Over-sized scrapbook, 1900-1958

This collection consists of the papers of the Young Men's Christian Association (Y.M.C.A.) of Rochester, New York. The materials date between 1854 and 1981. The papers are comprised of photographs, brochures, reports, periodicals, correspondence, scrapbooks, and newspaper clippings.

The photographs in the collection document the activities, facilities, summer camps, staff, and events held by the Rochester Y.M.C.A. The bulk of the photographs are dated between 1920 and 1970. The majority of the photographs are publicity photos. The photographs were used in advertisements, newsletters, newspapers, and brochures. The photographs were removed from photo albums that also contained sheets that some identifying information such as, dates, events, and people in the photographs. The photographs are in decent condition with very little curling, cracking, or other deterioration.

The scrapbook series consists of 30 scrapbooks and one over-sized scrapbook. The scrapbooks contain newspaper clippings in chronological order regarding the Y.M.C.A. and its area branches. The clippings in the scrapbook are deteriorating, some scrapbooks are also over stuffed and the spines are deteriorating. The oversized scrapbook is missing the back cover and the items in the scrapbook are coming unglued.

The publications series consists of weekly bulletins, brochures, reports, booklets, and newspaper clippings. The bulletins date from the 1880’s to about the 1920’s. They are in decent condition, but are very fragile. The bulletins are newsletters published by the Rochester Y.M.C.A. They were originally distributed weekly and called “Weekly Bulletin.” The Bulletin went through changes in distribution; going from weekly distribution, to bi-weekly, to monthly distribution. The name of the newsletter also changed over the years from “The Weekly Bulletin,” “Bulletin,” “Our Young Men,” and finally “Rochester’s Young Men.” Most of the issues of “The Bulletin” are present in the collection. The missing issues are:

January-February 1896, April-December 1896

January-March 1897, June 1897

November-December 1897

March, May, August-September 1898

April, June-November 1899

January, August-December 1900

January 1901-October 1908

January, July, August, December 1909

July-September 1910

April-October 1911

February-October 1912

The brochures are pamphlets distributed by the Y.M.C.A. regarding summer camps, moral living, lectures, events, and joining the Y.M.C.A. They are dated between 1896 and 1920. The series contains the original Constitution and By-Laws of the 1854 Y.M.C.A. and the Constitution and By-Laws for the 1875 Y.M.C.A. The series contains newspaper clippings. These clippings were clipped by a clipping service and are any articles or advertisements in which the Y.M.C.A. is mentioned.