Chamber of Commerce Collection Finding Aid

Description:	Finding aid for the librarys Chamber of Commerce archival collection. Items in this collection are not digitized and must be viewed in the library. To view items in this collection, please contact local.history@sjcpl.org to arrange an appointment. Chamber of Commerce Collection Finding AidSummaryCollection Title: Chamber of Commerce CollectionCreator: Various, including South Bend Regional Chamber of CommerceDates: 1906-2020Extent: 4 boxesLanguages of Materials: EnglishRepository: St. Joseph County Public Library, Local & Family History Services. 304 S. Main St.,South Bend, IN 46601. (574) 282-4621. local.history@sjcpl.orgScope and Content: This collection contains materials relating to the history of the South BendRegional Chamber of Commerce including internal and external publications, promotionalmaterials, and annual reports. The items in this collection document some of the operations ofthe Chamber of Commerce operations in South Bend and Mishawaka.Folders in this collection are arranged in series according to the name changes of theorganization over time then arranged alphabetically by division or publication title.This collection contains very little information about the day to day operations of theorganization, specifically lacking records of meetings, decisions, or leadership. There are alsoalmost no photographs. Few subseries are complete, most contain only scattered issues of aparticular publication.Administrative History/Biographical Note: The South Bend Regional Chamber of Commercewas founded in 1909 as the Chamber of Commerce with a focus primarily on South Bend. In1937 the organization changed its name to the Association of Commerce, under which itoperated for 20 years. Since 1957 when the name reverted to South Bend Chamber ofCommerce the organization has been known by several name variations including the SouthBend-Mishawaka Area Chamber of Commerce and today is known as the South Bend RegionalChamber. Throughout its history the Chamber of Commerce has had many different divisions forspecial interest areas like Industry, manufacturing, merchants, junior members, safety, andmore. Many of these areas had their own publications and meetings.1St. Joseph County Public Library, Chamber of Commerce CollectionOrganization and Provenance: The materials are generally arranged into chronological seriesbased on the broad name changes of the organization over time. Folders are arrangedalphabetically by heading, often a division name or publication title. Many of the historicalmaterials in this collection were deposited with the library by the Chamber over the course of itsregular operations, especially in the time period when the library’s departments included aBusiness & Industrial department, a History and Travel department, and a Periodicalsdepartment. Other materials have been acquired through small donations over time. Theprovenance of most of the collection is unknown as many of the acquisitions were either notdocumented or the records have been lost. The materials in this collection were separated fromother library archival collections in 2019, including the Business & Industry collection and theClubs, Societies and Organizations collection.System of Arrangement:Box 1Series I. Chamber of Commerce, 1909-1936Series II. Association of Commerce, 1937-1957Box 2Series III. South Bend Chamber of Commerce, 1957-2020Box 3Series III. (continued)Series IV. Indiana State Chamber of CommerceBox 4 (oversize)Series V. “Jaycee Informer,” 1949-1951Physical Access: This collection is open for research in Local & Family History Services at theSt. Joseph County Public Library. Include if fully or partially digitized: Due to the fragile nature ofitems in this collection, researchers are requested to use digitized items where they exist andmay not have access to original copies of items that have been digitized. Digital items can beaccessed at https://michianamemory.sjcpl.org.Conditions Governing Use: Materials in this collection may be under copyright by the SouthBend Regional Chamber. Researchers are responsible for requesting permission from thecopyright holder for use that infringes on copyright.Custodial History: [Give the date acquired, quantity at the time of acquisition, and any otherdetails about the transfer of ownership]Accruals: Further accruals are not planned, but additional materials may be acquired bydonation.Processing Note: This collection was first established in 2018 by uniting materials from otherlibrary archival collections, including the Business & Industry collection and the Clubs, Societies,2St. Joseph County Public Library, Chamber of Commerce Collectionand Organizations collection. Materials were arranged into series and placed in documentboxes. Processing was completed by Ellen Anderson.Related Collections:Business News, Newspapers Collection and Historical Newspapers collection on MichianaMemoryLocal & Family History print collection holds various cataloged promotional materialsFinding aid prepared by Ellen Anderson, March 2023. Last updated March 2023.3St. Joseph County Public Library, Chamber of Commerce CollectionChamber of Commerce Collection InventoryNote: The box contents listed below represent broad descriptions and selected topics to aid inresearch. They are not a comprehensive inventory or index of the box contents.Series I. Chamber of CommerceDates: 1909-1936Size: 3 folders in Box 1Folder ContentsEvents Four event programs dating between1918 and 1935General Miscellaneous materials including a 1916annual report, 1919 annual plan, and tworeports from 1923 and 1936.Photos One 1919(?) group photo, individuals notidentified.Series II. Association of CommerceDates: 1937-1957Size: 20 folders in Box 1Folder ContentsBetter Business Division Brochure, reports, fact sheetsBetter Business Division, “Bulletin” 1946-1955, scattered issuesBetter Business Division, “BusinessBarometer”Vol. 1-3, 1937-1939Better Business Division, “BusinessBarometer”Vol. 4-6, 1940-1942Better Business Division, “BusinessBarometer”Vol. 7-10, 1943-1946Better Business Division, “BusinessBarometer”Vol. 11-13, 1947-1949Better Business Division, “BusinessBarometer”Vol. 1950-1954Better Business Division, “Monday 1951-1958, scattered issues4St. Joseph County Public Library, Chamber of Commerce CollectionMorning Memo”Civic Promotion Division, General Maps and brochures promoting SouthBendCivic Promotion Division, “Around theBend”1953-1955, scattered issues“Employment Trends” 1947-1948, four issuesGeneral Miscellaneous materials includingbrochures, fact sheets, and reportsManufacturers Division Reports, fact sheets, membership listsMerchants Division Reports, fact sheets, brochures; Note:also called “Retail Merchant’s Division”and “Retail Division”“News” 1950-1954, scattered issues“Pay Day” 1937, 1939-1944, 1947Research Department Research Digest 1954Safety Division, General Miscellaneous promotional materials,reports, publications, fact sheets; Note:also called Safety Council DivisionSafety Division, Fire Prevention Week 1944-1954, materials relating to annualFire Prevention Week activitiesSafety Division, Safety Conference 1943-1954, materials relating to annualSafety Conference including programsand flyersSeries III. South Bend Chamber of CommerceDates: 1957-PresentSize: 16 folders in Box 2, 1 title in Box 3Folder Contents“Business News” 1957-1960, scattered issues“Chamber Commentary” 1982-1986, scattered issues“Chamber Commentary” 1987, all issuesConvention and Tourism Bureau, General Promotional materials, reports, factsheets; Note: also called Convention and5St. Joseph County Public Library, Chamber of Commerce CollectionVisitor BureauConvention and Tourism Bureau, VisitorGuidesBrochures, tours, promotional materialsfor touristsEvents Programs, flyers, registration forms forevents put on by the ChamberGeneral, 1970-1979 Miscellaneous reports and fact sheetsGeneral, 1980-1999 Miscellaneous reports and fact sheetsGeneral 2000-present Miscellaneous reports, primarily2009-2011“Membership Communique” 1970-1972, scattered issuesMembership Lists 1966, 1980, 1990“News” 1959, scattered issues“Pride” 1967-1969, scattered issuesSafety Council 1962, 1964 Fire Prevention Week“SBMACC in Action” 1966-1967, scattered issues“The Chamber at Work” (Box 3) 2009-2015, scattered issuesSeries IV. Indiana State Chamber of CommerceDates: 1941-1972, bulk 1946-1947Size: 1 folder in Box 3Folder ContentsIndiana State Chamber of Commerce Brochures and reportsSeries V. “Jaycee Informer,” scattered issuesDates: 1949-1951Size: Box 4, oversize6
Origin:	2023-03-20
Created By:	St. Joseph County Public Library
Publisher:	St. Joseph County Public Library
Source:	http://michianamemory.sjcpl.org/cdm/ref/collection/p16827coll9/id/6124
Collection:	Business & Industry
Rights:	http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-EDU/1.0/
Copyright:	This work is under copyright. It is posted publicly for non-profit educational uses, excluding printed publication. For copyright information, contact local.history@sjcpl.org.
Subjects:	Business enterprises--Indiana--Saint Joseph County South Bend Chamber of Commerce

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