Ymca Collection

Blandford Union Workhouse, Blandford Forum, Dorset
Distant view of Blandford Union workhouse, from Salisbury Road, Blandford Forum, Dorset. A house at the left has a sign reading YNCA (or YMCA?)

YMCA Poster, Lend Your Strength, WW1
YMCA Poster, design by Adrian Gil-Spear, Lend Your Strength to the Red Triangle, Help the Y Help the Fighters Fight, United War Work Campaign, 11 to 18 November, First World War. circa 1918

Mobile Canteens
A row of mobile canteens in Brighton. Note that one of the vans has Y.M.C.A. printed on it. 1940

Concerts at the Front: Miss Lena Ashwell
A concert party, including Miss Lena Ashwell(sixth figure from the left), at the Indian Y.M.C.A hut. Lena Ashwell, British actress and actor-manager, OBE(1872-1957)

Exterior of YMCA, Jerusalem, Israel, Middle East

Lecture on physiology and hygiene in progress at the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA's) Exeter Hall
530224 Lecture on physiology and hygiene in progress at the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA's) Exeter Hall, London. Wood engraving 1887; Universal History Archive/UIG.

Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) Gymnasium Longacre, London: Young men sprinting through the Maze
530223 Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) Gymnasium Longacre, London: Young men sprinting through the Maze. Wood engraving 1887; Universal History Archive/UIG.

Sitting room at Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA's) Exeter Hall, London
530225 Sitting room at Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA's) Exeter Hall, London, where young men could relax and receive visitors. Wood engraving, 1887; Universal History Archive/UIG.

Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) gymnasium, Longacre, London, opened by the Prince of Wales, 16 June 1888
530209 Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) gymnasium, Longacre, London, opened by the Prince of Wales, 16 June 1888. Men exercising using various apparatus

Mrs. E.L. Smith, Mrs. Jay Gould, Mrs. H.B. Duryea, Mrs. Lawr. Keene, 1918. Creator: Bain News Service
Mrs. E.L. Smith, Mrs. Jay Gould, Mrs. H.B. Duryea, Mrs. Lawr. Keene, 1918. Mrs. Edward L. Smith, Mrs. Jay Gould, Mrs. Herman B. Duryea (Ellen Homer Winchester), and Mrs

Mrs. J. Ward & Mrs. Jay Gould, 1918. Creator: Bain News Service. Mrs. J. Ward & Mrs. Jay Gould, 1918
Mrs. J. Ward & Mrs. Jay Gould, 1918. Mrs. J. Ward and Mrs. Jay Gould with sailor at the Y.M.C.A. Bryant Park Eagle Hut, New York City which was opened to serve soldiers during World War I.

Y.M.C.A. hut, 1918. Creator: Bain News Service
Y.M.C.A. hut, 1918. The Y.M.C.A. Bryant Park Eagle Hut, New York City which was opened to serve soldiers during World War I.

Y.M.C.A. hut, Bryant Park, 1918. Creator: Bain News Service
Y.M.C.A. hut, Bryant Park, 1918. The Y.M.C.A. Bryant Park Eagle Hut, New York City which was opened on June 8, 1918 to serve soldiers during World War I.

Y.M.C.A. hut, 1918. Creator: Bain News Service
Y.M.C.A. hut, 1918. Soldiers reading at the Y.M.C.A. Bryant Park Eagle Hut, New York City which was opened to serve soldiers during World War I.

YMCA hut, New York, 1918. Creator: Bain News Service
YMCA hut, New York, 1918. Sailors playing checkers at the Y.M.C.A. Bryant Park Eagle Hut, New York City which was opened to serve military personnel during World War I.

Y.M.C.A. at Fort Sheridan, Ills., 1917 and 1918. Creator: Bain News Service
Y.M.C.A. at Fort Sheridan, Ills., 1917 and 1918. YMCA structures at Fort Sheridan now a residential neighborhood which makes up Lake Forest, Highwood, and Highland Park, Illinois during World War I.

Y.M.C.A. in Paris, Mrs. T. Roosevelt Jr., between c1915 and c1920. Creator: Bain News Service
Y.M.C.A. in Paris, Mrs. T. Roosevelt Jr., between c1915 and c1920.

Mr. N.L. Fulton, portrait photograph, 1918 Sept. 8. Creator: Arnold Genthe
Mr. N.L. Fulton, portrait photograph, 1918 Sept. 8

Mr. N.L. Fulton, portrait photograph, 1918 Sept. 8. Creator: Arnold Genthe
Mr. N.L. Fulton, portrait photograph, 1918 Sept. 8

Y.M.C.A. fire & police headquarters, Knoxville, Tenn. between 1900 and 1915. Creator: Byron Company. Y.M.C.A
Y.M.C.A. fire & police headquarters, Knoxville, Tenn. between 1900 and 1915

Y.M.C.A. Building, Detroit, Mich. ca 1910. Creator: Unknown
Y.M.C.A. Building, Detroit, Mich. ca 1910

B.M. Ry. [Boston and Maine Railroad], Y.M.C.A. Concord, N.H. c1908. Creator: Unknown
B.M. Ry. [Boston and Maine Railroad], Y.M.C.A. Concord, N.H. c1908. "R.R. Dept." and "Y.M.C.A." carved on porch

Y.M.C.A. building, Hartford, Conn. between 1900 and 1910. Creator: Unknown
Y.M.C.A. building, Hartford, Conn. between 1900 and 1910

Naval Y.M.C.A. Norfolk, Va. between 1910 and 1920. Creator: Unknown
Naval Y.M.C.A. Norfolk, Va. between 1910 and 1920. Young Men's Christian Association

Young Men's Christian Association, Boston, Mass. between 1910 and 1920. Creator: Unknown
Young Men's Christian Association, Boston, Mass. between 1910 and 1920

Mr. J.C. Brown, portrait photograph, 1918 Sept. 7. Creator: Arnold Genthe
Mr. J.C. Brown, portrait photograph, 1918 Sept. 7

Religious training and physical culture; An evidence of the remarkable advancement... 1917. Creator: Unknown
Religious training and physical culture; An evidence of the remarkable advancement of members of the Young Men's Christian Association in the development of mind and body, 1917

Patience, New York, [1930s]. Creator: Unknown
Patience, New York, [1930s]. The Federal Theatre Project, created by the U.S. Works Progress Administration in 1935, was designed to conserve and develop the skills of theater workers

Bibles - 5000 Gideon Bibles for D.C. Hotels, 1913. Creator: Harris & Ewing. Bibles - 5000 Gideon Bibles for D.C
Bibles - 5000 Gideon Bibles for D.C. Hotels, 1913. USA: 5000 (50 Tons) Gideon Bibles (American Standard Version) for the Guest Rooms of 75 Washington Hotels'

YMCA Services Club, Lemon Quay, Truro, Cornwall. Around late 1940s
The YMCA Services Club, at the rear of City Hall, with a van for light refreshments. A man inside the van is handing a box of Smiths potato crisps to a lady. Photographer: Unknown

The YMCA is set for a return to Chester after a five year absence - in a bankrupt nightclub. The organisation has signed up to take over the former Knights nightclub

London Central YMCA - Tottenham Court Road - now demolished and replaced by the St. Giles Hotel. Date: circa 1910s

Israel, Jerusalem, New City, Jerusalem, Historic YMCA tower

Exterior Of YMCA, Jerusalem, Israel, Middle East

YMCA hut in a dug-out in Ypres during WW1

YMCA hut during WW1 - Hospital hut

YMCA Hospital hut during WW1

YMCA Shakespeare Hut, London during WW1

YMCA Ypres dug out hut during WW1

YMCA job training after WW1

YMCA Shakespeare Hut Enquiry Office, London during WW1

YMCA Wakefield reading room during WW1

YMCA post war training

YMCA Reading Room, Wakefield during WW1

YMCA Penkridge Bank Camp railway station during WW1

YMCA Hut at Penkridge Bank Camp during WW1

Soldiers in a YMCA hut during WW1

A YMCA hut during WW1

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"Discovering the Legacy of YMCA: From Blandford Union Workhouse to Global Humanitarian Efforts" Step back in time and explore the origins of YMCA, starting with its humble beginnings at Blandford Union Workhouse in Blandford Forum, Dorset. Little did anyone know that this small establishment would lay the foundation for a worldwide movement dedicated to uplifting communities. During World War I, the iconic YMCA Poster "Lend Your Strength" became a symbol of hope and support for soldiers on the frontlines. Mobile canteens provided much-needed sustenance and comfort amidst the chaos of war, while concerts by Miss Lena Ashwell brought solace to weary hearts. From Jerusalem's exterior YMCA building in Israel's Middle East to dug-out huts in Ypres during WWI, these structures served as beacons of respite amid conflict. Some were transformed into hospital huts, offering vital medical aid during times of crisis. In London's Shakespeare Hut during WWI, soldiers found solace through literature and art. These spaces nurtured creativity and camaraderie amidst turmoil. The YMCA Ypres dug-out hut also played a crucial role in providing shelter and support for those affected by war. As conflicts subsided after WWI, YMCA shifted its focus towards job training programs aimed at helping individuals rebuild their lives. The Shakespeare Hut Enquiry Office became a hub for assistance as people sought guidance on employment opportunities. Today, we honor the rich history - from its modest beginnings at Blandford Union Workhouse to its global impact as an organization dedicated to empowering individuals and communities worldwide. Let us remember their legacy as we continue working towards creating a better future for all.