Young Women's Christian Association of Greater Hartford.

At the time of its formation in 1866, the Hartford Association was one of the earliest Associations for young women in America, and the first community social agency in Hartford. In 1867, the Association was incorporated as The Women's Christian Association, with rooms for rent at two adjacent Hartford locations. These boarding facilities for young women were to be self-supporting and offer “most of the advantages of a well-ordered Christian home at much less price than a common boarding house.” The rooms were open every day and evening “for social purposes, reading, Bible and singing classes.” In an effort to provide further support to its residents, an employment service was established.

In 1889, an education program was formed with classes in typing, stenography, bookkeeping, penmanship, and grammar, along with a health education program offering classes in first aid, hygiene, and physical culture. In an effort to broaden its reach, a Group Work program was established in 1899 to offer the services of the Association to girls of the general community rather than only to those in the residence and workshop. Around 1912, with an expanding demand on the Association facilities, a site at Ann and Church Streets was purchased, a building campaign was launched, and, in 1916 a new building was erected. In 1926, Camp Aya-Po in Somers, Connecticut, was added to the Association's facilities. The same year, the Association changed its name to the Young Women's Christian Association and the personal basis of membership was adopted to replace the Protestant Evangelical membership requirement.

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