If the field work department of the National Board can be called colloquially the clearing house, the deportment of method can be called the laboratory of the National Board. By visiting local associations, sharing in their work, studying other organizations of women and other Christian and social movements, a great body of information is gathered. This study and planning cover the needs and possi bilities of all young women, their conditions and general environment an city, student, coun try and large town communues, with special emphasis at the present time upon the adoles cent girls, the foreign-born young woman, the girls in business and professional life, the girls in industry, the girl at study, the girl an domes tic service, the girl at home.
There are 994 associations with a total mem bership of 360,865, distributed as follows: (1) There are 255 city associations with a membership of 292,181. City associations are found in every State of the Union except Ver mont, Wyoming and Nevada, and in Washing ton, D. C. and in Honolulu. There are a few unaffiliated city associations. In 1915, 137 associations received regular or transient guests; 90 associations have travelers' aid de partments and are prepared to carry that re sponsibility until a national Travelers' Aid Society is formed. These associations (so far
as reporting) have 193 gymnasiums where 65,693 members are enrolled; 18,341 students in domestic art and 8,623 in domestic science classes (1914); and 795 certificates of the National Board and American Red Cross were granted for first aid. Of the religious work and missionary department it can be said that it is to-day the most characteristic feature of the movement.
(2) There are 18 county associations in 13 States with a membership of 7,215. Supple mentary to these organized associations in reaching country girls are the eight week clubs. From 101 different colleges last sum mer, specially prepared student members of the associations returned to their homes in vil lages and open country and organized 244 groups of 3)363 girls.
(3) There are 721 student associations with 61.5o9 members, of which 1,288 members are in Indian schools and 2.327 members are in col or(d schools. The National Board has four commissions at work— The Commission on Character Standards, on Social Morality, on Thrift and' Efficiency and on Household Em pl,,) merit.