Bozeman Area Chamber of Commerce Records, 1911-2025

Records of the original organization and membership of the Chamber of Commerce including annual dinners and reports; listings of Board of Directors and committee chairmen; the policies, manuals, procedures, and bylaws for members and the office staffs; programs of work and committee preference lists. The directors' minutes and papers of the directors or secretary and a large amount of general correspondence is present. Office and personnel records including tax and insurance papers, leases and inventories, agreements and contracts, and accounting procedures are present. Papers and correspondence from associations and organizations including US and Montana Chambers of Commerce, and Executive organizations are also prominent. The Chamber of Commerce issued newsletters, a newspaper column, and also collected newspaper clipping news of the Chamber. Basic informational and tourist brochures, maps, calendars of events, gift certificates and awards were created by the Chamber to promote the town and its business members. Assorted ephemera was also collected such as member license plates and centennial coins.

Series 2 includes minutes, correspondence, and associated papers of the various committees under the directions of the Vice Presidents and the Board of Directors. Committes featured include 1) Admistrative Affairs, which addresses government and legislative affairs, membership and finance, military affairs, MSU/Chamber relations, and Green Coats; 2) Community Affairs, which addresses centennials, civic issues, conservation, education, recreation, roads and highways, and transportation; and 3) Economic Affairs which addresses agriculture, Convention and Visitors Bureau, economic and industrial development, retail and business.

Committee activities included support for special events such as the Wally Byam conventions, BACCII trade shows, and the College National Rodeo Finals (CNRF). They also feature a small selection of Small Business Administration (SBA) programs and Gallatin Development Corporation programs, which promoted and financed local business success.

Series 3 includes bank checking, savings, and investment statements; budgets; yearly financial statements and audits; assorted ledgers, bills and papers for both general finances and special projects finances. Also present are membership dues sheets, ledgers, and dues assessment changes.

Series 4 consists of assorted photographs through the years. They include portrait photos of members for informational or advertising purposes, informal snapshots of chamber meetings, dinners and Chamber sponsored functions, activities and tourist promotion. Photographs of winter and summer sports and associated resorts, landscapes, scenery, and special attractions were commissioned for the Visitor Bureau and its brochures. There are also unidentified photos and negatives during various years. The loose photographs have been sequentially numbered. Two photo albums, one general and one from the 1920s, and a 1934 photo book invitation to President Franklin Roosevelt to the Gallatin Gateway Inn are included.