Overview

The Colored Branch, at 6128 Germantown Ave, was an all-Black branch of the Germantown YWCA whose function was to:

“eventually make possible for every colored girl and woman the advantages so long enjoyed by the white girls and women of our community and to serve the present day need from the point of view of both the individual and the community” (115).

The Germantown YWCA, together with the local Black Germantown community, led by Eva Bowles, saw that there was a great need for a YWCA branch that served the Black community. Black people were facing intense racism and segregation in Germantown and across the country and needed their own space that offered community services, resources and support. The Colored Branch was important because it “was a center of the Black Germantown community” (Felix, 1999, 123) and a “focal point for Black heritage in Germantown and Philadelphia” (127) whose legacy still lasts today. Constance Ragsdale, a former member of the YWCA, reflects on its significance:

“The Y was sort of guiding all of these women to […] come in and contribute to society. […] and that was the good thing about the African American Y, you know, don’t let the color of your skin hold you back from doing what you want to do and not showcasing yourself. And I think this is what this was about.” (Constance Ragsdale, Oral History, October 25th, 2024)

The Colored Branch, officially called Germantown Branch YWCA, but also known as the Germantown Colored Branch, Branch Y, or the Colored Y, was first founded in 1917 and in 1918 moved into a building at 6128 Germantown Avenue. The Colored Branch’s activities were similar to those of the main, all-white Germantown YWCA. They hosted club events, socials, dances, Christian religious services, service and volunteer work, educational classes, sports (including a tennis court), as well as a variety of “race-pride” (Felix, 1999, 124) activities and events, such as supporting the NAACP and co-organizing Negro Achievement Week.

The Branch had a strong relationship to Christianity as well as to local Black churches. In fact, many of the Colored Branch’s leadership, like Olivia (Yancy) Taylor, who was the “first elected and first Black Branch Chairman” (125), also had prominent church positions and sometimes meetings would start and end in prayer.

The Colored Branch had its own leadership that was mixed race and became increasingly Black over time. However, it was still ultimately under the control of the main YWCA because of white YWCA members’ prejudiced assumptions that they were incapable of leadership. In fact, until 1924, no Black woman was allowed to be chair of the Colored Branch.

The Colored Branch had a long, successful and busy career spanning from 1917 until the early 1950’s. It served as a strong source of community and is reflected positively on by old YWCA members. This is highlighted in this short video from the project Germantown Speaks.

“we never had to feel like we were deprived or separated because our building was lovely […] that Y was where we were allowed to go”

“[Clarice Herbert] said you girls were something because we did everything”

During this time, Black people were still prohibited from joining the main YWCA and using their pool, which was a major point of conflict. However, starting in the 1940’s, discussion about integration as well as interracial activities became increasingly common until in April 1946 the National YWCA passed an Interracial Charter to end racial segregation. This was a radical decision at the time that was welcomed by the Colored Branch and the main Y, although problems with racism persisted. While integration was a necessary step in the right direction, it also came with the reduction of Colored Branch activities and ultimately the sale of their building in 1952, marking the final end of the Colored Branch. This was a hard loss for the Germantown Black community, who fought to keep their organization and their building. The Germantown YWCA and its Colored Branch were not alone in this struggle, as many YWCA Colored Branches and other all-Black institutions were also being integrated and closed during this time all around the country.

Ultimately, the Germantown YWCA Colored Branch was an invaluable institution for the local Black community and important member of the Germantown YWCA organization. For more information, check out the exhibits “6128 Germantown Avenue”, “Integration”, “Programming and Events”, “Notable Figures”, and “Survey”.

Timeline

1917:

• Colored Branch is founded

1917/1918:

• Interracial Real Estate Committee in charge of finding a location for the Colored Branch

“The committee is deeply concerned that we should not settle in a neighborhood which would be antagonized by the proximity of such a club” (Temple University Archives, Box 24/12)

1918:

• YWCA purchased a building at 6128 Germantown Avenue

• Founding of the Colored Branch seemed to progress quickly, well, and with overall enthusiasm and support, although by a limited group of people

November 17th, 1918:

• Formal opening of the Colored Branch with a week long celebration

1920’s:

• Black population increases, with many migrants coming from the South

• Beginning of the Harlem Renaissance, which “contributed to Black Philadelphia’s self discovery” (Felix, 1999, 92), a rise in “black cultural literacy and expression” (92) and a new emphasis on Black heritage

1920/1921:

• Pan-African Bazaar event held on April 28-30th, 1920 and June 1921 to celebrate Black heritage

1924:

• Olivia Taylor (formerly Yancy) becomes the “first elected and first Black Branch Chairman” (Felix, 1999, 125) of the Colored Branch and also “the YWCA of Germantown Board’s first Black member” (125)

March 1928:

• Organized Negro Achievement Week with other groups

1930’s:

• Beginning of the Great Depression

• Colored Y becomes even more important for providing aid since the Government failed to adequately support the black community

• Power struggles between the white and Black YWCA leaders: the Black Germantown leadership communicated with the Black national YWCA to challenge white authority together and support one another

1940’s:

• WWII, branch aided in the war effort and collaborated with Fort Dix soldiers

• Second wave of the Great Migration, Germantown Black community grows

• Participated in the Civil Rights movement

• Growing interracial activities across the two branches

• Increasing discussion about the status of the 6128 building, led to the branch starting efforts to gain more members and keep their building

1941:

• Interracial Committee founded

1943:

• New integration policy passed ending segregation and opening the YWCA swimming pool to everyone

April 1946:

• National YWCA passes Interracial Charter to end racial segregation

• Germantown YWCA officially integrates with the Colored Branch

Fall 1948:

• All club meetings moved to 6128, all administration moved to the 5820 building

1951:

• All programs moved to 5820, attempts to rent 6128 building, despite efforts from former Colored Branch members and leaders to keep 6128

1952:

• Decision made by white YWCA leadership to sell 6128

• “the YWCA discontinued the use of the property [6128] in September 1952” (Temple University Archives, Box 24/3), this was synonymous with the end of the Colored Branch

1953:

• Offer from the YMCA (at Rittenhouse Street) to buy the building declined because the YMCA was still segregated

• Sold and gave away the contents of 6128 such as chairs, books, etc.

January 26th, 1955:

• 6128 building sold to the Philadelphia Turners Association

• This marks the ultimate end of the Colored Branch

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Sources:

• Committed to their own: African American Women Leaders in the YWCA: The YWCA of Germantown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1870-1970 [Dissertation], Stephanie Yvette Felix, 1999
• “Historic Background of Germantown YWCA and Building(s) Draft Outline”, 01.21.2025, prepared by Ann M. Doley, Friends for the Germantown YWCA Building, aided by Zoe A. Kaufmann, Bryn Mawr College student
• Book, 1917-1918, 24/12, Young Women’s Christian Association of Philadelphia (Pa.), Germantown Branch Records, Acc. 877, 280, PC-46, PC-89, Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
• Document, 1955, 24/3, Young Women’s Christian Association of Philadelphia (Pa.), Germantown Branch Records, Acc. 877, 280, PC-46, PC-89, Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVVQdut2pCA, “A History of Fun 2 - The Branch YWCA”
• Constance Ragsdale, Oral History Interview, October 25th, 2024

Resources for Further Research:

• “YWCA: The First 100 Years in Germantown, 1870-1970” by Lucy Perkins Carner
• “Battles of Germantown” by David W. Young
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2A2V3vh-2Q “A Story of Segregation and Diversity”
• https://digital.library.temple.edu/digital/custom/ywcaphiladelphia
• https://www.ywca.org/who-are-we/history