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Aveling, Wilhelmina.

 Person

Biographical Statement

Wilhelmina Aveling was born December 20, 1907 to Julia Cook and Christian Wilhelm Aveling in Chicago near Morgan Park High School. Her father worked for Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company and for a time the family spent time in Singapore. With an undergraduate degree from Wheaton College (1928) and a graduate degree from Northwestern University in Personnel and Guidance, Willie, as she was known, began working with YWCA in Atlantic City, New Jersey. In 1933 she left New Jersey to begin a pioneering work with the Chicago YMCA where she worked for twenty-eight years—the first woman to serve on the Metropolitan staff. At this time involvement of women and girls in the YMCA was minimal and was likely the first official Women and Girls Secretary. She was responsible for the development of the family YMCA concept, a model that was replicated across the United States and Canada. She saw an opportunity for the YMCA to developing a work where the whole family, each member, could find something suited to his or her own taste and together they may share interests common to all. Her weight loss program, Lose Weight the Y’s Way, gained worldwide recognition and her "Danish Gymnastics" program was a precursor to the development of modern aerobic dance. Elected prior to her death, Aveling was inducted into Springfield College’s YMCA Hall of Fame for her achievements and dedication to the YMCA in 1987. Aveling died April 17, 1987.

Citation:
Author: Wheaton College Archives and Special Collections staff

Found in 3 Collections and/or Records:

Cook family records.

 Unprocessed Material
Identifier: 2022-0013
Dates: 1650-1985

MEM | Wilhemina Aveling items

 Unprocessed Material
Identifier: 2010-0103

Wilhelmina Aveling Papers

 Collection — Container: Books
Identifier: SC-077
Scope and Contents The Wilhelmina M. Aveling Papers contains material relating to the 1928 Wheaton College alumna and long-time YMCA Secretary. College-related memorabilia includes photographs, wedding programs, class notes, and report cards. Memorabilia from her travels includes a pressed-flower book highlighting a trip to Europe, photos from a trip to the American West, and postcards. A typewritten manuscript called Agricola or Rural Righteousness is also included.  Other items in the collection, comprising...
Dates: Created: 1893-2010

Additional filters:

Type
Unprocessed Material 2
Collection 1
 
Subject
Aveling, Wilhelmina, 1907-1987 -- Correspondence. 2
Correspondence 1
Memorabilia 1
Photographs 1
Report cards 1