The Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) grew out of 'missions' to help working women founded in the 1850s. As the name of the organisation suggests, there was a strong religious grounding to much of the YWCA's welfare work, but the organisation was also involved in campaigns relating to education, physical wellbeing and other social issues.

The Modern Records Centre has a large but incomplete series of magazines and journals published by the YWCA between 1884-1970. Earlier editions of the journals have been digitised and are available to read through our online catalogue:

The journals include a mix of religious study and advice, serialised stories (often melodramatic), news of YWCA work at home and abroad (including missionary work), and articles on a range of social and political issues relating to women, including employment, education, fashion, suffrage and the First World War.

'Our Own Gazette', vol.1, 1884

12 illustrated issues, plus 'Christmas Supplement'.

'Our Own Gazette', vol.IV, 1887

11 illustrated issues (no.44, Aug 1887 missing).

'Our Own Gazette', volumes VIII - IX, 1892

12 illustrated issues, plus 'Christmas Number'.

'Our Own Gazette', volume X, 1893

12 illustrated issues, plus 'Christmas Supplement'.

'Our Own Gazette', volume XI, 1894

12 illustrated issues, plus 'Christmas Number'.

'Our Own Gazette', volume XII, 1895

12 illustrated issues, plus 'Christmas Number'.

'Our Own Gazette', volume XIV, Nov 1896 - Oct 1897

12 illustrated issues, Nov-Dec 1896 and Jan-Oct 1897.

'Our Own Gazette', volume XV, 1897 - 1898

11 illustrated issues with 'Christmas Supplement'.

'Our Own Gazette', volume XVII, 1900

12 illustrated issues.

'Our Own Gazette', volume XXIII, Jun 1906

Vol.23, no.270, and 'Workers' Supplement'.

'Our Onward Way', nos. 192-207, Jan 1907 - Apr 1908

16 illustrated issues.

'Our Outlook', vol. 1, nos. 1-8, May-Dec 1908

8 illustrated issues. Also includes two editions of the 'Quarterly Supplement for Secretaries and Workers'.

'Our Outlook', vol. 2, nos. 9-20, Jan-Dec 1909

12 illustrated issues. Also includes four editions of the 'Quarterly Supplement for Secretaries and Workers'.

'Our Outlook', vol. 3, nos. 21-32, Jan-Dec 1910

12 illustrated issues. Also includes four editions of the 'Quarterly Supplement for Secretaries and Workers'.

'Our Outlook', vol. 4, nos. 33-35, 37-40, 42, Jan-Mar, May-Aug, Oct 1911

8 illustrated issues. Also includes 'Quarterly Supplement for Secretaries and Workers' for Jan 1911.

'Our Outlook', vol. 5, nos. 46-49, 51 & 56, Feb-May, Jul, Dec 1912

6 illustrated issues.

'Our Outlook', vol. 6, nos. 59-65, 67, Mar-Sep, Nov 1913

7 illustrated issues.

'Our Outlook', vol. 7, nos. 69-80, Jan-Dec 1914

11 illustrated issues. Also includes 'News Letter for Secretaries and Workers', nos.28-29, 31-32, 35-37.

'Our Outlook', vol. 8, nos. 81-91, Jan-Nov 1915

10 illustrated issues. Also includes 'News Letter for Secretaries and Workers', nos.38-47.

'Our Outlook', vol. 9, nos. 93-96, 98-104, Jan-Apr, Jun-Dec 1916

10 illustrated issues.

'Our Outlook', vol. 10, nos. 105-114, Jan-Nov 1917

10 illustrated issues.

'Our Outlook', vol. 11, nos. 116-126, Jan-Dec 1918

11 illustrated issues.

'Our Outlook' / 'Woman's Outlook', vol. 12, nos. 1, 4-6, 8, 10-12, Jan, Apr-Jun, Aug-Dec 1919

8 illustrated issues.

'Woman's Outlook', vol. 13, nos. 1-6, 8, Jan-Jun, Aug 1920

7 illustrated issues.