According to one of their self-published histories, the Young Women's Christian Association "has grown out of the willingness of women to assume the responsibility of womankind. Through the years its strength has been tested... As a result of these tests, the capacity to meet acute needs of women has developed from a fluctuating individual desire to give personal service, into a great world-wide women's organization whose program is based on education."Starting in 1866, when women formed the first Y.W.C.A chapter in Boston, the organization's members dedicated themselves to supporting young, working women. The Rochester and Monroe County chapter is still in existence today and the organization's papers are housed in the Rare Books Special Collections and Preservation Department. In January 2012, the Rochester and Monroe County Y.W.C.A donated additional materials to their collection and those items will be added during the Spring of 2012.