis Young Men's Christian Association records
Status
Completed
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Rare Books and Manuscripts Repository

Contact:
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671