COLLECTION GUIDES

1851-1999

Offsite Storage Inventory

Restrictions on Access

The bulk of the Boston Young Men's Christian Union records is stored offsite and must be requested at least two business days in advance via Portal1791. Researchers needing more than six items from offsite storage should provide additional advance notice. If you have questions about requesting materials from offsite storage, please contact the reference desk at 617-646-0532 or reference@masshist.org.

This collection is PARTIALLY PROCESSED.


Collection Summary

Abstract

This collection consists of the records of the Boston Young Men's Christian Union, a social and charitable organization founded in 1851.

Historical Sketch

The Boston Young Men's Christian Union was formed by Harvard students in 1851 (and incorporated in 1852) for the purpose of Christian fellowship. Its goal was to provide "a home for young men; to offer every possible attraction in the shape of books, papers, games, pleasant companions, classes, public religious services, lectures, dramatic and musical entertainments, and other means of instruction and recreation." Members engaged in a variety of charitable work. The organization also operated Camp Union in Greenfield, N.H. until 1993.

In 1875, the organization constructed its own building, designed by Nathaniel Jeremiah Bradlee, at 48 Boylston St. The building contained "one of the largest and most complete gymnasiums in the country," as well as a concert hall, library, and other rooms. It was designated a historic landmark by the Boston Landmarks Commission in 1977 and by the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.

Sources

Report of the Boston Young Men's Christian Union for the Year Ending April 8, 1891. Boston: [Boston Young Men's Christian Union], 1891.

Collection Description

This collection contains Board of Directors meeting minutes, annual reports, other reports, financial records, topical files, papers related to legacies, photographs, publications, scrapbooks, and other papers. Also included are camp records, rental registries, and papers related to the landmark status of the organization's building on Boylston St.

Acquisition Information

Deposited by the Boston Young Men's Christian Union, October 2009.

Restrictions on Access

The bulk of the Boston Young Men's Christian Union records is stored offsite and must be requested at least two business days in advance via Portal1791. Researchers needing more than six items from offsite storage should provide additional advance notice. If you have questions about requesting materials from offsite storage, please contact the reference desk at 617-646-0532 or reference@masshist.org.

This collection is PARTIALLY PROCESSED.

Detailed Description of the Collection

Minutes

Carton 1SH 1AF2
1851-1906
Carton 1SH 1AF2
Board of Directors, 1852-1861
Carton 1SH 1AF2
Annual meetings, 1907-1986
Carton 1SH 1AF2
Trustees of Permanent Funds, 1870-1923

Board of Directors minutes

Carton 2SH 1AF3
1909-1914
Carton 2SH 1AF3
1914-1926
Carton 2SH 1AF3
1926-1935
Carton 2SH 1AF3
1936-1939
Carton 2SH 1AF3
1940-1948
Carton 3SH 1AF4
1948-1957
Carton 3SH 1AF4
1957-1968
Carton 3SH 1AF4
1969-1980
Carton 3SH 1AF4
1981-1986
Carton 3SH 1AF4
Loose, with notes, 1993-1999
Carton 4SH 1AF5
Annual reports, 1951-1980
Carton 4SH 1AF5
Executive director's reports, 1970-1982
Carton 5SH 1AF6
Topical files, 1940s

Arranged alphabetically.

Carton 6SH 1AF7
Topical files, 1930s-1970s
Carton 7SH 1AF8
Papers related to property, 1926-1928
Carton 7SH 1AF8
Topical files, late 1940s-1960s

Financial records

Carton 8SH 1AF9
Audits, 1919-1996 (with gaps)

1914 audit removed to OS Box 2.

Carton 8SH 1AF9
Records re: permanent fund
Carton 8SH 1AF9
Ledger "A," 1871-1879, with a few later accounts

Miscellaneous reports and financial records

Carton 9SH 1AFA
Report for BYMCU, 1939 (strategic plan/self-study)
Carton 9SH 1AFA
Park Plaza, 1965-1972
Carton 9SH 1AFA
Relocation, 1972
Carton 9SH 1AFA
Landmark status, 1970-1983
Carton 9SH 1AFA
Copies of deeds, etc.
Carton 9SH 1AFA
Miscellaneous camp records, 1980s-1990
Carton 9SH 1AFA
Miscellaneous financial records
Carton 10SH 1AFB
Legacies (funds)
Carton 11SH 1AUR
Legacies (funds)
Carton 12SH 1AUS
Legacies (funds)
Carton 13SH 1AUT
Registers of renters of rooms (members of the armed forces), 1942-19464 vols.
Carton 13SH 1AUT
Photographs
Carton 13SH 1AUT
Records of the checkers clubSmall paperbound vol.
Carton 14SH 1AUU
Carl Nelson papers
Carton 15SH 1AUV
Publications
Carton 16SH 1AUW
Publications
Carton 17SH 1AUX
Publications

Scrapbooks

Carton 18SH 1AUY
Donations to Chicago after the fire, 1871
Carton 18SH 1AUY
Apr. 1872-Feb. 1876
Carton 18SH 1AUY
June 1925-Sep. 1931
Carton 18SH 1AUY
Clippings, 1935-1941
Box OS 3
Apr. 1886-July 1888Stored onsite at Ms. U-474.
Box OS 4
July 1888-Apr. 1891Stored onsite at Ms. U-474.
Box OS 5
Sep. 1894-Dec. 1897Stored onsite at Ms. U-474.
Box OS 6
Jan. 1898-Dec. 1900Stored onsite at Ms. U-474.
Box OS 7
Jan. 1901-May 1904Stored onsite at Ms. U-474.
Box OS 8
June 1904-Jan. 1907Stored onsite at Ms. U-474.
Box OS 9
Clippings, 1913-1922Stored onsite at Ms. U-474.
Box OS 10
"War Services Scrapbook," Oct. 1915-Dec. 1918Stored onsite at Ms. U-474.
Box OS 11
Nov. 1917-Dec. 1926Stored onsite at Ms. U-474.
Box OS 12
Dec. 1922-Dec. 1924Stored onsite at Ms. U-474.
Box OS 13
Jan. 1927-Nov. 1937Stored onsite at Ms. U-474.
Box OS 14
"Mimeographed material used 1933-1934"Stored onsite at Ms. U-474.
Box OS 15
Clippings, 1935-1936Stored onsite at Ms. U-474.
Box OS 1
Oversize photographs, etc.Stored onsite at Ms. U-474.
Box OS 2
Audit by Stone & Webster, 1914Stored onsite at Ms. U-474.
Box OS 2
The Democrat, 1808Bound newspaper.Stored onsite at Ms. U-474.

Presented by William C. Murdock, Esq., 5 July 1976.

Preferred Citation

Boston Young Men's Christian Union records, Massachusetts Historical Society.

Access Terms

This collection is indexed under the following headings in ABIGAIL, the online catalog of the Massachusetts Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related persons, organizations, or subjects should search the catalog using these headings.

Persons:

Bradlee, Nathaniel Jeremiah, 1829-1888.

Organizations:

Harvard University--Students--Societies, etc.

Subjects:

Boston (Mass.)--Buildings, structures, etc.
Boston (Mass.)--Social life and customs.
Boston (Mass.)--Societies, etc.
Camping--New Hampshire--Greenfield.
Charitable societies--Massachusetts--Boston.
Clubs--Massachusetts--Boston.
Gymnasiums--Massachusetts--Boston.
Historic buildings--Massachusetts--Boston.
Men--Massachusetts--Boston--Societies and clubs.
Physical education and training--Massachusetts--Boston.
Scrapbooks.