Lima Young Men's Christian Association records

The records of the Young Men's Christian Association of Lima, Ohio document the history of a social and religious association and its members from 1887 to 1969. These records contain a wealth of information for several avenues of research. Predominantly consisting of Board of Directors' minutes, speeches, and scrapbooks, one could successfully document the growth of a social and religious institution and the impact it had on the community.

Individually, a study of the board of directors' minutes, complete from 1887 to 1969, provide a researcher with information on the formation of the YMCA and how it chose to educate its members and the surrounding community. Sweat shop and factory workers often gathered at their noon hour for Bible study classes taught by local ministers and YMCA personnel. The monthly reports, 1905 to 1917 document the attendance at these meetings and the growing interest this type of program had during this time period.

From a sociological perspective, the speeches of Robert J. Plate, 1918-1950 offer a record of running commentaries on the political, social, and religious aspects on both the local and national levels. His ability at raising funds for the YMCA can be demonstrated through his moving speeches. The women's auxiliary records, 1908-1922 and photographs of its members, provide a look into a facet of women's history and the role women played at this time in a predominantly male organization.

The architectural historian will find in the board of directors' minutes, building records, fund raising campaigns and photographs of YMCA buildings, an overall history of the Lima YMCA building and its function in the community. The correspondence is predominantly with architects and builders. R. J. Plate's ability at raising funds for the building is documented in the correspondence by his letters of solicitation for funds.

The entertainment advertising, 1899 to 1900, co-ed correspondence and activities, 1940 to 1941 and the scrapbooks covering over forty-seven years of YMCA history, would be useful in the study of popular culture. The flyers, brochures, tickets, and pamphlets provide a visual image to augment this research of an organization which has had a continued community appeal to this day.

The cash and time books help portray the financial picture of the YMCA and the types of funds it used in its business transaction as well as the number of employees and their salaries.

The photograph collection contains portraits of the prominent leaders of the YMCA, the building interior and exterior, various athletic groups, fourteen photographs of other YMCA buildings and a few labor photographs. These are an asset to the collection and certainly give the researcher a feel for the history of the Young Men's Christian Association and its members.

All the records may be of some value to the genealogist. Simple verification of names and dates would be useful.

ANNUAL MEETING MINUTES; April 27, 1900-May 6, 1903; arranged chronologically. Includes financial statements, narrative outline of the year's activities, constitution of the YMCA.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS' MINUTES; October 28, 1887-May 28, 1969; arranged chronologically. Contains a record of names of members present, motions, agreements, signatures of secretary, financial reports, resolutions for deceased members, record of receipts and expenditures, and the constitution (April 17, 1912).

BUILDING COMMITTEE MINUTES; June 12, 1892-May 3, 1895; arranged chronologically. Includes a listing of names on the general and young men's funds committees, names of members present, motions, agreements.

CENTRAL HI-Y MINUTES; October 24, 1922-April 23, 1924; contains a record of the meetings held by the Lima Central High School Hi-Y Club, topic of discussion or speeches given at each meeting, secretary's signature.

FOREMEN'S CLUB; October 23, 1924-January 16, 1934; arranged chronologically. Contains a record of names and addresses of members, minutes, financial statements, committee members.

MEMBERSHIP RECORD; 1881-1886, 1889-1902; arranged chronologically. Contains a record of date of admission, address, business address, occupation, what church is a member of, church attending, age and type of membership.

STATISTICAL REGISTER; 1894-1897; arranged chronologically. Includes a record of various meetings, topics of discussion, speakers and number attending.

WOMEN'S AUXILIARY RECORD; March 24, 1908-November 22, 1922; arranged chronologically. Contains a record of the organization's constitution, list of members, motions, agreements, amendments, bills, dues paid and numerous committees organized.

CO-ED CLUB CORRESPONDENCE AND ACTIVITIES; 1940-1941; arranged chronologically. Includes correspondence with prospective entertainment groups, list of members attending activities, and flyers advertising events and activities.

CORRESPONDENCE; Incoming, 1909-1954; Outgoing, 1899-1952; arranged chronologically. Contains a record of incoming and outgoing correspondence between builders, architects, those solicited for fund-raising help and R. J. Plate, president for over forty years.

BUILDING ESTIMATES; 1894; arranged chronologically. Includes an itemized listing of building expenses.

CAMPAIGN PUBLICATIONS AND LITERATURE; 1909-1951; arranged chronologically. Includes fund-raising campaign schedules, names of individuals helping to raise funds for the 1934 campaign, itemized list of contributions from individuals and businesses.

COMPETITION RECORD; undated; unarranged. Contains a record of various athletic events, participants and scores.

DEDICATIONS, CONVENTIONS; February 16, 1919-February 1953; arranged chronologically. Contains a narrative description of those primarily responsible for the YMCA building, names of members on the board of directors and building committee, addresses made by President Coolidge, Herbert Hoover, programs from various meetings, hightlights of the sixty-five years of the Lima YMCA.

GLEANINGS FROM YMCA MINUTE BOOKS; 1887-1937; arranged chronologically. Consists of a historical outline of the Lima YMCA.

MISCELLANEOUS; 1914-1959; arranged chronologically. Includes brochures, newsletters and a 1958 annual report.

MISCELLANEOUS (NEW BUILDING); 1913-1916; arranged chronologically. Includes information on architects who have built YMCA buildings, responsibilities of the finance committee, contract with architect for Lima YMCA, listing of architects' clients and structures built.

STUDY OF PRESENT CONDITIONS AND FUTURE TRENDS; 1934; includes a narrative outline of the functions of the YMCA, lists contributions to the Lima YMCA and to various other YMCA organizations in the midwest.

ANNUAL REPORTS; 1890-1891; arranged chronologically. Contains a record of officers, board of directors, chairmen of committees, ladies auxiliary officers, treasurer's annual report, treasurer of ladies auxiliary report, list of sustaining members, an outline of the physical, social, mental and spiritual activities.

ANNUAL SECRETARY'S REPORT; 1901-1905, 1907-1908, 1910-1915, 1922-1924, 1929, 1931; arranged chronologically. Includes financial reports, outlines of activities and individuals served.

MONTHLY REPORT; 1905-1917; arranged chronologically. Includes a report of the YMCA's activities with emphasis on its Christian mission to reach young men in factories with shop meetings.

MONTHLY STATISTICAL REPORT; February, March, April, 1905, undated; arranged chronologically. Contains a record of attendance at YMCA functions, reports given by Religious, Educational, Social and Infomation and Relief Departments.

WEEKLY RECEIPT REPORT; October, December 1905, January 1906; arranged chronologically. Includes a listing of money received each week for memberships, towels, lockers and keys, subscriptions, Sunday collections, tuition, and old books.

SPEECHES AND PARTS OF SPEECHES BY ROBERT J. PLATE; 1918-1950; arranged chronologically.

CASH BOOKS; 1892-1911; arranged chronologically. Contains a record of contributions, young men's fund, general fund, final fund, contracts, interest, salaries, postage and printing, membership payments.

EXPANSION FUND FINANCIAL STATEMENT; 1958-1966; arranged chronologically. Contains a record of investments, loans, expenditures, cash received on pledges, building costs, list of delinquent contributions to YMCA building fund.

TIME BOOK; July 15, 1922-June 30, 1930; arranged chronologically. Contains a listing of employees and salaries.

TRANSMITTAL OF FUNDS AND SUMMARY SHEETS; 1961-1966; arranged chronologically. Contains a listing of pledges received each month, from what individuals or business. Includes summary sheets of pledges paid and totals for each date.

YM FUND SUBSCRIBERS; 1905-1905; arranged chronologically. Includes date, name of subscriber, amount donated, and name of person securing subscription.

NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS; 1888-1889, 1917-1963;; arranged chronologically.

SCRAPBOOKS; 1882-1905, 1920-1944; arranged chronologically. Includes pamphlets, flyers, tickets, newspaper clippings, correspondence, and one volume on Lima's men and women who served in the armed forces in World War II (October 1941-November 1942).

BUILDING FUND PLEDGES (WORKERS); 1916; arranged chronologically. Includes a listing of names of various individuals employed by businesses in Lima and the amount pledged to the building fund.

ENTERTAINMENT ADVERTISING; 1899-1900; arranged chronologically. Contains three broadsides announcing various YMCA entertainment.

LIMA'S YOUNG MEN; 1888-1900; arranged chronologically. Lima's Young Men consists of a newsletter published by the YMCA with a circulation of 1,000. The newsletter includes YMCA state and local news, meetings, activities of various groups, a listing of officers and board of directors.

MISCELLANEOUS TICKETS AND PAMPHLETS; 1891-1893, 1896-1901, 1939-1942; arranged chronologically. Includes tickets and pamphlets to YMCA meetings and lectures.

POINTERS FOR YOUNG MEN; 1890; arranged chronologically. Includes a listing of all information regarding a YMCA membership, cost, facilities, and programs.

YMCA OF OHIO--STATE WORK; 1888; one issue of State Work: Young Men's Christian Association of Ohio. Consists of news of various YMCA organizations around the state, finances, and a column on the organization of the Lima YMCA.

PHOTOGRAPHS; includes photographs of the Lima YMCA interior and exterior, athletic teams, Y-girls, national YMCA buildings, Billy Sunday Tabernacle, labor photographs and Lima Locomotive and Machine Company.

PHOTOGRAPHS--PORTRAITS; includes photographs of the major contributors to the YMCA and other members.