Our History

The YWCA began in England in 1855 as a movement to make life better for women. A small group of women recognized the need to provide support, suitable housing, education, and recreation for young women moving from rural areas to the city to work in mills and other industries. The women who began the movement had a common concern for the worth of all human beings. Their vision was for "peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all people." The first YWCAs provided boarding houses, classes and exercise among various other activities.

The first YWCA in the United States was opened in New York in 1858 and hundreds of associations have been established since that time. Throughout its history, the YWCA has been at the forefront of most major movements in the United States as a pioneer in race relations, labor union representation, and the empowerment of women.

In the Community

In 1918 Ebertha Roelofs was sent from the National YWCA to work with the local Patriotic League which was engaged in war work. Some of the women in the League had belonged to the YWCA in college and expressed an interest in starting a local YWCA. A nominating committee of prominent local women was appointed to select a Provisional Committee to consider the establishment of a YWCA. The wife of the Governor, Mrs. Harrington, lent her support by having a meeting at the Governor’s Mansion. The committee worked hard to determine if the County had the residential, recreational and educational needs that the YWCA offered. The committee specifically wanted to dispel the myth that the YWCA was a building for homeless girls. Ultimately, the Patriotic League Disbanded and turned their funds over to the Provisional Committee.

In 1919 the Committee decided to name the new organization the YWCA of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County. The Bond Hotel (located at State Circle) was initially rented with an option to buy. Cafeteria services and residential services were offered in 1919. Despite problems raising money from the city, county and private sources, the Committee, under the leadership of Maggie Boone Moss, eventually secured $6,000.00 to buy the Bond Hotel at 40 State Circle and Francis Street in 1919. This building housed the YWCA from 1919 to 1993.

The YWCA was officially incorporated on December 29, 1920. The original plan for the YWCA included the establishment of rooms for girls, a cafeteria and recreation and education activities. The original membership fee was $1.00 and a room for two was $20.00 per month.

The YWCA has evolved through the decades:

1930's

Continuation of the original goals, lending library, babysitter training, cafeteria, residence, Professional Women’s Club, Young Business and Professional Women’s Club, sports and recreation, Christmas Bureau, and employment services.

1940's

Juvenile delinquency, Teen Canteen, club for married women, Y Hangout (including a jukebox and bands).

1950's

Crafts and cooking classes, bridge club, additional youth clubs, joint day camp with YMCA, golf lessons, senior’s group, closure of the cafeteria, sightseeing trips, summer camp on St. John’s campus, ballroom and square dancing.

1960's

YWCA homes tour (Distinctive Homes Tour) held every fall, investment planning, understanding business, marriage preparation, car care, rapid reading, book groups, discussion group called The Roundtable, youth and children’s services continued, community dialogue on race relations including providing programming at the Stanton Center.

1970's

Discussion on racism and sexism, housed the Information and Referral Center for Anne Arundel County, Circle Promenade, 2,000 members, expanded to 4 Pinkney Street to open a children’s center, YWCA bookstore, Y’s Corner (homemade crafts by members),Chalk Point Day Camp, theater trips, Afro-American music and poetry workshops, Carter School of Dance, Duke of Gloucester location with many women’s services, domestic violence services, fashion show, Christmas Open House, state funded abortion discussion, 6,000 members by 1979.

1980's

Severna Park Newcomers Club, all day conferences, dance-a-thon, Travel/Theater Club, Monte Carlo Night, Blue Grass Festival, Anne Arundel County Women’s Legislative Coalition, MLK breakfast, opened Battered Spouse Shelter in 1984 (later called Arden House), 10K run, Tribute to Women and Industry (TWIN) (1986), Ethnic Celebration, Family Fun Fair, capital campaign for new building, Meade Teen Infant Program,

1990's

Displaced Homemakers, legal services, domestic violence hotline, Arnold Building purchased, sale of State Circle, A Tribute to Women of Color (ATWOC), ScienceMinders, closed off-site programs, sold Severna Park location, West County Family Support Center, last Circle Promenade (1994)

Today

Only domestic violence safehouse in the county, Annual Gala, West County facility closed, increased government grants and private foundation funding, focus on community partnership, reintroduction of summer camp program, sexual assault services, Abuser Intervention Program, expansion of mentoring services.

Looking Ahead

The YWCA Annapolis and Anne Arundel County has made significant contributions to the community since it was established. Moving forward, we will continue to enhance the services we offer based on our expertise in domestic violence and sexual assault. We are expanding our mentoring programs to include juvenile justice mentoring. Additional programs that are gaining new focus are children’s recreational activities such as summer camp, transitional housing with a job training component, and reestablishing the YWCA corporate facility as a vibrant community center with a computer lab, art/dance studio and organized family activities.

The YWCA will also begin two new Hallmark programs.  The first, on Racial Justice, will provide educational support to at risk high school students at Annapolis High School. The second is a program on Economic Empowerment through a Financial Literacy program. In addition, we have set our sights on installing a large community playground through a “Community Build” project.

A large measure of our success has been the partnerships we’ve build with organizations and individuals throughout our community.  We look forward to continuing those relationships and cultivating new ones that will bring more diverse opportunities to program participants.