Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Portland Chamber of Commerce records, 1890-1984
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Portland Chamber of Commerce (Or.)
- Title
- Portland Chamber of Commerce records
- Dates
- 1890-1984 (inclusive)18901984
- Quantity
- 14.5 cubic feet, (2 document cases, 11 record cartons, 3 flats boxes, and 2 oversize folders)
- Collection Number
- Mss 686
- Summary
- Records of a civic and business organization of Portland, Oregon, including minutes of meetings, financial records, membership lists, stock books, and records concerning buildings and property, subject and reference files. Also includes records of the Portland Commercial Club, the Oregon State Chamber of Commerce, and other Portland organizations.
- Repository
-
Oregon Historical Society Research Library
1200 SW Park Avenue
Portland, OR
97205
Telephone: 503-306-5240
Fax: 503-219-2040
libreference@ohs.org - Access Restrictions
-
The collection is open to the public.
- Languages
- English
Historical NoteReturn to Top
Dedicated to promoting the commercial interests of Portland and Oregon, the Portland Chamber of Commerce was incorporated in 1890 as the successor to the Portland Board of Trade. In 1915 it merged with the Portland Commercial Club.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The collection contains three groups of materials received by the repository at various times. The first group, Mss 686, consists of financial records, building committee records, records of stock transactions, and membership lists, all of which date from the early years of the Chamber in the 1890s. Also included are materials relating to Raymond B. Wilcox. The second group of materials, designated Mss 686-1, is a folder of monthly reports, 1948-1952, detailing economic and industrial conditions in Portland.
The third and largest group of materials, designated Mss 686-2, contains minutes of meetings of the Board of Directors, 1915-1917; minutes, reports, and correspondence of committees, 1890-1975; membership lists; records concerning Chamber buildings and property; records of Chamber projects and activities, 1915-1982; subject and reference files; and Portland Commercial Club records, 1893, 1903-1915. Also included are Portland Retail Trade Bureau bulletins, 1963-1965; Downtown Promotion Committee correspondence, 1968-1969, and minutes, 1962, 1964-1965; Oregon State Chamber of Commerce minutes and reports, 1918-1931; and "Raw materials survey" records, 1947-1959.
The last group of records is a folder of materials relating to the Portland Commercial Club. These include correspondence, both incoming and outgoing, between Henry R. Beckwith, president, and representatives of New Jersey Governor Woodrow Wilson and President William H. Taft, regarding visits to Portland in 1911. Subjects include itineraries, speaking engagements, travel plans, and security. Programs for the Taft dinner as well as programs for dinner honoring James R. Garfield and president Theodore Roosevelt are also included.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
The Oregon Historical Society is the owner of the materials in the Research Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from the Research Library prior to any use of reproductions. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use of reproductions may require seeking additional authorization from the copyright holders.
Preferred Citation
Portland Chamber of Commerce records, Mss 686, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
The collection is arranged in the following series corresponding to accessions received at various times:
- Series A: Mss 686, 1890-1937
- Series B: Mss 686-1, 1948-1952
- Series C: Mss 686-2, 1890-1984
- Series D: Mss 686-3, 1911
Separated Materials
The following materials were separated to the photographic collections of the Oregon Historical Society Research Library:
- 123 loose pictures
- Geo. M. Weister Co., Oregon Views, albums 1, 3, 4; two unnumbered albums of Columbia River Highway scenes
- R. I. Gifford, Oregon scenic views, 2 albums
- Winter Photo Co., Oregon scenic views
- Oregon views: album of photos by Prentiss, Gifford, Kiser, and Weister
- Oregon industries: album compiled by Portland Chamber of Commerce
- F. I. Jones, Construction of the Bonneville Dam
The following manuscript materials were separated from the collection:
- Scrapbook on the construction of the Bonneville Dam
- Scrapbook on longshoremen's and other strikes on the Pacific coast, 1935
- Columbia Gorge Preservation Committee, record book, 1931-1932 (now Mss 661)
The following was separated to the government documents collection of the Oregon Historical Society Research Library: U.S. Interstate Commece Commission, Before the Interstate Commerce Commission in the matter of the joint application of Great Northern Pacific Company, Northern Pacific Railway Company and Great Northern Railway Company, for an order approving and authorizing the acquisition by Great Northern Pacific Railway Company of control through lease and stock ownership, of Northern Pacific Railway Company and Great Northern Railway Company...Applicant's exhibits 2-66 (Lacking dockets 6409-6410), 1927.
Acquisition Information
Mss 686-1, gift of City of Vancouver, B.C., Archives, 1978.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.
Series A: Mss 686, 1890-1937Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 14/1 | Building Committee records (old volume 1) |
1891-1893 |
| 14/2 | Dues and rental accounts (old volume 2) |
1893-1895 |
| 14/3 | Stock book (old volume 3) |
1890 |
| 14/4 | General financial records, including capital stock and
interest account (old volume 4) |
1890-1896 |
| 14/5 | Cash account (old volume 5) |
1896-1898 |
| 15/1 | Financial journal, expeditures, and other accounts (old
volume 6) |
1890-1898 |
| 15/2 | Cash book (old volume 7) |
1890-1893 |
| 15/3 | Raymond Wilcox materials, including memorial
materials |
1907-1937 |
Series B: Mss 686-1, 1948-1952Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 15/4 | Monthly reports
Monthly reports showing principal industrial developments,
legislative activities, factory and warehouse expansion and construction, as
well as industries ceasing operations in Portland. (34 reports, typescript,
mimeo)
|
Series C: Mss 686-2, 1890-1984Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
Minutes |
||
Executive Committee, Board of Directors |
||
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/1 | 1937 April 13-November 17 | |
| 1/2 | 1937 December 2-1938 October 27 | |
| 1/3 | 1938 November 3-1939 November 16 | |
| 1/4 | 1939 November 30-1941 June 19 | |
| 1/5 | 1941 June 26-1942 September 24 | |
| 1/6 | 1942 October 1-1944 March 30 | |
| 1/7 | 1944 April 13-1946 May 9 | |
| 1/8 | 1946 May 29-1948 May 20 | |
| 1/9 | 1948 June 3-1950 July 20 | |
| 1/10 | 1950 August 24-1954 May 14 | |
| 1/11 | 1957 September 13-1959 December 4 | |
| 1/12 | 1960 January 8-1961 May 19 | |
| 1/13 | 1961 June 9-1962 December 14 | |
| 1/14 | 1962 December 18-1963 December 10 | |
| 1/15 | 1964 January 10-December 18 | |
| 1/16 | 1965 January 8-July 9 | |
| 1/17 | 1965 August 27-1966 February 11 | |
| 1/18 | 1966 February 18-December 30 | |
| 1/19 | 1967 January 13-December 1 | |
| 1/20 | 1968 January 12-December 6 | |
| 1/21 | 1966 January 10-1969 December 12 | |
| 2/1 | 1970 January 9-November 20 | |
| 2/2 | 1971 January 8-December 10 | |
| 2/3 | 1972 February 11-December 8 | |
Board of Directors
Includes committee reports, memoranda, and other materials
|
||
| Box/Folder | ||
| 2/4 | 1964 September 18-December 18 | |
| 2/5 | 1965 January 15-December 17 | |
| 2/6 | 1966 February 18-June 20 | |
| 2/7 | 1966 September 2-December 30 | |
| 2/8 | 1967 January 20-March 24 | |
| 2/9 | 1967 April 7-21 | |
| 2/10 | 1967 May 19-November 21 | |
| 2/11 |
Reports and memoranda only
|
1968 March-October |
| 2/12 | 1969 April 18-1970 December 11 | |
| 2/13 | 1971 January 15-November 19 | |
Committees of the Board of Directors |
||
| Box/Folder | ||
| 2/14 | Agricultural Committee--minutes, memos,
etc. |
1973-1975 |
| 2/15 | Budget Committee--First draft of budget |
1962 |
| 2/16 | Forestry Committee--Roster, minutes, memos,
etc. |
1940; 1970; 1973 |
| 2/17 | Oregon Development Fund Trustees--Minutes |
1923-1927 |
| 2/18 | Oregon Development Fund Trustees--Correspondence,
reports, etc. |
1923-1927 |
| 2/19 | Past Presidents' Council--Minutes, correspondence,
etc. |
1931 |
| 2/20 | Recreational Resource Committee--Rosters, minutes,
etc. |
1973-1975 |
| 2/21 | Special School Levy Committee |
undated |
| 2/22 | Committee rosters |
1964; 1969 |
Chamber organization and membership |
||
| Box/Folder | ||
| 2/23 | Articles of incorporation
|
1890-1960 |
| 2/24 | Chamber organization chart; Portland Chamber
organization |
1915; 1922-1927 |
| 2/25 | Oregon State Chamber of Commerce--By-laws, porgram of
work, finance program |
undated |
| 2/26 | Information returns for tax-exempt
organizations |
1941-1949; 1951-1953 |
| 2/27 | Portland Chamber membership directory |
1925 |
| 2/28 | Plural membership list, revised |
1960 |
| 2/29 | Classified membership list |
1960 |
Properties |
||
| Box/Folder | ||
| 2/30 | Chamber property--Purchasing contract |
1931 |
| 2/31 | Building mortgage--Correspondence, documents,
financial statements |
1935-1941 |
| 2/32 | Building insurance |
1934-1937 |
| 2/33 | Application for property tax exemption |
1945-1946 |
| 2/34 | Building remodeling specifications |
1964 |
| 2/35 | Annual report |
1894 |
Activities |
||
| Box/Folder | ||
| 3/1 | Convention promotion |
1939-1968 |
| 3/2 | External promotion, Boston |
1966 |
| 3/3 | Script, "100 minus 5 and you : a panorama of Portland
progress" |
circa 1965 |
| 3/4 | Scripts: "Roasts of Donald V. McCallum and Bill
Wessinger" |
undated |
| 3/5 | Proposed enlargement of the Columbia River
Channel--Correspondence |
1925-1926 |
| 3/6 | Proposed enlargement of Columbia River
Channel--Hearings and report |
1925-1926 |
| 3/7 | Resolution urging railroad rate parity for Columbia
River points |
circa 1915 |
| 3/8 | Legislation: social security |
1939-1940 |
| 3/9 | Legislation: throughway highway |
1946-1947 |
| 3/10 | Proposed ordinance, City of Portland |
undated |
| 3/11 | Oregon business leader of the year award: nomination
of C. Howard Burnett |
1982 |
| 3/12 | Oregon Museum of Science and Industry: building fund
drive |
undated |
| 3/13 | Pacific Northwest Occupational Health
Conference |
1963-1966 |
| 3/14 | Membership campaigns--Reports, correspondence,
etc. |
1925-1926 |
| 3/15 | Membership campaigns--Correspondence, memos, forms,
agenda, campaign newsletter, etc. |
undated |
Subject and reference files |
||
| Box/Folder | ||
| 3/16 | "An empire : shall it be developed or shall it be
crushed?"--Western Inland Waterways Corporation |
1934 |
| 3/17 | "Exposition recreation center sites," City of
Portland |
1955 |
| 3/18 | Forestry |
undated |
| 3/19 | History of Portland Chamber |
undated |
| 3/20 | "Hotel survey report, Portland, Oregon," The
Hockenbury System Inc. |
1957 |
| 3/21 | Oregon history reference file |
undated |
| 3/22 | Reciprocal trade pact (visit of Henry F.
Grady) |
1939 |
| 3/23 | U.S. census |
1940 |
| 3/24 | U.S. Postal Service, Portland--Post office revenues,
1850-1944; U.S. Government-occupied office space, Portland |
1944-1945 |
| 3/25 | U.S. Postal Service, Portland: postal zone
directory |
1943 |
| Box/Folder | ||
| 3/26 | General correspondence |
1925-1969 |
| 3/27 | General Chamber ephemera |
1892-1984 |
Affiliated organizations |
||
| Box/Folder | ||
| 3/28 | Portland Commercial Club--Articles of
Incorporation |
1906 |
| 3/29 | Portland Commercial Club--Loan for members |
1908 |
Portland Retail Trade Bureau |
||
| Box/Folder | ||
| 3/31 | Bulletins |
1963 |
| 3/32 | Bulletins |
1964 |
| 3/33 | Bulletins |
1965 |
| 3/34 | Bulletins, memos, etc. |
1966 |
| 3/35 | Correspondence |
1968 January-June |
| 3/36 | Correspondence |
1968 July-1969 January |
| 3/37 | Downtown Promotions Committee minutes |
1964 |
| Box/Folder | ||
| 3/38-39 | Portland Retail Trade Bureau--Downtown Promotions
Committee minutes |
1962-1965 |
Scrapbooks |
||
| Box/Folder | ||
| 4/1 | 1944-1945 | |
| 4/2 | 1946 | |
| 4/3 | 1948 | |
| 4/4 | 1949 | |
| 4/5 | 1950 | |
| 4/6 | 1961 | |
Bound Volumes |
||
| Box/Folder | ||
| 10/1 | Portland Chamber of Commerce, Finance
Committee--Minutes |
1890 June 4-1897 January 15 |
| 10/2 | Portland Chamber of Commerce--Minutes of meetings;
Board meeting minutes |
1895 January 24-1897 May 20; 1898 May 4 |
| 5/1 | Portland Commercial Club, Board of
Governors--Minutes |
1903 Febuary 18-1906 March 19 |
| 5/2 | Portland Commercial Club records
|
1893-1915 |
| 5/3 | Portland Commercial Club, Board of Governors'
minutes |
1908 January 13-1910 January 11 |
| 5/4 | Portland Commercial Club, Board of Governors' minutes;
proposed amendments to constitution |
1910 January 18-1912 November 26; 1910 December 24; 1911 January 28 |
| 5/5 | Portland Commercial Club, Board of Governors'
minutes |
1912 March 17-1915 |
Portland Chamber of Commerce, Board of Directors'
minutes |
||
| Box/Folder | ||
| 6/1 |
|
1915-1917 |
| 6/2 |
|
1917-1919 |
| 6/3 | 1919 August 13-1920 September 1 | |
| 6/4 | 1920 September 8-1921 October 26 | |
| 6/5 | 1921 November 2-1923 June 27 | |
| 6/6 | 1923 July 11-1925 September 9 | |
| 7/1 | 1925 September 16-1928 March 28 | |
| 7/2 | 1928 April 4-1931 February 20 | |
| 7/3 | 1934 February 16-1936 January 3 | |
| 7/4 | 1937 December 13-1943 July 16 | |
| 7/5 | 1943 August 12-1949 January 14 | |
| 7/6 |
Includes lists of committee members, memoranda, reports, and
copies of correspondence.
|
1949 January 28-1953 February 20 |
| 8/1 |
Includes memoranda and reports
|
1953 March 20-1956 April 20 |
| 8/2 |
Includes memoranda, reports, policy declaration, etc.
|
1956 March 16; 1956 May 17-1959 April 17 |
| 8/3 |
Includes memoranda, policy declarations, copies of
correspondence, reports, etc.
|
1959 June 19-1961 July 21 |
| 8/4 |
Includes memoranda, copies of correspondence, reports
|
1961 August 25-1962 September 21 |
| 8/5 |
Includes memoranda, reports, policy declarations, copies of
correspondence, etc.
|
1962 October 19-1964 January 17 |
| 8/6 |
Inclueds memornda, reports, lists of members dropped,
etc.
|
1964 February 28-July 17 |
| 8/7 |
Includes memoranda, copies of correspondence, and lists of
Directors and committee chairs
|
1966 November 18; 1967 February 17-1970 March 20 |
| Box/Folder | ||
| 8/8 | "Register"--Possibly of guests of Chamber |
1929 April 30-1932 May 27 |
| 9/1 | Portland Chamber of Commerce general
records
|
1929-1959 |
| 9/2 | Property records and articles of
incorporation
Correspondence, memoranda, and documents, 1930-1940,
concerning property at SW 5th and Taylor, which the Chamber purchased from the
Portland School District; articles of incorporation, 1905
|
1905-1940 |
| 11/1 | Portland Chamber of Commerce--Records of membership
additions and reductions and of commissions paid to membership
salesmen |
1929 November-1941 December |
| 9/3 | Oregon State Chamber of Commerce records
|
1918-1931 |
Oversized scrapbooks |
||
| Volume | ||
| 32 | Blank membership cards and membership record forms;
form letters, directory listing forms, letterhead, etc. |
1921-1925; undated |
| 33 | News clippings, ads, Toledo Chamber and Portland
Chamber membership campaign publicity, etc. |
1922-1926 |
| 34 | "A united Portland program, Portland Chamber of
Commerce
Typescript of mayor's proclamation; news clippings;
photographs; cartoons; ads; tear sheets; typescripts of speeches; campaign form
letters; campaign newsletter, "The united glue"; meeting dockets.
|
1929 May 21-24 |
| 35 | News clippings, especially from out of state papers
and magazines, mostly promoting Oregon tourism |
1940-1941 |
| 36 | News clippings, photographs, etc. |
1952-1962 |
| 37 | News clippings |
1961-1962 |
| 38 | Annual President's membership campaign materials, form
letters, etc. |
1963 |
| 39 | Second annual President's membership campaign
materials, form letters, etc. |
1964 |
| 40 | Third annual President's membership campaign
materials, publicity, etc. |
1965 |
| Volume | ||
| Oversize folder | "Members of the Board of Directors, Portland Chamber of
Commerce, who have served through 1932-33" (one sheet with portraits of board
members) |
1932-1933 |
| Oversize folder | "Members of the Board of Directors of the Portland
Chamber of Commerce, April 1, 1935-April 1, 1936" (one sheet with portraits of
board members) |
1935-1936 |
Series D: Mss 686-3, 1911Return to Top
Folder of correspondence, both incoming and outgoing, between Henry R. Beckwith, President of the Portland Commercial Club, and representatives of New Jersey Governor Woodrow Wilson and President William Howard Taft, regarding visits to Portland in 1911. Subject include: itineraries, speaking engagements, travel plans, and security. Programs for the Taft dinner as well as programs for dinner honoring James R. Garfield and Theodore Roosevelt are also included.
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Business--Oregon--Portland
- City planning--Oregon--Portland
- Industries--Oregon--Portland
Personal Names
- Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919
- Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924
- Garfield, James R.
- Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930.
- Wilcox, Raymond
Corporate Names
- Oregon State Chamber of Commerce
- Portland Board of Trade (Or.)
- Portland Chamber of Commerce (Or.) (creator)
- Portland Retail Trade Bureau (Or.)
- Downtown Promotions Committe (Portland, Or.)
Geographical Names
- Portland (Or.)--Economic conditions.
Form or Genre Terms
- Ledgers
- Letters (correspondence)
- Minutes
Other Creators
-
Personal Names
- Beckwith, Henry R. (creator)
Corporate Names
- Portland Commercial Club (Or.) (creator)
