OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION
University of
Minnesota. Kautz Family YMCA Archives. [ymca]
YMCA of
Greater New York. Prospect Park Branch.
Prospect Park YMCA
Records.
1891-1992.
Y.GNY.0010
Collected minutes, brochures and flyers,
correspondence, and other materials related to the Prospect Park YMCA
buildings, camps, residence program, and athletics.
3.5 cubic feet
(6 boxes)
See Detailed Description section for box
listing. English
HISTORY OF THE PROSPECT PARK
YMCA
The Prospect Park YMCA, currently located at 357 9th Street between
5th and 6th Avenues in Brooklyn, has been serving Brooklyn for more than 112
years. A feature of the Park Slope neighborhood, the Prospect Park YMCA began
its operations in a converted mansion in 1891. By 1923, the huge population
growth in Brooklyn placed demands on the YMCA which made its building
hopelessly inadequate. The branch was closed, making way for an ambitious
building campaign. On July 7, 1925, ground was broken on the Prospect Park Y's
present site, and 18 months later, the current building was opened. In the
spring of 2000, an $8.5 million renovation left practically no corner
untouched. The facade was restored, the old lobby was replaced and all program
spaces were transformed.
The Prospect Park YMCA has a long-standing commitment to housing
programs and today offers affordable housing for sailors, echoing the work of
the Bethelship Seaman's Branch that operated on the corner of Richards and
Sullivan streets between 1921 and 1948. The branch also maintains a tradition
of linkages with community groups such as literary societies, book clubs, and
dance groups. The branch has offered literacy classes, job search training, and
day camp programs for many years.
(Information taken from the YMCA of Greater New York, Prospect Park
Branch web site at
http://www.ymcanyc.org/sub.php?p=about&sp=prospect/prospectabout )
SCOPE AND CONTENTS OF THE COLLECTION
The Prospect Park YMCA records consist of brochures, flyers, and
program announcements, primarily from the period 1891-1910 and 1940-1960. Other
materials include Board of Managers minutes and agendas principally from the
period 1960-1990, although the original minute book, from the years 1891-1899,
is present. In addition, the collection includes clippings and other
memorabilia from the years 1928-1977, financial materials from scattered years
from 1926 through 1990, and correspondence, planning materials, and reports
covering the years 1891 through 1977, with the bulk of the materials from the
1890s and 1960s.
ORGANIZATION/ARRANGEMENT OF THE RECORDS
These documents are organized into the following sections:
- Publications.
- Brochures and Flyers.
- Events and Programs.
- Buildings.
- Reports and Correspondence.
- Finances.
- Clippings and Memorabilia.
- Board of Managers.
ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
Use of Materials:
This collection is protected by the Copyright Law of the United States
(Title 17, U.S. Code). It is the user's responsibility to verify copyright,
ownership, and to obtain all the necessary permissions prior to the
reproduction, publication, or other use of any portion of these materials.
Preferred Citation:
[Indicate the cited item and/or series
here]. Prospect Park YMCA Records. YMCA of Greater New York. Kautz
Family YMCA Archives. University of Minnesota.
See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional
examples.
Processing Information:
Processed by: Louise Merriam, August, 2006.
Catalog Record ID number: 4884211
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION
The following section contains a detailed list of the materials in the
collection. To request materials, please note the corresponding box number.
Board of Managers
1
Board of Managers member lists,
1975-1977.
2
Organization chart and policies,
1942, 1948, 1954.
2
Bylaws,
1944, 1958.
2 folders.
3
Board of Managers minutes,
1915-1916, 1959, 1960, 1963-1970.
7 folders.
4
Minute book,
1891-1899.
6
Board of Managers minutes,
1971-1984, 1990-1991.
12 folders.
Brochures and Flyers
1
Annual descriptive branch pamphlets,
1891-1899.
1
Annual descriptive branch pamphlets,
1900-1902, 1907.
1
Annual descriptive branch pamphlets,
circa 1910-1920.
1
Summer headquarters,
1899, undated.
1
A Handy Guide to New York,
1939.
1
Event announcements for Literary Society, picnic,
lectures, and Night School,
1892-1903.
1
Bible study,
1898-1907.
1
Boys and intermediate department,
1906-1909.
1
Residents,
circa 1927, circa 1965.
1
Golden Jubilee and Lincoln's birthday,
1941.
1
Program announcements,
1940s.
2
Fitness testing clinic,
1977.
2
Operation Boot Strap adult classes.
1964.
2
Literary Society mock trial,
1903.
2
Program announcements,
1975-1990.
Buildings
1
Your New "Y",
1927.
2
Articles and pamphlets on 1927 building,
1927.
2
Building poster and three postcards,
circa 1955.
2
Building permit for new gym,
1893.
Clippings and Memorabilia
1
Membership application form,
circa 1925.
1
Program summary in the Spotlight,
1962.
2
Newspapers advertisements,
1946, 1966, 1968.
2
Newspaper clippings,
1892-1905.
2
Newspaper clippings,
1944-1977.
2
Olympic basketball tryouts,
1962.
2
Y-Gradale charter of affiliation,
1956.
5
Scrapbook of newspaper clippings,
1941-1942.
5
Scrapbook of newspaper clippings,
1955-1959.
5
Scrapbook of newspaper clippings,
1928-1929.
5
Scrapbook of photos and memorabilia from
Hi-Steppers,
1951-1954.
Finances
2
Fund report,
1972.
2
Perpetual memorial fund,
1979-1984.
2
Budget,
1926-1929.
3 folders.
2
Century Club,
1966.
2
Fundraising,
1990.
Publications
1
Young Men of the Park
Slope, v.1 no.1-v.1 no. 7,
1897.
1
The Prospect News, v.1
no.3-v.2 no.1,
1915-1917.
1
YMCA News, v.1 no.1, v.2
no.1-v.4 no.2,
1962-1964.
1
Y's Idea, Facility and Service
Schedule, v.2, v.4-v.5,
1987-1988.
1
Miscellaneous publications: The
Prospector, Channel YMCA,
The 'Y'er,
1931, 1959, 1968.
Reports and Correspondence
1
Six busy months! A record of work...,
1900.
1
Annual report,
1891, 1944, 1947-1948, 1959, 1961, 1963.
4 folders.
1
Action plan for Prospect Park,
1984.
2
Branch name change,
1962.
2
Man/youth of the year,
1966.
2
Correspondence regarding national objectives,
1965.
Letter from Fifth Avenue merchants,
1942.
2
Membership, marketing, communications and adult
programming cabinet,
1976-1977.
2
Planning reports,
1960-1961.
2
Correspondence regarding building,
1970s.
2
Prospect Park-Bay Ridge study,
1967.
2
Executive diector report,
April, 1960.
2
Cost study based on 1971 operations,
1972.
2
Latch-key program proposal,
1981.
2
Publicly funded programs currently operated by the YMCA
of Greater New York,
circa 1979.
3
Miscellaneous correspondence,
1891, 1892, 1895, 1902.
RELATED MATERIALS
See also the Seamen's House YMCA Records. YMCA of Greater New York.
Kautz Family YMCA Archives.
INDEX TERMS
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog
of the University of Minnesota Libraries. Researchers desiring materials about
related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these
headings.
Topics:
Low-income
housing -- New York (State) -- Brooklyn
Young Men's
Christian associations -- New York (State) -- Brooklyn.
Young Men's
Christian associations -- Buildings.
Places:
Brooklyn (New York, N.Y.).
Park Slope (New York, N.Y.).
Organizations:
YMCA of Greater New York. Prospect Park Branch.
Brooklyn and Queens Young Men’s Christian Association.
Bethelship Seamen's Branch.
Types of Documents:
Photographs.
Scrapbooks.