Similar to the YWCA, the YMCA is a movement operating at three levels: local, national, and world. The YMCA was founded in England in 1844 as the Young Men’s Christian Organization, with the mission of “the spiritual condition of the young men engaged in houses of business, by the formation of Bible classes, family and social prayer meetings, mutual improvement societies, or any other spiritual agency” (“Sir George Williams - Founder of the YMCA”). The movement’s mission has changed regularly since 1844 and is currently “to empower young people and communities worldwide to build a just, sustainable, equitable and inclusive world, where every person can thrive in body, mind and spirit” (“Our Mission”). The YWCA and YMCA are independent movements with different missions. However, some local YMCAs and YWCAs have merged into YM-YWCAs or YMCA-YWCAs, belonging to and offering programs from both organizations. At all three levels of both movements, YMCAs and YWCAs often maintain connections to one another and collaborate with each other.

YWCA Metro Vancouver maintains a relationship with YMCA organizations including YMCA BC and YMCA Canada. This is accomplished via YWCA Metro Vancouver’s receipt of YMCA annual reports and publications.

Records consist of annual reports, occasional reports, and publications from YMCA BC and the YMCA of Canada.

References:
“Our Mission.” World YMCA, 2023, https://www.ymca.int/who-we-are/the-worldwide-ymca-movement/the-ymca-history/mission/.
“Sir George Williams - Founder of the YMCA.” World YMCA, 2023, https://www.ymca.int/who-we-are/the-worldwide-ymca-movement/the-ymca-history/sir-george-williams-founder-of-the-ymca/.

Subseries documents YWCA Metro Vancouver’s research on its own history, typically for the purpose of producing historical summaries of the organization, staff, facilities, programs, and/or membership in the service of communications and promotion. Activities represented include: compilation of original and copied material; correspondence with former staff and members involving commentary on YWCA history and attached original materials; research and note-taking on the YWCA’s history; and communication of YWCA history via presentations, publications, and promotional pieces.

Records consist of collected original and photocopied material, material sent in by former members and staff, notes, written summaries, presentations, and other material used to produce, comment on, and communicate the history of the organization.

YWCA Metro Vancouver maintains relationships with the YWCA of Canada and with local Canadian YWCAs. This is generally accomplished via: participation in National Conventions, National Councils, and other national meetings and workshops; the YWCA of Canada’s dissemination of policy statements, reference materials, annual reports, and other administrative records and publications to local YWCAs; general communications between YWCA Metro Vancouver and both the YWCA of Canada and local associations; and YWCA Metro Vancouver’s receipt of local Canadian YWCAs’ publications.

Records consist of publications, reports, National Convention and National Council material, reference materials, and other records arising from YWCA Metro Vancouver’s involvement with the YWCA of Canada, local Canadian YWCA associations, and national meetings. Material in this fonds recording interactions between the YWCA of Canada and other affiliated organizations (e.g., World YWCA, national and local YWCAs located outside of Canada, YMCAs) is also kept in this subseries.

Subseries includes items published in small batches, which might have been created using technologies such as Xerox photocopying, and at home binding techniques including staples and sewing, and which are most often in small (i.e. smaller than A4size) formats, or items which Anna defined as zines. Items are often self-published, or published through small collectives.

This subseries can be differentiated from other subseries as a result of the format and the content of the files. For example, it excludes exhibit catalogues, as Banana distinguished in her own filing system between the two, so small, zine-like exhibit catalogue are not included. Files are distinguished by the names of zines or zine collections. It includes one-off booklets, handmade artists poetry books, handmade or custom zines, some handmade “one of a kind books,” and regularly published small format zines and newsletters.