Guide to the Young Men's Christian Association of Westminster College minute book

The "Young Men's Christian Association of Westminster College" was established at Westminster College on February 2, 1922. The opening section of the organization's constitution states that it is "part of the North American Young Men's Christian Association and the World's Student Christian Federation". As stated in Article II of its constitution, the YMCA was created to promote "the spread of Evangelical Christian Morality among young men and women." The organization focused on "service, high moral standards and the spread of the teachings of Jesus Christ as lord and savior of all mankind." The YMCA of Westminster College, or Phi Gamma Alpha (Alpha Gamma Chi?) Chapter, extended membership to all young men willing to donate their time, money and service to the organization. Regular members were required to accept Jesus Christ as the world's only savior and dedicate themselves to the spread of the "Kingdom of God" and the ideals of the organization. Cabinet members where required to be active members in any Christian Evangelical congregation.

The club was lead by an advisory board and a student cabinet, which included the offices of president, Vice-President, recorder and assistant to the treasurer. The advisory board was made up of nine men, three faculty members, three local Christian Evangelical congregation members and three alumni members. The advisory board also had a cabinet which included the offices of president, Vice-President, recorder and treasurer.

This collection consists of one leather bound minute book of the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) of Westminster College. The Constitution and minutes handwritten in the book date from February 2, 1922 through December 16, 1942. The minute book seems to be the only existing evidence of the meetings of the group. During active periods in the club's history (September 25, 1940 to March 12, 1941 and then February 4, 1942 to May 20,1942 and finally September 23, 1942 to December 16,1942), regular meetings where held twice a month, and at one point, once a week.

During regular meetings, which where occasionally combined with the Young Women's Christian Association of Westminster College (YWCA), the club would typically have a guest speaker from a local congregation, however on occasion, the meeting was lead by student leaders and always ended with a benediction. The February 11, 1942 was a combined meeting withe the Y.W.C.A., and held in Ferry Hall. At this meeting, President Steele led a discussion of marriage. The September 23, 1942 minutes are headed "Phi Gamma Alpha, 1942-43", presumably the first meeting of the new school year. The September 30, 1942 minutes mention that the benediction was led by [YMCA] President Dan Parks. After the last entry in the minutes book, dated December 16, 1942, the club seems to have become abruptly inactive. It appears that a meeting was planned for January 6, 1943, but may have been cancelled as no minutes entry exists except for the date. Unfortunately, the minutes provide no other evidence or explanation as to what became of the organization after January 1943.

Gaps in the collection: These records indicate that the club's activity fluctuated over the course of several decades often changing from inactive to very prominent. The minutes suggest that after the adoption of the constitution on February 2, 1922 the club held only four short meetings and became inactive until September of 1940, only to become inactive again in the spring of 1941. However, a photograph was taken during the 1928-1929 school year showing a group of several dozen Westminster College students with advisors, labelled "Y.M.C.A., 1928-1929". This would suggest that the club was active through the 1920s. This instability (in either the club's activity, in its minute-keeping, or the survival of the minutes) was a trend which continued throughout the years of the club's existence on campus. After extended periods of apparent inactivity, club minutes resume without any explanation regarding the gaps in the records. It is a known fact, however, that in the mid-1940s large nunbers of young men were leaving college campuses all across the country to join the military during World War II; this may explain the inactivity of the Y.M.C.A on campus at that time.

Restrictions on Access:

Open to public research.

Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.

Twenty-four hours advance notice is encouraged.

Restrictions on Use:

It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.

Permission to publish material must be obtained from the director of the Giovale Library.

Preferred Citation:

Young Men's Christian Association of Westminster College, 1922-1942, ACC-036, Giovale Library Archives, Westminster College, Salt Lake City, Utah.

Arrangement:

Arranged chronologically, except for membership roster which are listed in the back pages of the book in chronological order. The only separate material found in the book was an undated (ca. 1942) slip of paper in typescript inviting the intended recipient to become a member of the Phi Gamma Alpha Chapter of the YMCA from Dan Parks, President. Supplemental materials where filed separately.

Processing Note:

Processed by T. Christopher Wharton.

Creator:

Young Men's Christian Association (Westminster College)

Language:

Collection materials are in English.

Quantity:

0.1 linear feet; 1 volume

Language of the Finding Aid:

English.

Author of the Finding Aid:

Finding aid written by T. Christopher Wharton; expanded June 2012 by Sarah Shaw.

EAD Creation Date:

2012 June 1 by Sarah Shaw

Standard:

Describing Archives : A Content Standard (DACS)

Subarea:

Related Material:

Related photograph in Giovale Library Archives:

• Photograph of the Y.M.C.A. of Westminster College, 1928-1929

Corporate Names:

Young Men's Christian Association (Westminster College)--Archives
Westminster College (Salt Lake City, Utah : 1902-1983)--Students

Subject Terms:

College students--Religious life--Utah--Salt Lake City.

Form or Genre Terms:

Constitutions
Minute books
Minutes

Personal Names:

Parks, Dan

Geographical Names:

Salt Lake City (Utah)--History--Sources