History

Anthony Bowen organized and became first president of the “Colored Young Men’s Christian Association.” Meetings were held in his home on Sunday afternoons.

First Bowen Y never more than a club. Bowen, at age 60, encouraged younger men to develop a YMCA.

Rev. James A. Handy, mentored by Anthony Bowen, took responsibility for forming a colored YMCA. He assembled a group that adopted a constitution. The preamble reads: TO THE YOUNG MEN OF WASHINGTON:

We, the colored young men of Washington, D.C., feeling deeply interested in mental, moral and spiritual improvement of our race, and believing it is for the young men of the nation, cordially extend an invitation to all young men of this city who think as we do, and who feel interested in the advancement of their race, to come and unite with us. We who address you in all Christian kindness are young men who profess faith in Christ, and we are deeply solicitous that you, with us, should be brought into the folds of Christianity. You are often persuaded to spend your evenings where no good comes to you, but where your precious time, money and health are given to those whose characters, in many instances, you cannot even respect. We, therefore, invite you to our churches, prayer-meetings, library and reading-rooms, and to such social influences as your mothers, sisters, and wives approve. Young men, will you not come to our aid in this desirable and heaven-approved work? If you give your aid in this direction you do what you can to redeem our race from the dominion of sin and slavery and place on the broad platform of mental, moral and Christian equality.” (Dec. 26, 1866)

YMCA’s 2nd anniversary celebrated. The interracial service was held at Union Bethel Church (Metropolitan AME).

Handy’s colored YMCA struggled for a few years and then became inactive. “Lack of community resources and poor support from black church leaders” are listed as contributing factors.

William A. Hunton, 1st black secretary of a YMCA in the U.S., wrote of problems blacks in Washington and elsewhere had in organizing Ys in this period. Colored ministers and members felt that a more substantial commitment on behalf of the National YMCA organization for Colored Y’s was necessary and overdue

The first International Convention held in the South after the Civil War. At this Convention there was a colored delegate, a student from Howard University – Robert Wheeler. He asked that the Convention “pray that God would open the way for the extension of Association work among our young men in the South.”

YMCA served the community through a variety of programs: YMCA lectures, Bible classes, and revival services, to name a few. The “Colored YMCA” incorporated in 1892 and received a Charter from Congress that same year as the “YMCA of the District of Columbia.” After a period of fund raising, the leadership bought lots at 1609 11th St., NW and succeeded in building a modest facility.

The Independent “Colored YMCA’ managed to exist using rented rooms or donated space for its religious and social activities,” though development prospects were still bleak.

Colored YMCA began to reorganize. They elected permanent officers and sent invitations to Ladies, young people, and men of all ages, and evangelical denominations, as well as those not connected with any church to attend meetings. “We want the presence and contract of all who believe in the fatherhood of God, and the brotherhood of man.”

YMCA served the community through a variety of programs: YMCA lectures, Bible classes, and revival services, to name a few. The “Colored YMCA” incorporated in 1892 and received a Charter from Congress that same year as the “YMCA of the District of Columbia.” After a period of fund raising, the leadership bought lots at 1609 11th St., NW and succeeded in building a modest facility.

Due to Depression of 1893, forced to close the building and move to a rented space in the Masonic Lodge at 1204 U St.

“By this time the YMCA of the District of Columbia consisted of only a few dozen civic minded black men who were determined to keep the dream alive.”

“At the turn of the century, the American YMCA was regarded as the leading religious/social service institution in America.”

Oct. 22, Jesse Moorland wrote to Board of Managers of the Washington YMCA to present a petition to become a branch of the YMCA of the City of Washington. The Board of Managers deferred acceptance but gave $50 for three months to hire a temporary secretary to assist in building a membership base.

Colored YMCA had over 600 members.

November 11, The Board of Managers accepted the petition.

S.W. Woodward, Philanthropist, working closely with Moorland, asked John D. Rockefeller for $25,000. He said OK if matched. The black community pledged $32,000 in 31 days. First united fund raising effort of its kind for any black community in U.S. and a source of pride and achievement for Washington community. The value in today’s dollars would be $2.6 million.

Henry W. Chase, a hard working colored man and an ex-slave gave $500 to the building fund.
June 27, property purchased in 1800 block of 12th St. for $5,933.40. Deed of Trust provided that property sold, proceeds would go to the work of the Y in the black community. This was done to :

1) assure that the money would stay in the black community and

2) assure whites that “separate but equal” would continue

Sidney Pittman (son-in –law of Booker T. Washington) hired as architect.

Groundbreaking ceremony attended by hundreds of persons.

Teddy Roosevelt laid the cornerstone of the building.

Building construction stopped. Fundraising campaign was $37,000 short. Moorland had cultivated the friendship of Julius Rosenwald, Chairman of the Board of Sears and Roebuck and Company in Chicago and renowned Jewish Philanthropist. Rosenwald gave $25,000 to a YMCA for Colored Men and Boys in Chicago in 1910 and was interested in funding similar efforts.

S.W. Woodward asked President Taft about his requesting a $25,000 gift from Rosenwald for the Washington, D.C. Colored Y’s development. Taft wrote Rosenwald

April 29, Rosenwald agreed to give $25,000 to the Y in Washington provided that an additional $15,000 could be raised in 60 days.

May 19th, the building opened. Elaborate ceremonies. Project became a model and Rosenwald made a similar gift offer to other cities. By 1931, when the project ended, there were 26 YMCA buildings in 25 cities. Thus Moorland and Hunton’s dreams for modern Ys for blacks were realized.

Programs: YMCA Automotive School, YMCA Basketball (basketball invented by James Naismith in 1891, an instructor at YMCA’s Springfield College in Mass.), camping, bible study, swimming, conferences, workshops and seminars addressing the needs of black youth and families. More than 30 different organizations were meeting in the building monthly and nearly one hundred men lived in the dormitories (Langston Hughes one of occupants).

Col. Campbell C. Johnson hired as executive secretary. The Building was in need of major repairs. Johnson began campaign for funds to restore the building. Launched drive for $40,000. Money raised, building remodeled.

Many service and business organizations were founded in 12th St. Y., organizations included the Urban League, the Southeast Community House, the Northwest Settlement House, the Boy Scouts, the Washington Real Estate Brokers Association, to name a few.

Many soldiers stay at the Y during WW II.

Population changes begin to occur. 12th St. Y no longer at center of D.C.’s expanding black community.

End of legal segregation. Many blacks move to now integrated communities. Community surrounding Y begins to deteriorate economically, as does building. Social Problems (drugs, killings, etc.) increase.

12th Street Branch renamed Anthony Bowen YMCA

12th Street Building is closed