| 1906-07 - The YWCA of Asheville, Central YWCA, is founded out of concern for single working women. Bishop J.M. Horner discussed this concern with Florence Stephenson, who began the work to address this need. Her efforts resulted in the purchase of the Patton mansion in 1906. The building opened as a Boarding House for Self-Supporting women. The Certificate of Incorporation of the Young Women's Christian Association of Asheville, dated May 27, 1907, states that the object for which this corporation is formed is to establish and maintain in Asheville, North Carolina, a boarding house or boarding houses for the exclusive use and benefit of local and transient self-supporting women of good character, and to promote the spiritual, mental, moral and physical well being of such women, and the women of Asheville generally. 1907 To quote the minutes of the new association, it was to lighten the burdens, to brighten the lives, to broaden the interests and to safe-guard the character of some of the self-supporting women of Asheville, which had long been deeply impressed upon many hearts: and no doubt each one having such thought in mind could cite instances to show that many were considering the same subject. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1913-14 - Negro working men and women met on
Sunday afternoons, first upstairs above the pharmacy on Market Street.
These groups evolved to the Business and Professional Club, YWCA
auxiliary and YMI,
auxiliary. 1922 - Miss Adela F. Ruffin was sent by the National YWCA to be Director of the Phyllis Wheatley Branch. "I was there when the first Phyllis Wheatley opened. The first Phyllis Wheatley we had was on Eagle Street, right across from the YMI. It was there less than a year and the first executive director was Miss Adela Ruffin...I don't know anybody, personally, black, who did more than Miss Ruffin and Miss Ruffin succeeded in everything she attempted except what she wanted most, that was race relations. Lucy Mae Harrison, March 1994 Now, when she came here, Asheville was deprived. We didn't have a gym, no school or anything. Everything was let go. But Miss Ruffin came...The Y furnished that and all that was through Miss Ruffin." Adela Ruffin |
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| 1927 - YWCA houses 32 girls, Camp Kenjocketee offers summer camp for 45 girls. Dream of Leadership offer a home for 50 permanent and 50 transient women. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1940 - The YWCA serves over 1000 girls and women in Asheville, through programming such as Girl Reserves, physical education activities and the Moorhead House. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1941 - Annual Meeting of the Phyllis Wheatley Branch, YWCA notes that "The membership of our Branch is small but active. Members of our Committee have been invited to and have participated in Board Meetings at Central where a spirit of Christian Fellowship prevailed...It is the hope of the YWCA, to serve every woman and girl in Asheville who needs and wants what we have to offer." Mrs. Ethel P. Dailey, Chairman |
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| 1943-45 - Central YWCA sponsors parties and open houses for service men and women, including weekly USO parties with orchestra and refreshments. The Phyllis Wheatley Branch sponsors open house for Negro service men. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1953 - The YWCA Young Wives Club makes clothes
for people in Korea. The Public Affairs Committee hosts film discussion
series, "World Affairs Are Your Affairs" - The YWCA Public Affairs Committee, in preparation for the desegregation of the public school in the South, hosts an inter-racial forum in conjunction with the PTA Councils, Council of Jewish Women, and the United Church of Women. |
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| 1957 - The YWCA stands with few other Asheville organizations in support of an integrated Parent-Teacher Organization. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1958 - The YWCA touched many lives throughout the years |  |
The Over 50s Club | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1963 - Central YWCA Board of
Directors passes a motion to
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Accept all women and girls regardless of race or creed in all facilities, programs and services of the YWCA. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1965 - YWCA Board of Directors announce their vote for Thelma Caldwell for Executive Director |
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1965 - Thelma Caldwell is named
Executive Director, the first Negro Executive Director in the South and
the second in the United States.
 "Because of the experience I have had working with my husband in integrated USO Programs, I was invited to come to Asheville to help integrate the Grove Street YWCA and the Phyllis Wheatley Branch. I was then the Executive Director of P.W. The new YWCA to be built on South French Broad was to become the first integrated YWCA in the south and only the 2nd in the United States and I was the first Director. It took about three years of careful planning and fund raising, money raised by companies and individuals most of which came from the white community. Working closely with Mildred Parker Executive Director of the Grove Street YWCA, the ground work for integration was laid. The workshop on "The Challenge of Integration" which was open to the community discussed ways to integrate education, industry, recreation and jobs and the problems involved. There were fears and prejudices to be dealt with but we kept working at it." Thelma Caldwell |
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| 1966 - "When the Phyllis Wheatley Y closed, when the DOT tore down the building for the expressway, we didn't go anywhere at first. Because the YWCA was built on French Broad and then, when Thelma Caldwell came, she was really a jewel, with almost going door-to-door, getting black women up there." Lettie Polite | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1967 - Membership rolls of both white and black YWCAs are combined making the YWCA of Asheville the first YWCA to integrate in the South. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1967 -
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Monthly "Family Nights" are held at the South French Broad Avenue YWCA to encourage interracial understanding. Activities include potluck dinner and activities such as folk-dancing. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1981 -  |
During her Annual Meeting report for the YWCA's 75th celebration, Thelma Caldwell reviewed the incredible stories of the YWCA of Asheville. Of note, she reviewed the leadership roles Asheville YWCA women have taken with the National YWCA and the World YWCA. "I have barely mentioned the very most important part of the YW. It's great to think about buildings that have come and gone; but, without people -- mostly women - very special women, there would never have been a YWCA - there could not be one today." Thelma Caldwell, 1981 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| "For nearly 50 years, there were 2 Y's, 2 buildings, 2 boards, 2 membership lists, 2 budgets, 2 sets of committees, 2 sets of classes, 2 summer day camps, 2 annual meetings, 2 of everything." Thelma Caldwell.
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 "The YWCA of Asheville is always
building...sometimes it shows on the outside, but always on the inside.
New programs will continue to reflect what is needed in the community.
Our mission is to eliminate racism and to empower women. Our vision is to be a leader in the community of Western North Carolina, fully representing its diversity and working for peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all people. Our dream is to nurture and support the capacity within every person to create a positive future." Holly Jones, Executive Director, YWCA of Asheville, 2007 |
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