Biographical Note

In the mid-1800s, Jacob Bowne helped develop a YMCA in his hometown of Glen Cove, N.Y. He became a pioneer educator in the field of professional training for the secretaryship.

In 1879, while serving as the secretary of the Newburg (N.Y.) YMCA, he launched the “Ten-day Fellowship Meetings,” the first steps in training prospective YMCA secretaries. In 1880, he founded the Secretarial Insurance Alliance and was instrumental in promoting the YMCA Retirement Fund. Three years later, he joined the International Committee, specializing in training leaders for the expanding YMCA Movement. In 1885, he was called to lead the Department of Young Men’s Christian Association Work at the School for Christian Workers (now Springfield College).

He spent the rest of his life at Springfield College, devoted to educating YMCA staff and maintaining an extensive collection of YMCA materials. He is considered the YMCA’s first archivist and the “father of professional YMCA training.”

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