Identity Construction in Centenarian Human Service Agencies: Coherence amid Change

Abstract

Three central and enduring themes related to the construction and reconstruction of the organizational identities of 24 charitable organizations in a Southern city are examined: communicating founding legends, adapting language to the times, and structurally responding to change. These themes within the stories of these organizations are retold throughout their histories, legitimizing their images within their communities and weaving identities into the agencies' coherence. The study reveals the importance of emergent change as accommodations and adaptations occur, the interfacing of multiple identities, and the potential of community images when tied to early identities. Connotations for organization practice and survival depend on sustaining a delicate balance between enduring collective identities and a changing community context.