Y's Men International is an independent organization affiliated with the Young Men's Christian Association. It is an adult service organization in partnership with the YMCA with programs focusing on fellowship and the spiritual and mental improvement of its members.
Y's Men International had its beginnings in 1920 when a men's luncheon club, led by Judge Paul William Alexander, was established in support of the Toledo, Ohio YMCA. The opportunity to combine community service with fellowship proved attractive. The idea spread to YMCAs throughout Ohio beginning in 1922, and an association of clubs, later named Y's Men, was organized to link one with another in service to the YMCA. Before that year ended, the concept expanded into nearby states and into the Maritime Provinces of Canada, beginning with Sydney, Nova Scotia. Within a few years, Y's Men clubs could be found throughout the world. The first club outside North America was formed in Shanghai, China in 1924. International expansion continued when a club was chartered in Brisbane, Australia in 1926. In 1928 clubs were founded in Osaka, Japan, and Tallinn, Estonia. Expansion continued to South America with a club formed in Valparaiso, Chile in 1935. Africa's first Y's Men's Club was chartered in Durban, South Africa in 1936.
From 1925 to 1962 the headquarters of the international organization was located in the basement of the Massachusetts home of Henry Grimes, who first served as the volunteer secretary-treasurer of the organization and later became the organization's first full-time employee. Following his death, Y's Men International moved the headquarters to rented facilities in Downer's Grove, Illinois, near George Williams College. The need for a permanent headquarters building was ascertained by the leadership and a capital campaign was undertaken to raise funds for the building that was eventually constructed in Oak Brook, Illinois. As the organization grew into a worldwide operation, the leadership and members made the decision to relocate the headquarters to Geneva, Switzerland at the John R. Mott building already serving as the headquarters of the World Alliance of YMCAs. The international headquarters remains today in the Geneva, Switzerland YMCA.
The first reference to women in Y's Men came in 1923 when a North Carolina club inquired if there was a group for wives of Y's Men. The idea took hold and the first Y's Menettes Club was established in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1924. While encouraging the establishment of Y's Menettes clubs, an association was not seen as advisable by the leadership of the Y's Men. It was not until years later that Y's Menettes were officially added to Y's Men International as an auxiliary. When the Y's Men's constitution was revised in the early 1970s, the new rules for membership included women. Although Y's Menettes clubs continue in many places around the world, many areas, particularly in the United States, opted to combine the sexes in one organization. In recognition of their mixed membership, these clubs frequently (but not always) adopt the name "Y Service Clubs" (there are some instances of Y's Men's Clubs where women comprise the entire membership).
Throughout its history Y's Men International faced a series of crises beginning with the Great Depression of the 1930s and followed closely by war in Asia which spread worldwide by the end of the decade. Totalitarian governments sprang up in many nations which made it impossible for local Y's Men's Clubs to operate over varying periods of time. In 1942, the International Secretary-Treasurer's office reported 255 active clubs in 22 countries; the following year the number had dropped to 150 active clubs, with 29 on leave of absence and 32 whose status was unknown. The clubs that remained active played a part in relief efforts during World War II. In the United States, clubs supported the war effort by raising money in bond drives, promoting programs for military personnel and conducting scrap metal drives. Clubs in mainland China struggled during the war and post war years with several clubs disbanding. In later years the Chinese government relaxed restrictions concerning Y's Men's Clubs, resulting in the revival of some clubs and formation of new clubs.
The Y's Men continued to grow and expand its reach around the world in the years following World War II. By 1951 there were a total of 411 clubs around the world, with most of the growth occurring outside the United States. As of 2009, there are Y's Men's Clubs in more than 70 countries with a membership exceeding 30,644 persons. The organization has taken a leadership role against discrimination regarding race, religion, gender, and ethnic origin and has been a consistent supporter of programs to improve interracial relations throughout the world as well as providing financial support to those in need.
An online version of this finding aid may be found at
International Association of Y’s Men’s Clubs.
Keitel, George W.
The Y's Men International collection consists of historical records; correspondence; reports; biographical information; financial records; photographs of individuals, events and projects; newspaper and periodical clippings; recordings and video tapes; microfilm; and assorted memorabilia of Y's Men and Y Service Clubs dating from the organization's official beginning in 1922 to the present. Material documents include the history of the original luncheon club idea; how the name "Y's Men" was selected; early Ohio clubs; the internationalization of the organization; development of the emblem; administration of the organization; and extensive files of staff leadership and elected officers. The collection includes files and photos of all who have served as president of Y's Men International from founder Paul William Alexander to the present. Also included are the original constitution and by-laws and several revisions of these documents. There are several studies and surveys dealing with long range planning, membership, organization, service, and leadership. International board and executive committee rosters and minutes (1924-1973) along with International Committee rosters and minutes, as well as mid-year and annual reports from the General Secretary (1974 to present) provide comprehensive documentation of the organization's administrative history. The collection also contains material from all international conventions from 1922 to the present, including programs and other related materials. The various locations of the international headquarters of the organization are documented in the collection. Several published histories, the most recent commemorating the 75th anniversary of the organization in 1997, provide additional background information.
Material documenting the international development of Y's Men International is organized into sections according to eight administrative Areas: Africa, Asia, Canada, Europe, India, Latin America, South Pacific, United States, and then by Regions within these Areas. The United States Area has the most extensive material in the collection, including conventions, council meetings, events, studies, reports, and projects, plus information on past and present Y's Men's Clubs, especially clubs within the North Central Region that includes the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area, greater Minnesota, the Dakotas, and Wisconsin.
The collection also includes, under the heading of YMCA Services, information about services performed for work with youth and young adults, the Paul William Alexander Educational Scholarship Fund, and Y's Lings. Services performed for clubs include public relations manuals and brochures, education, brother clubs, fund-raising manuals, leadership training, World Outlook manuals, and reports (1939-1998). Under the heading of General Services, the collection includes material on the Brotherhood Fund established to underwrite travel expense; Endowment funds and the Golden Book records; youth exchange and intern programs; the Time of Fast program, which supports needs in developing countries such as refugee and human crisis projects; and interracial advance and humans crisis efforts during the period from 1967 to 1973.
Publications in the collection, which include those from Areas,
Regions, and some individual clubs, are international in scope. Significant
titles published by the international organization include
The women's auxiliary, Y's Menettes is also documented in the collection. Material includes rosters, newsletters, publications, and reports on international projects.
These documents are organized into the following sections:
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.
Processed by: Howard Berg, Claude Bewell, James Gilbert, Charles Holmes, Duane Lundquist, and Harold Westerberg, June 2006. Additions made October 2007, December 2009.
Catalog Record ID number: 4734768
The following section contains a detailed list of the materials in the collection. To request materials, please note the corresponding box number.
Includes information on the origins of the Y's Men's clubs.
Historical record booklets, 1844-2008.
Contains master copies of the book.
Consists primarily of biographical files on all of the presidents of the organization, starting in 1922 through 2008. The files include photographs, correspondence and related materials. Also included are materials on other leadership positions, including international councils and committees; organizational materials, including constitutions and revisions; club statistics; and a variety of surveys and studies.
The files contain biographical materials and photographs. The presidents are listed by the dates of their presidencies; the entry also provides the years of the presidency as well as the person's hometown at the time of their presidency. It was not until 1957 that the start of a term became normalized, starting on September 1 and ending on August 31 of the following year. In 1974 this changed so that the year ran from July 1 to June 30.
Toledo, Ohio; Served 1922-1924.
Waterloo, Iowa; Served 1924-1925.
Camden, New Jersey; Served 1925-1926.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Served 1926-1927.
Canton, Ohio; Served 1927-1929.
Belleville, Ontario, Canada; Served 1929-1931.
Washington, Iowa; Served 1931-1932.
Wakefield, Massachusetts; Served 1932-1934.
Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Served 1934-1936.
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania; Served 1936-1937.
Washington, Iowa; Served 1937-1938.
Richmond, Virginia; Served 1938-1939.
Monroe, Louisiana; Served 1939-1940.
Sudbury, Ontario, Canada; Served 1940-1941.
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Served 1941-1942.
Dallas, Texas; Served 1942.
Sault St. Marie, Ontario, Canada; Served 1942.
Muscatine, Iowa; Served 1942-1944.
Paterson, New Jersey; Served 1944-1945.
Shreveport, Louisiana; Served 1945-1946.
South Bend, Indiana; Served 1946-1947.
Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada; Served 1947-1948.
Temple City, California; Served 1948-1949.
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Served 1949-1950.
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Served 1950-1951.
Shreveport, Louisiana; Served 1951-1952.
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; Served 1952-1953.
Long Beach, California; Served 1953-1954.
Lansing, Michigan; Served 1954-1955.
Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada; Served 1955-1956.
Millville, New Jersey; Served 1956-1957.
Minneapolis, Minnesota; Served 1957-1958.
Whittier, California; Served 1958-1959.
Detroit, Michigan; Served 1959-1960.
Steubenville, Ohio; Served 1960-1961.
Whittier, California; Served 1961-1962.
Canton, Ohio; Served 1962-1963.
Acton, Ontario, Canada; Served 1963-1964.
Elmhurst, Illinois; Served 1964-1965.
Santa Monica, California; Served 1965-1966.
Buffalo, New York; Served 1966-1967.
Oregon, Wisconsin; Served 1967-1968.
Summerside, Prince Edward Island, Canada; Served 1968-1969.
Minneapolis, Minnesota; Served 1969-1970.
Indianapolis, Indiana; Served 1970-1971.
Frederica, Denmark; Served 1971-1972.
San Diego, California; Served 1972-1973.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Served 1973-1974.
Saint Paul, Minnesota; Served 1974-1975.
Osaka, Japan; Served 1975-1976.
Gardena, California; Served 1976-1977.
Ballarat, Australia; Served 1977-1978.
Vejle, Denmark; Served 1978-1979.
Aarhus, Denmark; Served 1979-1980.
Fargo, North Dakota; Served 1980-1981.
Seoul, South Korea; Served 1981-1982.
Santa Monica, California; Served 1982-1983.
Fullerton, California; Served 1983-1984.
Atami, Japan; Served 1984-1985.
Bakersfield, California; Served 1985-1986.
Trivandrum, India; Served 1986-1987.
Vejen, Denmark; Served 1987-1988.
Malmo, Sweden; Served 1988-1989.
Seoul, South Korea; Served 1989-1990.
Saint Louis, Missouri; Served 1990-1991.
Bendigo, Victoria, Australia; Served 1991-1992.
Østenstad, Norway; Served 1992-1993.
Sao Paulo, Brazil; Served 1993-1994.
Chiba, Japan; Served 1994-1995.
Bakersfield, California; Served 1995-1996.
Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada; Served 1996-1997.
Pusan, Korea; Served 1997-1998.
Wilshire, California; Served 1998-1999.
Vejle, Denmark; Served 1999-2000.
Terrigal, Central Coast, Australia; Served 2000-2001.
Seoul, Choong Ang, Korea; Served 2001-2002.
Gardena, California; Served 2002-2003.
Thiruvalla, India; Served 2003-2004.
Manila, Philippines; Served 2004-2005.
Thika, Kenya; Served 2005-2006.
Pusan, Korea; Served 2006-2007.
Gistrup, Denmark; Served 2007-2008.
Kollam, India; Served 2008-2009.
Includes information on duties of international presidents, the Unified Global Project, and the history of the International Presidents' Club; inaugural addresses of Presidents Harry Cummings, Ken Suzuki, Jim Mueller, Bruce Price, and Gotfred Nissen; and a list of deceased international presidents.
Additional International Council materials available in the audio visual materials section.
Includes files on Y's Men International Secretaries General, Treasurers, Regional and District Governors, and department heads, as well as material documenting the recognition of Y's Men leaders via awards and the Y's Men Hall of Fame.
Served as secretary-treasurer, 1925-1962.
Served as Secretary General, 1963-1973.
Served as Associate General Secretary, Gold Program, 1969-1971.
Served as International Secretary General, 1979-1984.
Served as Associate Secretary General, 1970-1973; Secretary General, 1973-1978 and 1984-2000.
Served as Secretary General, 2000-2009.
International Secretary General reports after 2006 are found in the International Council Minutes, beginning in box 156.
Recent Treasurer reports are located within the International Board meeting minutes beginning in box 132
G. T. Morrell, Henry Bruce, Willis Penalona.
Includes material relating to the Elmer Crowe, Bennett, and Ballantyne awards.
For statistics after 2002 see International Council minutes boxes 142, 156.
Includes transparencies for presentation on new constitution.
Weaknesses and successes of Y's Men movement served by U.S. and Canadian YMCAs.
Reorganization of Y's Men International
Comparisons to other service clubs.
Role and relations of area and state YMCA staffs to Y's Men.
Acceptability of Y's Men by U.S. area YMCAs.
Services are performed by or for an individual club. Examples of services performed by clubs exhibited in this series include work with youth and young adults. Services performed for clubs include public relations, education, brother clubs, fundraising manuals and leadership training.
For material after 1999 see International Council minutes boxes 141, 142, 156.
For material after 1998 see International Council minutes boxes 141, 142, 156.
Includes material regarding commemorative stamp project.
Includes materials on the Brotherhood Fund, a fund established with the profit from conventions and the sale of cancelled postage stamps and used to underwrite travel expenses; endowment funds; youth programs; and the Time of Fast, a program where members would abstain from eating one meal and the money saved from this was used to support refugee and human crisis projects.
For material after 2002 see International Council minutes boxes 142, 156.
For material after 1996 see International Council minutes boxes 141, 142, 156.
For material after 2003 see International Council minutes boxes 142, 156.
For material after 1998 see International Council minutes boxes 141, 142, 156.
For material after 1996 see International Council minutes boxes 141, 142, 156.
Photo.
Includes rosters, correspondence, newsletters, and bulletins from clubs.
Areas include Africa, Asia, Australia, Canada, Europe, India, Latin America/Caribbean, and United States.
The Southeastern Region merged with the Southern Region to become the South Atlantic Region.
Includes 25th anniversary material, roster books (1945-2002), constitution, and garage sale project.
contains a listing of international projects from 1982-2008.
Contains material from international conventions, including programs and other background materials.
1922 Atlantic City, NJ; 1923 Canton, OH; 1924 Lynn, MA; 1925 Chattanooga, TN; 1926 Camden, NJ; 1927 Milwaukee, WI; 1928 Grand Rapids, MI; 1929 Toronto, Ontario, Canada; 1930 Wilkes Barre, PA; 1931 Cleveland, OH; 1932 Detroit, MI; 1934 St. Paul, MN; 1935 Silver Bay, NY; 1936 Silver Bay, NY; 1937 Grand Rapids, MI; 1938 Toronto, Ontario, Canada; 1939 Chicago, IL; 1940 Silver Bay, NY; 1941 Memphis, TN; 1942 London, Ontario, Canada; There was not an international convention held in 1943, instead a report from the International President, (located in Harrisburg, PA) was distributed.
1944 Sudbury, Ontario, Canada; 1945 Patterson, NJ; 1946 Bradford, PA; 1947 Toledo, OH.
1948 Long Beach, CA; 1949 Minneapolis, MN; 1950 Mexico City, Mexico; 1951 Cleveland, OH; 1952 Banff, Alberta, Canada; 1953 Davenport Iowa; 1954 East Lansing, MI; 1955 Philadelphia, PA; also includes World Council and Y's Men international meeting, Paris, 1955.
1956 Estes Park, CO; 1957 Toronto, Ontario, Canada; 1958 Santa Monica, CA; 1959 Green Lake, WI; 1960 Minneapolis, MN.
1961 Chicago, IL; 1962 Banff, Alberta, Canada; 1963 Buffalo, NY; 1964 Estes Park, CO; 1965 Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada.
1966 Honolulu, HI; 1967 Green Lake, WI; 1968 French Lick, IN; 1969 Pittsburgh, PA; 1970 Copenhagen, Denmark.
1971 Fresno, CA; 1972 Athens, OH.
1973 Kingston, Jamaica; 1974 Washington, DC; 1975 Atami, Japan.
Starting in 1976 conventions were held every two years. 1976 Anaheim, CA; 1978 Melbourne, Australia; 1980 Stockholm, Sweden; 1982 Seoul, Korea; 1984 grand Rapids, MI; 1986 Aarhus, Denmark; 1988 Kyoto, Japan.
1990 Minneapolis, MN; 1992 Oslo, Norway.
1994 Singapore; 1996 Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada; 1998 Helsinki, Finland; 2000 Hong Kong; 202 Sydney, Australia; 2004 Cochin, India; 2006 Pusan, Korea; 2008 Henning, Denmark.
Material in this section provides an overview of each of the international administrative Areas of Y's Men: Africa, Asia, Canada, Europe, India, Latin America, South Pacific, and United States. For Area President Reports to the International Council, beginning in 1972, see mid-year and annual work books and minutes contained in Council boxes 134-156.
Contains tape of 70 years of Y's Men in Japan.
Contains bulletins, constitution and conferences.
Contains constitution, conventions and correspondence.
Includes the Seoul Club re-charter, 1983.
Includes Gwangju Alpha Y's Men's Club History,
Includes the Kyung-ki district.
See also India Area and Ceylon Region.
Includes proposed US/Canadian merger, extension, publications.
Caribbean Region material prior to 2008 can be found under Latin America Area listings.
Includes Frankfurt Club.
Contains 3 books.
GonGonGen, Regionmeddelelse.
See also material on the Y'slings program filed in the "Services" series under the heading "YMCA Services."
See box 175 for slides and tapes.
See also Dr. Modi eye clinic tape in box 175.
The Carribean Region Clubs were assigned to Canada Area in 2008 by the International Council.
This material documents the United States Area, documenting especially the Y's Men clubs in the Minneapolis/Saint Paul metro area, greater Minnesota, the Dakotas and Wisconsin. Also included are club rosters, council meeting materials, publications and reports from the various regions. The symbol [*] denotes a discontinued area.
Includes correspondence, memoranda, financial reports.
Includes correspondence, memoranda, financial reports.
Includes policies and practices, reports, transition and planning records, YMCA "Family" listings, membership (1932-1983), financial reports (1985-1986), Sioux Indian YMCA correspondence, and material relating to the Realignment Task Force and the proposed merger of the U.S. and Canada areas.
Includes bulletins, reports, club charter dates, job descriptions, and material related to teams, the Boots Faubion Award, Kids to Camp, and transition meeting (1992), U.S./Canada Area Convention photos, first U.S. Area Convention photos.
Contains corporate secretary's reports.
The 2001 convention combined the U.S. and Canadian Areas.
Includes records from Max Larson, Del Kinney, Ivan Klatt, and Rachelle Reeg.
These regions became part of the Mid-East Region in 1988.
Also covers Central Atlantic, which became the North Atlantic Region in 1988. Empire Region preceded Central Atlantic and North Atlantic Regions.
The Pennsylvania region became part of the North Atlantic Region in 1988.
Discontinued in 1988 and became part of the North Atlantic Region.
For exemplary service by a YMCA staff person to Y's Men.
The symbol [*] denotes discontinued clubs.
Includes photographs of charter night 1960.
Roosevelt and Southtown merged and became Hiawatha.
Includes photographs of charter night 1957.
Includes photographs.
Contains constitution, articles of incorporation, by-laws.
Contains photographs.
Includes first roster book (Blue Book) of Toledo Central Y's Men's Club (TOLYMCA), 1922.
International publications include various publications of Y's Men's International, including periodicals, manuals, devotional aids and youth publications.
Issue devoted to Y's Men International.
Different languages organized by areas: Asia, Latin America/Caribbean.
Contains both bound and unbound versions.
Contains both English and Spanish language materials.
Developed by Del Jay Kinney.
Includes a number of formats, including microfilm, audio cassettes, VHS videotape, photographs and slides. The majority of the items cover international conventions, while some photographs document special events, such as the chartering of clubs.
Contains Areas: Africa, Asia, India, Canada and Europe.
Contains Areas: Latin America/Caribbean, South Pacific, U.S..
Includes an accompanying letter describing the contents of the slides.
Includes opening ceremony (7/25/1990), evening program (7/25/1990), general session (7/26/1990), YEEP forum (7/26/1990), lunch program (7/26/1990), evening program (7/26/199), general session (7/27/1990), evening program (7/27/1990), lunch program (7/28/1990), and general session (7/28/1990).
Includes Garnet W. "Pat " McKenzie, Laurence Wright, Urban R. Johnson, Charles E. Linkletter ("Strength Through Understanding"), John P. Price ("Unitate Per Y'sdom"), Poul Jorgensen, and Heinz Grabia.
Compact Disc format.
Reel 1 includes mid-year meeting, Copenhagen, 30 January - 2 February 1983 through 14th International Council meeting, Lagos, Nigeria, 10-13 July 1987. Reel 2 includes January 1988 to July 1993. Original material also available.
Includes Time of Fast Projects-Amazonic, Trapeze; Conventions-Melbourne, Stockholm, Appelton, Denmark; Monterey, California charter night; Carlisle, Pennsylvania; miscellaneous California parties.
Includes Panama; Green Lake, Wisconsin; Hong Kong; Mexico; Peru; Philippines; Uruguay; St. Louis; Florida; Norway.
Includes Chile; Argentina; New Zealand; Hong Kong; Pennsylvania; international flag set; Uruguay; Hawaii; Taiwan; England; Bolivia; Ecuador; Aruba, Mexico (east club charter); Brazil; Denmark; Philippines; India; Scandinavia; Singapore; Switzerland; U.S. area office; Australia; Sweden; Tobago; Bangkok; Hong Kong; Japan; Italy; Korea; Panama; Jamaica.
Given by the Mayor of Manila.
Includes flags for: Taipei, Taighung, Tainan clubs.
Includes flags for: 1975 International Convention - Atami, RD of Japan Tsuyama, Aobajoh, Fukuoka, Kikone, Kobe, Kyoto clubs, Nagoya clubs, Nara, Osaka clubs, Toyoko clubs, Wakayama, Yamate, Yokohama.
Includes flags for: 1982 International Convention - Seoul, Paik Seung International President, R.D. Hwa, R.D. Hwa Young Chun, R.D. Song, R.D. Lee- South Region, R.D. Yoon- East Region, International Council Member Sung, R.D. Suh-Center Region, R.D. Park-East Region, R.D. Kim-East Region, KOH, Eung Chin International Director, Korea Region flags, Cosmopolitan (Seoul), Deagu Alpha, Hang-Do (Pusan), Masan Club, Pusan Central, Sung AHM, Taegu Beta, Korea Club of Tokyo.
Includes flags for: Regional flag, R.D. Ibarrola, R.D. Ferrer, Manila Downtown, Manila Rizal Park.
Includes flags for: International President Christian Back Iversen, Area President Asbjorn Poulsen, R.D. Arne Gadeberg, R.D. Hans Adolf Muff, International Vice-President Klaus Dietzel, International Council Member Klaus Dietzel, Area Convention Vejle, Birkeroed, Danmark, Essen, Frendal, Kobenhaven, Viborg.
Includes flags for: Arendal, Bodo, Oslo, Sandefjord.
Includes flags for: International Clubs of Sweden pennant, Jarfalla, Linkoping, Orebro, Nassjo, Stockholm-Bromma, Sundsvall, Tranas, Vasteras.
Contains flags for Ararat, Bacchus Marsh, Ballatat, Benigo, Geelong, Eaglehawk, Echuca, Gosford, Kangaroo Flat, Kingsville, and Wangaatta.
Contains flags for Christ Church, and Nelson.
Contains flags for Jim Mueller, Harry L. Frick, Fred Prewitt, Raymond Seto, Les Vaghn, and Art Weeton.
Contains flags for Iowa; Michigan; North Central (Minneapolis, Minnesota), Northwest (Minneapolis, Minnesota), Midway (Saint Paul, Minnesota); Pacific Southwest.
Contains flags for Anchorage, Alaska; Bakersfield, California; Bellflower, California; Helena, Montana; Kaimuki, Hawaii; Mexico; Northwest Valley, Pacific Central Region; Salem, Oregon.
located in flat file drawer 14.
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.