YMCA 31st International Conference of North America, 1895
Description:
This photograph depicts a group portrait of the attendees of the YMCA 31st International Conference of North America held on the grounds of International YMCA Training School at Springfield, Massachusetts in 1895. The building is not identified. The International YMCA Training School, now Springfield College, also celebrated its tenth anniversary in 1895. The International YMCA Training School trained YMCA professionals, both to run YMCAs as what we would call CEOs and to run the Gymnasiums. There are many men in the portrait, some of them sitting on the grass.
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Publisher:
Springfield College
Notes:
The Springfield convention was considered an education exhibit, giving “much needed object lessons to inspire and lead associations into definite lines of education work”. The Springfield Convention also recommended the organization of the Athletic league of the YMCA, 80 associations having joined the league by 1896. The league had over 52,000 members, or over one fifth of the membership of all the associations. Dr. Luther Gulick was elected secretary of the league. The aim of the league was to promote “not only the interests of sport, but the best physical development of men in order to increase their spiritual and intellectual efficiency” (YMCA Yearbook and official roosters, 1896).
Top edge of photograph is damaged from the removal of tape.
