YWCA of Brooklyn Buildings

Central Branch building at 30 Third Avenue in Brooklyn.

Over the course of its century-plus of existence, the YWCA of Brooklyn had as many as 12 facilities open.

The original YWCA building was at 376 Schermerhorn Street. It contained the gymnasium and Memorial Hall, as well as a number of classrooms. By the 1920's, the organization needed a new building, and so moved to 30 Third Avenue, where it continues to operate today.

Numbers 45 and 221 Ashland Place served African-American women from 1903 until the integration of the YWCA in 1943, after which it served as a residence. The International Institute at 94 Joralemon Street met the needs of foreign women. During the 1920’s the Greenpoint Branch (138 Milton Street), located in a heavily Polish neighborhood, employed a Polish-speaking social worker.

The Bush Terminal Cafeteria served moderately priced lunches to business and industrial girls who worked in the complex, which was a U.S. Navy base during World War I. The New Utrecht location served as a place for club activities and recreational work. The Robin Hood Camp, near Harriman State Park in the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area, offered an escape from the city and the chance to learn new skills, such as canoeing, archery and horseback riding.

Four locations were specifically residences for young women – Gould Club, Harriet Judson branch and the Harriet Judson Apartments, and the Post Hall, located on the upper floors of the Central Branch. Still in operation today, the Central Branch offers housing to over 300 low-income women in Brooklyn.

The Central Branch on 30 Third Avenue opened in the 1920's. This photo is from the 1950's.

This photo from the 1960's shows mothers and children leaving the YWCA.

The Ashland Place branch for African-American women was originally meant to be located on Lexington Avenue in Brooklyn, but strong local opposition forced a move to first 45 Ashland Place and later 221 Ashland Place. This branch converted to strictly a boarding house in 1943, when the YWCA fully integrated all it's programs.

The International Institute for immigrant women was located at 94 Joralemon Street. It operated from 1919 to 1943, when it's programs were integrated with those of the Central Branch.

Women of the International Institute in traditional dress, 1924.

The Eastern District branch of the YWCA at 575 Bedford Avenue.

The Greenpoint Branch of the YWCA at 138 Milton Street.

The Harriet Judson, named after the first President of the YWCA of Brooklyn, was a residence for women.