Emerson Street YMCA Collection

Scope and Contents note

The Emerson Street YMCA collection spans from 1900 to 2010, with the bulk of the collection from 1909 to 1969. The collection was put together using original and photocopied materials. Box One contains original documents concerning the Emerson Street YMCA, including photographs, newsletters, annual reports, invitations, programs, and membership cards. Box Two primarily contains photocopied and original newspaper clippings and documents from the 2010 Emerson YMCA Celebration.

Also included in the collection are photocopies of Evanston YMCA minutes that refer to the Emerson Street Branch, spanning from 1954 to 1969, documents relating to James R. Talley, the first executive secretary of the branch, letters from the YMCA Director relating to the Emerson branch, programs from the Emerson YMCA Celebration from 2010, a book, Gatherings: The History and Activities of the Emerson Street Branch YMCA, and audiovisual materials.

This collection is unique in that it provides insight into the social lives of African Americans in Evanston. It is also significant in the fact that it is compiled from different archives and uses original documents that cannot be found elsewhere. Researchers interested in African American history in Chicago and Evanston or the YMCA as an organization will find this collection valuable to use.