The Young Men’s Hebrew Association was founded in 1874 to serve the social and spiritual needs of the American Jewish community. In 1945, YMHA merged with the Young Women’s Hebrew Association to become the YM-YWHA, and would change its name again in 1972, rebranding to its more familiar name of the 92nd Street Y.1 Today, the Y remains a proudly Jewish institution that reaches out to people of all races, ethnicities, ages, religions, and economic classes. AJHS is incredibly pleased to have documents from an institution that also seeks to be a resource for American Jews and all others alike, holding documents from throughout the Y’s history in The Young Men’s and Young Women’s Hebrew Association collection (I-418), including reports, invitations, programs, and course and lecture catalogues.
Like many longstanding institutions in New York, the Y has had multiple locations in its lifetime. Its first home was a rented space on West 21st Street, offering a reading room, parlors, and a gymnasium.2 The Y grew quickly, moving to West 42nd Street in 1878, and again to Lexington Avenue at 58th Street in 1886. After a detour in 1895 to East 59th Street, the Y would settle into its current location on 92nd Street and Lexington Avenue by 1900.
In 1930 the Y stayed at its present cross street, but moved into a new building which has stayed its home, including a dormitory for 235 men; a 25-yard pool; an auditorium that could seat just over 900 people; a kosher cafeteria; a billiard room; and not one, but two(!) gymnasiums.3 AJHS has a program of the building’s dedication among our collections.
During its time, the Y has consistently offered numerous programs, lectures, and courses for people to choose from. Programs can appeal to children and adults alike, including summer camps, senior programs for adults 60 and up, as well as festivals.
Other programs, like those offered by the Bronfman Center for Jewish Life, are designed to help further one’s understanding of a Jewish life, whether it is beginning to understand one’s Jewish values and history or continuing one’s exploration.4 AJHS has several course and lecture catalogues from over the institution’s time.
The Y’s lectures feature conversations with entertainers, panel discussions on political or religious matters, among other issues, both timely and timeless.
In its 148 years of existence, known by multiple names, and moving locations up and down New York City, the 92nd Street Y has continuously sought to promote participation in civic life through the lens of Jewish values and American pluralism.5 Even as it reaches out to a broader audience, the Y has maintained a steadfast commitment to its original community by being equal parts community center, school, lecture hall, and performance space.
