Figure 1.--These boys at the United Workers Boy's Club in New Haven, Connecticut are during exercises in their gymnasium. This was one of the first Boys' Club. Notice the basketball hoop.

The Boys Club is the oldest American youth organization and possibly the oldest in the world. The Boys and Girls Club Movement began in the United States just before the outbreak of the the Civil War. The first Boys Club was founded in Harford, Connecticut during 1860--the Dashaway Club. Interestingly, it was the women of Harford whjo were responsoble. They were concerned about the boys who were roaming the streets without any constructive activities. Apparently the girls were not roaming and already had constructive activities to occuopy them--probably helping mom with the cooking and cleaning. The women thoughtb that the boys should have a positive alternative. They organized the first Boys' Club. Soon Clubs were opening in large cities throughout the United States. The idea spread to other areas of the country and more Clubs were formed. The first Club to use “Boys Club” in its official title was the Boys Club of New York in 1876. At this time, the Clubs served only boys. By the turn of the 20th century, there were about 50 such clubs. Representatices of 53 clubs formed a national organization (1906). The Federated Boys Clubs in Boston was formed with 53 member organizations. The Boys Clubs of America celebrated its 50th anniversary (1956). President Eisenhower officially presentef the national organization its Congressional Charter. This was a signal honor given to only a few non-profit organizations.

The 19th Century

The Boys Club is the oldest American youth organization and possibly the oldest in the world. And interestingly, ladies were behind it. The Boys and Girls Club Movement began in the United States just before the outbreak of the the Civil War. The idea began to germinate in the minds of three caring women in New Haven, Connecticut. They like an increasing number of people began to see an increasingly serious problem developing in America as industrial cities began to grow. The public school system was at the time developing, but still limited and most children had completed or dropped out before their teen years. This mean that there were few organized activities for boys. Many began working at a early age. Many boys got involved in delinquent activities because of the lack of any more constructive alternatives. The New Harford ladies began inviting street vboys into their homes for tea and cake. They were concerned about the boys who were roaming the streets without any constructive activities. The women thought that the boys should have a positive alternative.re impressed with their polite behavior. They decided to find a permanent place where the boys could engage in recreational activities. The first Boys Club was founded in Harford, Connecticut in 1860. There was the example of the YMCA. It was not called a Boys' Club at the time. It was named the the Dashaway Club. Soon Clubs were opening in large cities throughout the United States. The idea spread to other areas of the country and more Clubs were formed. The Union for Christian Work opened another club in Providence Rhode Island (1868). The United Workers opened a club (1871). The first Club to use “Boys Club” in its official title was the Boys Club of New York (1876). At this time, the Clubs served only boys. Apparently the girls were not roaming and already had constructive activities to occupy them--probably helping mom with the cooking and cleaning. The idea began tp spread out of the northeast in the 1880s. The Milwaukee Boys Club was the first in the Midwest (1887). The first western club was the Colorado Springs Boys Club (1888). The Columbia Park Boys Club opened in San Francisco (1891). There cwas

The 20th Century

By the turn of the 20th century, there were about 50 such clubs. The first club in the South was the Nashville Boys Club (1903). A formal struture was organized (1906). Representatices of 53 clubs met in Boston to form a national organization--the Federated Boys Clubs (FBC). At the same time other youth groups were also forming in America. The FBC moved its national office from Boston to New York (1915). Over the time, the name of the organization has changed: Boys Club Federatiion of America (1929) and Boys Clubs of America (1931). The Boys Clubs of America celebrated its 50th anniversary (1956). President Eisenhower officially presented the national organization its Congressional Charter. This was a signal honor given to only a few non-profit organizations. The mame of the organization was changed to its final form--Boys & Girls Clubs of America (1991). The final name of course formalized the effort to provide services to both boys and girls.