In the 1880s the YMCA established a library and a reading room where members had access to 9 daily newspapers and 50 weekly and monthly papers and magazines.  The Y already offered an evening lecture course, and debating and literary societies.  Many YMCA members were young men who were working in business and industry but had little high school education.

In 1888 a class in Mechanical Drawing was begun and within 2 years the Y offered 16 classes and needed another building for the Educational Program.  In the 1890s, classes in English for foreigners, later called “English for Coming Americans,” were added.  The first law class was offered in 1908, and the law school became the first part of the Educational Department to offer a college curriculum.  By 1916, the program was incorporated as the Youngstown Association School and became co-ed.  High school credits were accepted by colleges, the college program was accredited, and more degrees could be awarded.

After the 1916 riots in East Youngstown, the school offered more English classes with an emphasis on naturalization (becoming American citizens). Classes were offered in Engineering, Law, Business, Night High School, and General Studies.  In the 1920s the YMCA added a School of Commerce and Finance, and a School of Liberal Arts, all of which received recognition from the State Board of Education.  School trustees changed the name to the Youngstown Institute of Technology.  By 1931, the Educational Program became Youngstown College, housed in a new building at the corner of Wick and Lincoln Avenues.

Would it be easy to go to school in the evening after working all day?  If you worked as a clerk in an office, what would you want to study?  Would you want more education if you were 14 and worked carrying a water bucket in a steel mill?  To learn more about the growth of education in our Valley, visit the Arms Family Museum of Local History.  For a better look at these pictures, go to www.mahoninghistory.org.  Click on ‘Education,’ then click on ‘What Do You Know’ for a list of articles.  Each article has small images you can click on to enlarge or download a file.