The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-02-13
Its Aims and Purposes-An
Asset to the City.
Association Was Organized in
November, 1887.
INTERESTING BIT OF HISTORY
The 1915 Budget Calls for Ex-
penditure of $21,57s.
"Y. W." Work May Be Started
in North Topeka Soon.

(This is the nineteenth of a series Of ar.
ticles on Topeka churches and Cnrletlan
organizations published in the State Jour
nall
The Topeka Young Women's Chris
tian association was organized in No
vember, 1887. at the home OF MIS-
w. r. Parker, whore were gathered .
number Of women who were oesil .lS
Of helping the young women Oh tne
city in some systematic way. MIS-
The other officers elected were: Mrs.
A. III. Case, vice president; Mrs. Leon
Stanton. treasurer and corresponding
secretary; Miss Jennie Dick. recording
In addition to these officers, the first
board Of managers was compose1 y,
Mrs. Christman, Mrs. Parker. MIS-
Fisher, Mrs. Cron. Mrs. Lizzie neiu
and Miss Hammond.
The second meeting of the aseocia-
tion was held at the nome OF MISS
Bessie Boughton, but after tnat the
board met in the parlors OF the l.. M.
c. A. until the organization nad
home Of its own.
The first months the work consisted
Of Sunday afternoon gospel services
in the churches and social gatherings
for the young women. held IN the
homes of the board women.
The association was without home
OF it's own for more than year: put
IN March. 1889, the rooms over Ffsh's
.n;ca mills. at los East Sixth avenue,
mere secured and remodeled. Here
for two years "dweM'' the Topeka
Young Women's association, in a suite
Of rooms consisting of tea room, a
reading room and an office which was
shared with the secretary OF the state
association.
The First Secretary.
Miss Annie Adams, now Mrs. Baird
Of Korea was the first general sec
rotary. Under her supervision Bible
classes were organized. Sunday school
meetings held and evening sociais
planned for various groups OF girls.
boarding house directory was main
tanned in the Office for the benefit OF
the strange girls: an employment de-
partment was established.
During that same winter educational
classes were organized in the follow
ing subjects: Bookkeeping, stenogra-
ply, penmanship physical culture and
dressmaking. A prayer service was
held at the noon hour for the girls who
came to the tea room to eat their
lunches.
All this was made possible by the
fact that the women who were respon-
sible for the organization of the assO-
citation were willing to give themselves
to the work that it might succeed;
even as those women who are on the
board of directors today are giving
their time and strength in order that
at the present time of so much more
vast opportunities and responsibilities,
the Young Women's Christian associ-
alton may not be found lacking.
In 1891. after occupying the rooms
over Fish's for two years, the assoc
citation moved into more commodious
building at $40 Kansas avenue. Here |
the organization remained for more
than eight years.
Growth of Organization.
The work grew steadily in all de-
partments. 1t became necessary to
employ some one to assist the secre-
tary in the tea rooms and in other
ways. Again the home was outgrown
and the association was moved to the |
second floor of the building now
known as the Masonic Temple, in the |
autumn of 1899. 1t was here that the |
Y. w. c. A. had it's first equipped
under its own rLof. Here |
the association remained, continually |
growing into the larger responsible
ties that the growing city was forcing |
upon it. until June, 1911, when it
into it's own building erected |
at the corner of Seventh and Van
Buren, streets. This building stands
today as an evidence of the apprecia-
ton of the citizens of Topeka for the
work that has been done for the young
women of their city.
Several Requests Received.
The Young Women's Christian as