Preview
Creation Date
1910
Identification #
OGL291-54
Description
This photo depicts a 2-story YWCA building, orginally James and Ruby Dinnie's home, with vines growing on the front taken around 1940. The Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) originated in England in 1855, and was begun and financed by women. The goal of the organization was to assist those girls and women who had left the protection of their home for wider fields of activity. The YWCA, a membership organization with a religious purpose, was open to any girl or young woman, providing them with the opportunity for physical, social, mental, and spiritual growth.
The Grand Forks YWCA was organized on December 30, 1903, when a committee of women met at George B. Winship's home to study the needs of young women in Grand Forks living away from home. A constitution was adopted in January, 1904. Due to prevailing financial conditions, there was no effort to solicit funds from the public, depending entirely upon membership dues and voluntary gifts.
The YWCA was frequently re-located due to funds and donations. The first home of the Grand Forks YWCA was two rooms on the second floor of the Security Building (101 North Third Street), moving to the basement of the same building in 1905. In 1906, the YWCA moved to 211 North Fourth Street. By 1911, the YWCA was located on the second floor of the E.J. Lander building. In 1939, the YWCA moved to 311 North Fourth Street. On December 14, 1947, the YWCA announced plans to build at the corner of North Fifth Street and Second Avenue North. Then, finally in 1951 the construction of their own building began. Due to lack of funds the building was not dedicated to the YWCA until 1957.
For more information see our YWCA Records.
Places Depicted
Grand Forks, North Dakota
People Depicted
Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA)
Rights
Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections, Chester Fritz Library, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks