In a pamphlet entitled "Topics of the Y.W.C.A. of Dickinson College Winter and Spring Terms," Dickinson's Y.W.C.A. outlines there events for the year. Such events include discussions on aid to women in other countries, health, "Mormonism as a Menace" and "What a College Girl Owes to Her Home Church." They also scheduled joint meeting with Dickinson College's Y.M.C.A.
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Compiled by the Dean of Women, Josephine Meredith, the Physical Director of the Y.W.C.A, Catharine Shaefer, and the Chairman of the Health Education Committee of the Y.W.C.A, Kathryn Riley. this pamphlet gives advice regarding the "Five Enemies of Health"- "Constipation, Colds, Cramps, Indigestion, and Worry" along with their causes and treatment.
A small pamphlet compiled by Dean Meredith, the Dean of Women, contains prayers and Biblical selections for: "My Neighborly Duty," "The Right Use of Time," "Loyalty," "Essential Beliefs," Profitable Troubles," "Self Discipline," "Prayer," "Enduring Happiness," and "Good Health as a Duty." Miss Margaret Eslinger kept this little book to remember her membership in the Young Women's Christian Association.
In two notes written to Miss Margaret Eslinger from the President and Vice President of the Young Womens' Christian Association, Betty (Elizabeth) Bucke '23 and Betty (Mary Elizabeth) Chambers '24, they request Eslinger's help by being a "big sister" to a freshman named Mary Clemens and to "Be the Best Big Sister you Can Be." Miss Bucke states that "We want to work not for our Little Sister, but with her."
Photograph of the 1923 Young Women's Christian Association on the Metzger Hall Porch. Featured in the photograph: Elizabeth DeMaris (Class of 1923), Louetta Green (Class of 1922), Erma Porteus (Class of 1926), Isabel Ward (Class of 1926), & Mary Elizabeth Chambers (Class of 1924).
The 1911 Microcosm includes a piece on the success of the Y. W. C. A.'s night of entertainment for the college. The show included two dramatic acts, one entitled, "The Costs of Independence or an Old Maid's Regrets" and the other called, "Beautiful Belinda or Why Girls Leave Home." One of the more successful parts of the night though was not on stage, according to the men, but more so in their bellies. Candy that the girls had made was sold between acts and the men bought it because "it was made by her own little hands."
The 1910 Microcosm comments upon the show that the women of the college were to put on. All of the advertisements, tickets, etc., were punctuated with question marks, leaving the theme of the show open to much speculation by its audience. The program declared that the entertainment was to be presented by the Y.W.C.A., which some men thought it meant "Young Women Can't Act" but were made to think differently. The first act was a comedic piece titled "Mrs. Oakley's Telephone" about the many conversations between various characters that takes place on this one telephone.
The Y. W. C. A. was founded in 1895, and after two years of running, the organization is still going strong. To keep this organization afloat, they have sent their delegates to State Conventions and attend regular meetings with the Y. M. C. A. of the College. At this point, the membership was still increasing and it was generally felt that it "insures a pleasantness" the college life.
In 1896 the first Y.W.C.A. was formed in Carlisle in addition to the Y.M.C.A. Mary S. Dunn, the State Secretary of the Y.W.C.A., visited Carlisle in 1895 and began organizing the association. The Y.W.C.A. included in its membership all the ladies of the college and preparatory school, as well as some of the alumnae. Ladies from the school that were chosen to run it were Mary Thompson as president, Frances Logan as Vice-President, Anna Isenberg as Corresponding Secretary, Grace Vale as Treasurer, and Helen R. Horn as Recording Secretary.
On June 4, 1923, President James Henry Morgan reported that, "physical training for the young women has been inadequate, though we have made good use of what was available." Thus, President Morgan argued that Dickinson College should look into creating a relationship with the recently established Y.W.C.A. in Carlisle. Such a relationship would give female Dickinsonians access to the Y.W.C.A.'s athletic facilities and Director.