The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-02-25
DOES A BIC WORK
Some Interesting Facts Regard
ing the Topeka Y. w. C. A.
Association Was Organized
Here in November, 1887.
SO PER CENT SELF SUPPORTING
First Physical Culture Glass
Was Formed in 1894.
Site for Present Structure Pur-
chased in 1909.
SO PER CENT SELF SUPPORTING


chased in 1909.
With the staging of the annual fl
nancial campaign of the Y. w c. A.
which will be conducted next week,
a number Of interesting facts in re-
gard to the history of the association,
have been brought to light
The association was organized here
in November, 1887, and its first To-
cation was a suite of rooms located
On the second floor Of the building at
los East Sixth avenue. The first
floor was occupied by Fish's Spice
Mills Mrs. Henry Bennett, a promf-
nent Topeka woman, served as the
first president The second location
of the Y. w. c. A. was at $40 KAN
sas avenue. These quarters were first
occupied in May, 1891. The mem
hers of the association early learned
the financial benefits of operating
lunch room. 1t opened its first lunch
room in 1893. This was done for two
purposes. The first was to help make
the association .Self-supporting and
the second was to provide meals to
working girls at cost. The benefits
from this line of work have grown
until last year tho association was
made SO per cent self-supporting.
New Era in Y. w. Work.
The first physical culture class was
instituted in 1894. This was the be-
ginning of a new era in the work of
the association and the physical de-
partment now is one of the most i'm
portant of the organization.
The Y. w. c. A. moved to tenn
porary quarters for the last time in
1899. The location was 623 Jackson
street A North Topeka branch was
established in April, 1903 and was de-
stroyed in May. 1904 by flood. In
1908, $50 persons were enrolled in the
physical department of the associa-
ton as compared with 6S7 at present.
The site of the present structure
was purchased in 1903 at a cost of
$4,000 and the building was erected
in 1910. The first summer Gimp was
established at WGl1arusa in 1910. Mrs.
W. S. Lindsay was president of the
association when the present struc-
ture was completed and is now an
honorary member of the Y. w. G. A.
board The department - for high
school girls was established in 1913.
Altho the present building contains
three stories and basement and IS
HOdern in every respect, the rapid
growth of the association has made
the present quarters inadequate. The
association also operates an annex at
6f5 Van Buren, street, which houses
twenty-three girls.
The growth of the organization has
forced il to divide itself into numer-
Gus departments. The third floor of
the present building IS devoted ex-
clusively to housing of women and
girls. Approximately 1927 persons
occupied these rooms during 1921.
The occupants are given home privi-
-leges. Equipment was installed last
year whereby the girls could do their
own laundry work.
The second floor of the building is
given over to club rooms and the as
Ill
~ meetings were held in the assembly
hail by outside organizations during
1921. The main floor is occupied by
the offices. cafeteria, parlors. and
reading rooms. The girls work de-
partment is interested in girls from
twelve to eighteen years of age. The
four divisions of this department are:
grade school girls, high school girls,
young employed girls and colored
grade school girls
The reducing classes are the fea-
lures of the physical department.
Classes in gymnastics, corrective ply
steal training. aesthetic dancing, vol
1cynau, dancing. swimming and
hockey are conducted. The members
OF the classes also take outdoor ex-
cursions and hike to neighboring
places of interest. The educational
department is another distinctive fea-
ture of the association Glasses in
HtWAliEf hAGS5ild NILS HlllAlhGlyI bdS-
kerry and French are held.
The Bible Classes.
-he most interesting features of the
religious education division of the Y.
W. c. A. is the Bible classes. Many
Of Topeka's most prominent women
are members. They are CONDUCTED
for women and girls of all ages. Even
ing classes are held for working girls.
Perhaps the service department is
of most value to the working girls.
This division conducts the personal
work. The department deals with the
employment, housing, Industrial. fl
nancial problems of girls Evening
clubs are conducted for business
women.
. The enlarged work OF the Y. W. c.
\. FOR the ensuing year will be 9 serv-
ice bureau, and summer camps. A
new annex containing an ample num-
Der of dormitories to meet the de-
mands of girls and young women will
be constructed in 1928. The need for
the new building now is very great,
but this work will be postponed for a
year. on account of present financial
conditions. It is recognized by many
of the influential citizens of, Topeka
that the proper housing of such per-
sons is one of the first steps to be
taken in the lettering of moral con-
ditiOns. a number of business men
have promised to put this campaign
over the top when the proper time
arrives.