A Moment in Time: NSC at 95
Nationalities Service Center was originally founded in 1921 as the International Institute of Philadelphia under the umbrella of the YWCA. By 1934, the International Institute's services had expanded to a point that it was deemed necessary for the Institute to split from the YWCA. The written request in February of that year from the YWCA Board to the Council of Social Agencies Welfare Federation cited the following reasons for creating an independent agency:
"On January 1, 1934, there were 538 cases, of which 261 involved immigration law difficulties, 500 foreign background adjustment, 501 language difficulties. There are 41 clubs with memberships of 573, and representing 12 nationalities."
On March 29, 1934, the Council approved the Board's request and allowed for the creation of an independent International Institute of Philadelphia.
