Scholarly research on human resource development (HRD) has largely focused on the process and outcomes of learning while paying little attention to both history and the role of geographical place (i.e., physical context) in learning. Callahan (2010) noted the importance of historical studies for HRD and suggested that history provides a vehicle through which the field can reflect on its own practices. She described historical manuscripts as a “class of literature” (Munslow, 1997) that explain the past by accounting for continuity and change through the use of innovative conceptual frameworks as lenses (Jordanova, 2000)” (p. 311). Yet, there are few historical studies in the HRD field that examine core HRD practices such as leadership development. In addition, the concept of place is now recognized as increasingly important for understanding a broad range of human development issues (Cresswell, 2004) although few studies in HRD theoretically incorporate place. Nissley (2011) specifically urged HRD scholars to explore the link between learning and location. This study answers these calls by analyzing the intersection among place, history, and a growing HRD area of inquiry—women’s leadership development. 

The geographical context for this study is Asilomar, a 107 acre parcel of land on the central coast of California comprising a State Beach and Conference Center. The park and all facilities are owned by the State of California, with the conference center run under concessionaire license. Today Asilomar is largely known as a tourism destination, conference facility, and family-friendly resort located close to the many attractions of the Monterey Peninsula and nearby Big Sur Coast. Yet, Asilomar played a significant and largely unrecognized role in the history of HRD, and more specifically, women’s leadership development. This paper examined the establishment and operation of Asilomar as a Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) training center from 1913 to 1934 and its subsequent role as a noted place for women’s leadership development. The purpose of this study was to adopt a sense of place theoretical frame to explore the history of Asilomar as an example of an overlooked aspect of the establishment of formal leadership development programs for women in the United States. The overarching research question was: How does Asilomar serve as an example of an important place in the history of leadership development for women?