The New Century Trust was founded in 1893 by a group of women led by Eliza Sproat Turner (1826-1903), a progressive thinker and an activist of means who lived in Philadelphia. It emerged as the incorporated body of the New Century Guild, founded by Turner in 1882.

In 1906 the New Century Trust achieved a long-held goal, a permanent home for its many charitable activities. The building at 1307 Locust Street in Philadelphia was purchased from Dr. Drysdale, and the Trust moved its operations there in June of that year.                         

Activities in the Trust’s early history included a wide range of classes and lectures for working girls and women. After the building at 1307 Locust Street was purchased, an auditorium was created on the second floor and Dr. Drysdale's gentlemen's library was turned into a lending library.

The new building’s kitchen and dining room facilities also made possible the “Noon Rest,” a lunch program where hundreds of working women came to eat a hot meal for reduced cost and rest for an hour during the work day. The facilities also offered members temporary lodging, a private bath at a time when a bathtub was considered a luxury, and emergency financial support.

The building is listed on the Philadelphia and Pennsylvania Historical Registers and is a National Landmark in Women's History on the National Register of Historic Places.