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At The Sign Of The Blue
How the YWCA Was Started
The Young Women’s Christian Asso
ciation really had its beginning before
1866, the first recorded date of the for
mal organization of that name in this
country.
In 1844 George Williams, influenced
by a movement originating on the Euro
pean Continent and in England, had or
ganized twelve young men from four dif
ferent church denominations to form a
group that later became known as the
Young Men’s Christian Association with
both religious and social features. The
idea became popular, was transplanted to
the United States, and brought about
the formation of similar groups in wide
ly separated parts of the country.
Up to this time women had not learned
to operate in united efforts to a large de
gree; they had worked as individual
forces rather than as a social unit. But
following the success of the movement
among men and the wider entrance of
young women into public life in order to
earn a living, the minds of both men
and women began to recognize the need
of a means of ministry to the needs of
young women in circumstances similar to
those of the working young man.
When the idea of an organization for
young women was first introduced in Eng
land. it met with great opposition for a
time, but the courageous women of that
day were not deterred. They banded
themselves together for united prayer.
Later this effort, under the enthusiastic
leadership of Miss Emma Roberts, be
came known as the Prayer Union. Then
knowledge of Miss Roberts’ work spread
to other parts of Great Britain where it
was favorably received. The first YWCA
in London served the purpose of finding
wholesome homes and recreation for the
nurses who were caring for the many
casualties of the Crimean War.
This movement soon swept far beyond
tiie place of its origin, Great Britain,
and the scope of its purpose was also ex
tended. It might be interesting to note
the first title of the organizaion as pub
lished in a circular in 1861. It was, The
United Association for the Christian and
Domestic Improvement of \ oung Women.
How did people in America react to
the new role that women were playing
in Christian service? The great Ameri
can Revival of 1857-1860 showed three
CAMPUS MIRROR
Spelman Graduate Has Posi
tion in National "Y”
Students at Spelman College are proud
indeed to learn of the appointment which
Madeline Patterson, class of '45. has re
ceived.
Mi ss Patterson is Co-chairman of the
National Student Council of the Y. W.
C. A. This position automatically places
her as co-chairman of the National In
tercollegiate Christian Council.
While at Spelman Miss Patterson
worked energetically with the “Y” or
ganization, both on the campus and in
various regional conferences held in this
area.
outstanding characteristics that portray
the attitude of the Americans. These are,
the number and value of prayer circles;
the unity of Christians of different de
nominations, and the large place filled by
women as leaders of organized Christian
forces. As a result of the attitude of the
men of the church the first Ladies Chris
tian Association was formed in New
York City with Mrs. Marshall 0. Rob
erts as directress. This was in Novem
ber, 1858.
Since this small beginning we know
that the idea of a Young Women’s Chris
tian Association has continued to grow
and take root in countries of the world.
As the organization developed the
women began to realize more and more
that their primary function should be to
meet the fundamental needs of girls,
which are religious fellowship and in
struction, personal needs of employment
protection, housing and food, acquaint
ances with the right kind of friends and
books, study for cultural reasons and for
self support, physical preparedness for
life, and a chance to work together in
being useful to the whole community.
The women felt that the best way to meet
these needs would be to form student
associations. The first student associa
tion was organized on January 19, 1873.
at Norman School, Norman. Illinois. Its
president was Ida A. Brown. Our own
Y. W. C. A. here at Spelman was organ
ized before 1896. Since its organization it
has done helpful work in many areas.
The cabinet members of the Y. W. C.
A. here at Spelman are Miss Estella Ash
more. faculty adviser; Miss Ella Lett,
president; Miss Amanda Keith, vice-
president; Miss Eleanor Ison, secretary;
Miss Madeline Holder, treasurer. The
chairmen of committees are as follows:
Miss Irene Moore, Public Affairs; Miss
Genevieve Lawless and Mis> Ruth Gandy,
Publicity; Mi>s Clara Yates. Member
ship; Miss Pauline Murphy and Miss Al
berta Jones, Music; Miss Henrietta Hous-
The Class of ’45 Marches On
Eleanor Bryson is the owner of a
dressmaking shop in Chattanooga. Ten
nessee.
Gilberta Jackson married Leo Jackson
of Jacksonville, Florida.
Lois Blayton is working at the Friend
ly Inn Settlement in Cleveland, Ohio.
Madeline Patterson is studying at
Western Reserve University in Cleveland,
Ohio.
Ida Kilpatrick is studying at the At
lanta University School of Social Work.
Atlanta. Georgia.
Marian Willis married William Alex
ander Scott III of Atlanta.
Doris Daniel is instructor at the Bene
dict College Nursery School, Columbia
South Carolina.
Barbara Sparks is teaching in the
Oklahoma City school system, Oklahoma
City, Oklahoma.
Edith Johnson is employed in a bank in
New York City.
Mildred Pearson is teaching Home
Economics in the Haynesboro City School
System, Haynesboro, Georgia.
Byrdanne Harris is a social worker in
Detroit, Michigan.
Genelle Barner is teaching at Crog-
man Elementary School. Atlanta.
Ernestine Brooks is teaching at Wal
ker Street School. Atlanta.
Marian Ellison is studying Business
Administration at Clark College, Atlanta.
Agnes Oliver is teaching at Booker T.
Washington High School, Atlanta.
Eloise Harding is teaching in the Chi
cago School System, Chicago, Illinois.
Eunice Jackson is teaching in Annis
ton. Alabama.
Mary English is doing post-graduate
work in mathematics at Atlanta Univer
sity.
Sybil Anderson is teaching in Ocilla.
Georgia.
Catherine Acklin is teaching in Meni
fee, Arkansas.
Catherine Quarterman is supply teach
er in the Fulton County School System,
Georgia.
Rebecca Guyton is teaching in Chatta
nooga, Tennessee.
Barbara and Imogene Lockett are do
ing post-graduate work at Howard Uni
versity, Washington, D. C.
Charlotte Cochran is attending the At
lanta University School of Social Work.
ton and Miss Evelyn Spann, Social, and
Miss Ida Gartrell and Miss Mae Tedford,
Teacher-Student Relationship.
The St •rvice Committee will he made
up of members of the freshman class af
ter the first nine weeks.
The “Y looks forward to a very suc
cessful year through the enthusiastic co
operation of this our largest student body.