Montana State University Library, Archives and Special Collections, Manuscript Collections
Bozeman Area Chamber of Commerce Records
Bozeman Area Chamber of Commerce
2393
Collection 2393
25.75 linear feet
1911-2025
The Bozeman Area Chamber of Commerce Records include early organizational materials and progress reports; lists of directors, presidents, and committee chairmen within organizational charts; bylaws, policies, and manuals; and corporate papers. The records are in no way complete. They contain annual reports; yearly work plans; surveys of members and the community; directors' minutes; Presidents'/Board of Directors papers; day books; ledgers; financial records and general correspondence. Also included in the collection are office and personnel records, records and papers of individual committees, ephemera, and photographs.
Collection materials are in English
This collection is open for research.
The Bozeman Chamber of Commerce donated its records from 1946-1997 to Special Collections, Montana State University Library, in June, 1999. The 90th anniversary committee papers, originally accessioned as Collection 737, 1940s vintage newsletters originally accessioned as Collection 87, and some vertical file materials were also integrated into this collection.
Series 1 General records, papers and correspondence
Series 2 Committee records and associated papers
Series 3 Financial records and papers
Series 4 Photographs and albums
Series 5: Web Archive
Bozeman merchants originally organized a Chamber of Commerce in 1910 but due to lack of financial support it was disbanded in favor of the Young Men's Business League in 1911. In 1912 when the U.S. Chamber of Commerce was created with established guidelines and organizational suggestions, Bozeman again started a Chamber of Commerce using the name Gallatin Valley Commercial Club. In 1917, the name Bozeman Chamber of Commerce was adopted. It consisted of merchants and community members interested in promoting Bozeman and the surrounding area. Finally, the present title of Bozeman Area Chamber of Commerce was adopted. The Chamber was organized with a Board of Directors that included a President and three Vice Presidents of divisions in three areas: Commercial (later called Economic Affairs), Civic (later called Community Affairs), and Administration. Each division had several committees chaired by volunteer members with interests in those areas. Over the years committees were dropped, added, or renamed, but always were concerned with agriculture, transportation, military, university/city relations, civic and legislative affairs, tourism and visitor promotion, business and industrial support, and advocating for commercial and economic development and a strong membership. In later years the environment, recreation, and planning for the growth of the town and county became more important. Recruitment of members and their financial support was always difficult with some years more successful than others. In 1975 a past presidents committee named the Green Coats was created as a group to greet visitors at functions of the Chamber and the city. Temporary committees addressing special functions or programs such as BACCII (trade show), Wally Byam Caravan Club ( motor home conventions), CNRF (College National Rodeo Finals), Balloon Quest, Air Shows, plus National, State, and local centennial celebrations were created as needed. The organization always had a paid secretary/manager/executive VP. As it grew and became more sophisticated, more paid employees were added as well as more outside financial services, and computer networking and service supports. The location of the Chamber of Commerce office also changed many times. In the beginning, as an almost entirely volunteer organization it leased office space. As it grew and rents increased, it purchased the locations of its offices. At one downtown location, the Chamber office was gutted by a fire in 1922, and few records earlier than that date survived.
This collection was processed 2009 August 11
The Bozeman Area Chamber of Commerce Records include early organizational materials and progress reports; lists of directors, presidents, and committee chairmen within organizational charts; bylaws, policies and manuals; and corporate papers. The records are in no way complete. They contain annual reports; yearly work plans; surveys of members and the community; directors' minutes; Presidents'/Board of Directors papers; day books; ledgers; financial records and general correspondence. Office and personnel records including procedures, bills, tax and insurance records, inventories, and various agreements and contracts are present. Records and papers of individual committees with associated correspondence and financial information; papers related to organizations and affiliations such as the National and Montana Chambers of Commerce and several tourist organizations are also contained in the records. Finally, there are newsletters; brochures and promotional memorabilia; economic reports of the community; maps; newspaper clippings; certificates, coins and other ephemera. Photographs of members, dinners, and assorted functions and sponsored events with many photographs of the area scenery, special attractions, and recreational venues have been organized. A web archive begins in 2020.
[Creator Name], [Date of Creation], [Brief Description of Object], Folder [#], Box [#], [Collection Name], [Collection #], Montana State University (MSU) Library, Bozeman, MT
Chamber of Commerce of the United States of America
Montana Chamber of Commerce
Bozeman Chamber of Commerce
Gallatin Valley Commercial Club
Montana--Bozeman (Mont.)--Economic conditions--20th century
Bozeman (Mont.)--Social life and customs--20th century
Montana--Economic conditions
Montana
Bozeman (Mont.)
Bozeman (Mont.) --Photographs
Boards of trade--Montana--Bozeman (Mont.)
Business enterprises --Montana--Bozeman (Mont.)
City promotion --Montana--Bozeman (Mont.)
Community life--Montana--Bozeman (Mont.)
Place marketing-Montana-Bozeman
Social life and customs
City and Town Life
Media and Communication
Montana
Bozeman
Maps
Photographs
Photographs--Montana--Bozeman
Photographs
Photographs
General records, papers and correspondence
1
1911-1996
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.
Papers
1911-1944
1
1-2
Directors, committee, and dinner meetings
1945-1946
1
4-5
Progress reports
1950-1960
1
6
Listings of past presidents, committee chairmen, and Boards of Directors
1959-1993
1
7
Past presidents' reminiscences for 75th anniversary
1984-1985
1
8
Policies, manuals, and mission statements
2
1
Bylaws and revisions
1960-1986
2
2
Corporate papers
1941-1990
2
3
Annual dinner reports and bills
1974-1984
2
4-5
Annual dinner reports and bills
1985-1993
3
1
Annual reports (Newspaper)
1981-1994
3
2
Programs of work and associated papers (incomplete)
1960-1992
3
3-5
Elections
1970-1988
3
6
Committee preferences
1972-1985
3
7
Assorted Chamber surveys
1970-1995, undated
4
1-4
Membership investment schedules, dues and fees
1964-1993
4
5
Contracts and agreements
1981-1993
4
6
Office leases
1950-1978
4
7
1st building
1979
4
8
Capital fund drive
1979
5
1
Property taxes
1979-1990
5
2
Office procedures - manuals - forms - tax rule notices, etc.
5
3
Personnel - duties, salaries, changes, etc.
1971-1994
5
4
Tax returns
1956-1995
5
5-6
Unemployment insurance
1956-1990
6
1
Workman's compensation insurance
1981-1990
6
2
State of Montana audit of workmans' and unemployment insurance records
1988
6
3
Assorted insurance policies and related correspondence
1977-1988
6
4
Office - equipment inventories
1952-1988
6
5
Computer and copy equipment and related service agreements
1984-1989
6
6
Communications/information systems
1983-1989
6
7
Assorted operational bills, account communications, and correspondence
1979-1992
6
8
Chamber of Commerce of the United States
1973-1994
6
9
Montana Chamber of Commerce
1968-1994
6
10
Montana Association of Chamber Executives (MACE)
1968-1986
6
11
Montana Association of Chamber Executives (MACE)
1991-1992
7
1
America Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE)
1970-1991
7
2
American Chamber of Commerce Researchers Association (ACCRA)
1978-1982
7
3
National Association of Membership Directors of Chambers of Commerce ( NAMD)
1982-1993
7
4
Gallatin Foundation, Inc.
1989-1994
7
5
Leadership program
1988-1992
7
6-7
Day book journals
1956-1964
7
8-10
Directors minutes
1954-1955
8
1-2
Directors and retail merchants minutes
1956-1958
8
3-5
Directors minutes
1959-1970
8
6-17
Directors minutes
1971-1982
9
1-11
Directors and committee minutes
1983
9
12
Directors minutes with some committee info
1984-1986
9
13-15
Directors minutes
1987-1988
9
16-17
Directors minutes
1989-1997
10
1-8
Board of Directors papers
1970-1986
11
1-7
Board of Directors papers
1987-1990
12
1-5
Board of Directors papers
1991-1994
13
1-6
Board of Directors papers
1994-1997
14
1-3
Assorted correspondence, A-L
1961-1971
14
4-6
Assorted correspondence, M-Z
1970-1971
15
1-3
Assorted correspondence, A-M
1972
15
4-6
Assorted correspondence, N-Z
1972
16
1-2
Assorted correspondence, A-Z
1973
16
3-6
Correspondence - requests for information or publications
1973
16
7
Assorted correspondence, A-Z
1974
17
1
Correspondence - requests for information or publications
1974
17
2
A-Z
1975
17
3-4
Correspondence - requests for information or publications
1975-1976
17
5
Correspondence - requests for information or publications
1976 December-1977 January
17
6
Correspondence - requests for information or publications
1977 January
17
7
Correspondence - requests for information or publications
1977 January
18
1-2
Assorted correspondence, A-Z
1977
18
3
Assorted correspondence, A-Z
1978
18
4
Assorted correspondence
1979-1980
18
5-6
Assorted correspondence
1981-1984
19
1-5
Assorted correspondence
1985-1989
20
1-5
Assorted correspondence
1990-1994
21
1-3
Newsletter - Enthusiastic Action
1970-1973
21
4
Newsletter (incomplete)- Enthusiastic Action
1977-1979
21
5
Weekly newspaper column
1974-1978
21
6
Newspaper column
1979 -1980
21
7
News releases
1980, 1982
21
8
News releases
1983-1985
22
1
Gallatin Valley Business-newsletter
1979-1992
22
2-6
Downtown Business Association ( DBA) newsletter
1984-1985
22
7
Newspaper clippings - News of Chamber & interests
1971-1979
22
8-9
Newspaper clippings - News of Chamber & interests
1980-1987
23
1-7
Basic information brochure on Bozeman, Gallatin County and trade area
1961-1984
24
1-2
Bozeman city information
1976, 1978-1979
24
3
Chamber tourism brochures
24
4
Commercial tourism brochures
24
5
Maps by Chamber of Commerce
24
6
Map development
24
7
Calendars of events
1971
24
8
Gift certificates
25
1
Fund raising ideas
25
2
Welcome plaques
circa 1970s
25
3
Member car plates (not complete)
1960-1982
25
4
Awards and certificates
25
5
Assorted buttons, coins, and other ephemera
25
6
Wally Byam Silver Jubilee Roundup album
1982
25
7
Committee records and associated papers
2
1954-1995
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.
Administrative - Government Affairs committee
1968-1982
26
1-5
Administrative - Legislative Affairs committee
1984-1995
27
1-5
Administrative - Legislative Affairs - Bed Tax committee
1979-1992
27
6
Administrative - Government Affairs committee - Law Enforcement Academy (LEA)
1978-1986
28
1-3
Administrative - Membership committee
1969-1974
28
4-7
Administrative - Membership/Finance committee
1975-1978
29
1-4
Administrative - Membership committee
1979
29
5
Administrative - Membership committee (survey)
1980-1981
29
6-7
Administrative - Membership committee
1982-1983
29
8-9
Administrative - Membership committee
1984-1992
30
1-7
Administrative - Military Affairs committee
1982-1989, 1993
30
8-9
Administrative - MSU/Chamber relations committee
1972-1990
31
1-2
Administrative - MSU/Chamber relations committee - Banquet for Excellence
1982-1991
31
3
Administrative - Welcome/Green Coats committee
1975 -1993
31
4-5
Community - Centennial Committee - 90 year
1954
32
1
Community - Centennial Committee - 100 year (1964)
1960-1965
32
2-3
Community - Correspondence - Centennial Committee -100 year (1964)
1963-1965
32
4
Community - Jan-Aug Centennial committee - news releases
1964 January-August
32
5
Community - U.S. Bi-Centennial Committee
1976
33
1
Community - Bozeman Centennial committee
1983
33
2
Community - Montana Centennial committee
1989
33
3
Community - Civic Affairs
1969-1995
33
4-5
Community - Civic Affairs - Community Chest (minutes)
1949-1956
34
1
Community - Civic Affairs - United Way
1975-1979
34
2
Community - Civic Affairs - Crimes against businesses
1968-1988
34
3
Community - Civic Affairs - Postal Studies
1979- 1981
34
4
Community - Civic Affairs - Courthouse Expansion
1976-1978
34
5
Community - Civic Affairs - Sign Ordinances
1979-1982
34
6
Community - conservation
1966-1980, 1990-1992
35
1
Community - conservation - Gallatin National Forest
1975 - 1978
35
2
Community - conservation - Geothermal Development
1979-1982
35
3
Community - Education Committee
1966-1989
35
4-5
Community - Recreation
1969-1978
35
6
Community - Recreation - World Trampoline Championships
1982
35
7
Community - Recreation
1982-1988
35
8-9
Community - Roads and highways
1964-1979
36
1-3
Community - Roads and highways - Big Sky Road
1975-1977
36
4
Community - Transportation committee
1969-1980
36
5-7
Community - Transportation committee - Railroad
1973-1980
37
1
Community - Transportation committee - Air
1973-1986
37
2
Community - Transportation committee - Airlines
1955-1978
37
3-6
Economic - Agriculture
1959-1984
38
1-5
Economic - Agriculture
1984-1992
39
1-5
Economic - Tourism/visitor promotion - Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB)
1968-1978
40
1
Economic - Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB)
1979-1981
40
2-5
Economic - Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB)
1982-1986
41
1-5
Economic - Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB)
1983-1999
42
1-2
Economic - CVB - Balloon Quest
1991-1992
42
3
Economic - CNRF (College National Rodeo Finals)
1978-1991
42
4
Economic - CVB - Japanese Governor's visit
1975
42
5
Economic - CVB - National Tourism Week
1984-1987
42
6
Economic - CVB - Snowbird Project
1987-1992
42
7
Economic - CVB - Sweet Pea Festival
1978-1989
42
8
Economic - CVB - Sports Tournaments
1981-1982
42
9
Economic - CVB - Yellowstone Country
1979-1981
42
10
Economic - CVB - Wally Byam Caravan Club Intl
1973-1992
43
1-5
Economic - CVB - Bozeman Tourism Advisory Council (BTAC)
1978-1992
44
1
Economic - CVB - Bed Tax projects
1990-1993
44
2
Economic - CVB - Pacific Northwest Travel Association (PNTA)
1968-1979
44
3
Economic - CVB - Old West Trail Foundation
1968-1982
44
4
Economic - CVB - Speaker Bureaus, speakers and programs
1975-1985
44
5
Economic - CVB - conference and convention arrangements
1963-1988
44
6
Economic - CVB - training seminars for executives and business
1979-1984
44
7
Economic - CVB - State of Montana Conventions and Tours Office A-L
1974
45
1
Economic - CVB - State of Montana Conventions and Tours Office M-Z
1974
45
2
Economic - CVB - Directory of Montana Convention facilities
1974
45
3
Economic - CVB - Bozeman Convention prospects
1974-1976
45
4
Economic - CVB - Visitors' log
1973-1986
45
5-6
Economic - Economic Development committee
1963-1979
46
1-2
Economic - Industrial Relations committee
1980-1981
46
3
Economic - Industrial Development committee
1982
46
4
Economic - Industrial Development/Business Support committees
1983-1984
46
5
Economic - Industrial Development/Business Support committees
1985-1989
46
6
Economic - Gallatin Development Corporation
1984-1994
47
1-5
Economic - Retail/Business Coordination committees
1967-1979
48
1
Economic - Retail committee
1981-1988
48
2-4
Economic - Retail committee- SBA programs
1964-1994
49
1-6
Economic - Retail committee - BACC II Trade Show
1983
50
1
Economic - Retail committee - BACC II Trade Show agreements
1983
50
2
Economic - Retail committee - BACC II Trade Show
1984-1995
50
3-6
Financial records and papers
3
1955-1998
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.
Assorted bank statements
51
1
Assorted savings and investment statements
51
2
Assorted special project bank account statements
51
3
Budgets
1961-1997
51
4-5
Budgets for special projects
1985-1993
51
6
Cash flow estimates
1985-1993
51
7
Budget comparisons
1959-1993
51
8
Budget financial study
1975
51
9
Assorted Membership lists with dues assessments
1975-1984
51
10
Financial statements and audits
1955-1986
52
1-6
Financial statements and audits
1987-1998
53
1-5
Financial statements for special event charges
1998
53
6
Bank notes
1957-1976
53
7
Debt retirement drive
1973-1975
53
8
Building fund ledger sheets
1979-1983
53
9
Single entry ledger
1966-1975
54
1-4
Christmas decoration fund
1965-1968
54
5
1000 thanks fund
1963-1972
54
6
Bozeman Visitors Bureau general ledger sheets
1973-1976
54
7
Medallion ledger sheets
1982-1983
54
8
Montana centennial committee financial records
1983
54
9
Bed tax records
1990-1993
54
10
City license master files
1983
54
11
City Bus lines account ledger
1966-1967
55
1
Community Chest ledger
1953-1956
55
2-3
Community Chest recipients ledger sheets
1956
55
4
Nelson Story III centennial bills and papers
1963-1964
55
5
Bozeman Centennial ledger
1983-1984
55
6
Membership dues ledger sheets (cancellations and business dissolutions)
1956 -1962
55
7
Membership dues ledger sheets (cont.)
1956 -1962
55
8
Membership dues ledger (oversized) ** stored separately
1956-1962
1
Financial Journal (oversized) ** stored separately
1957-1963
2
General Ledger (oversized) ** stored separately
1957-1963
3
Photographs and albums
4
1920s-1980s
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.
Assorted directors and committee chairmen #1 - #30b
56
1
Chamber offices and visitors' centers ; BACCII, 1984; BACC Ag Day #31- #49
56
2
Assorted photos - early years through
circa 1950s
56
3
Assorted photos - #66 - #102
1960s
56
4
Assorted photos - #103 - #131
1970s
56
5
Assorted photos - #132 - #258
1980s
56
6
Assorted photos - MSU campus, buildings and programs (with some WBCCI ) #259 - #282
56
7
Assorted photos - Agriculture #283 - #340
56
8
Assorted photos - transportation - airlines #341 - #360
56
9
Assorted photos - sports and recreation #361 - #425
56
10
Big Sky - 12 promotional proof sheets and 6 singles ( numbered in white 1-131) #426 - #443
56
11
Bridger Bowl - 18 promotional proof sheets #444 - #461
56
12
Assorted promotion pictures - animals, scenery, Gallatin area, Yellowstone area #462 - #539
57
1
Aerial photos of Bozeman and eastern interchange construction
circa 1973
57
2
Miscellaneous assorted photos, most undated and unidentified #569 - #614
57
3
Assorted negatives, stored by subject, unidentified
1950s -1980
57
4
Photograph album holding assorted photographs, meetings, etc.
1960s to 1980
57
5
Photograph album of assorted subjects, includes Bozeman pea cannery and agricultural products and operations
early 1920s
57
6
"The state of Montana invites President Franklin D. Roosevelt " photo invitation for presidential visit
1934
57
7
Web Archive
2020-2025