The Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) originally formed in England in 1855. In the United States the YWCA combined evangelism and pragmatic activism to provide for the physical, social, mental, and spiritual needs of young women living on their own. The organization strove to provide "wholesome" activities for women and girls living in cities and to develop civic-minded female leadership. In addition to christian guidance, local YWCA branches offered residences, cafeterias, job training, daycare, exercise, crafts, camping, dances, and other services. By 1906 the U.S. YWCA had over 186,000 members, and in 1907 it incorporated and established its headquarters in New York City. Today YWCA branches function fairly autonomously and respond to local needs and conditions. Currently, there are, nearly 300 U.S. branches serving some 2 million women, and there are YWCA branches in more than 122 countries. The YWCA of Silicon Valley was organized in 1905 and incorporated in 1914. The organization struggled initially, disbanding in 1909 because of debt, but by 1914 local women were in the midst of a $75,000 fund drive to match a $25,000 donation by Maria Schofield for a YWCA building in San Jose. Julia Morgan, architect for a number of YWCA buildings on the west coast, was hired to design the building and in 1915 the cornerstone was laid on Second and San Antonio streets in San Jose. An annex was added in 1926, and the expanded building included residences, a cafeteria, a gym, pool, and club rooms. The Morgan building was demolished in 1973 to make way for the San Antonio Plaza urban renewal project. The current YWCA facility, Villa Nueva, opened in 1993 after a $3,000,000 capital campaign matched by state, local, and federal funds. The Villa Nueva facility includes low-income housing, childcare facilities, and administrative offices. The agency was renamed the YWCA of Silicon Valley in 2004.
From the description of YWCA of Silicon Valley Records, 1905-2005. (San Jose Public Library). WorldCat record id: 181644196
