Historical note:

            The Providence Board of Trade was incorporated in 1868, "for the purpose of promoting trade and commerce in the city of Providence and its vicinity". Its early members were mostly Providence-area industrialists, though some retail merchants, political figures and educators were also involved. Its main activity was in lobbying the city, state and federal governments on legislative matters relating to local commerce. It also helped set uniform standards for hours and wages, and maintained a business library for the use of its members.

            In 1913, the organization was reorganized under a new constitution, and the following year changed its name to the Providence Chamber of Commerce. It began to draw in a wider cross-section of Providence-area merchants. The name was changed again in the early 1980s, to the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce. The organization remains very active today.

Return to top

Scope and content:

            Minutes of the executive council and the board of directors constitute the bulk of this collection. The minutes are nearly complete from 1868 to 1970; the minutes from 1970 to the present can still be found at the main Chamber of Commerce office downtown. Also of particular interest are four volumes of membership books which provide alphabetical listings of all members from 1874 to 1897.

Return to top

Provenance:

            These records were the gift of the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce in 1998.

Return to top

Inventory:

Series 1: Minutes (complete from 1868-1906, 1913-1919, and 1921-1970)

Box 1.

1868-1880; 1880-1889; 1890-1906; 1913-1914; 1916

Box 2.

1915; 1917; 1918; 1919; 1921; 1922-1923; 1924-1925; 1926; 1927-1928 

Box 3.

1929-1930; 1931-1932; 1933; 1934; 1935-1936; 1937-1939; 1940-1941; 1942-1943; 1944-1947

Box 4.

1948-1953; 1954-1955; 1956-1957; 1958-1959; 1960; 1961; 1961-1962; 1962-1963; 1963-1964

Box 5.

1964-1965; 1965-1966; 1966-1967; 1967-1968; 1968-1969; 1969-1970

Minutes of the Retail Trade Board:    1935-1941; 1942-1949; 1950-1959

Series 2: Membership records

Box 6.

Membership book, 1874-1880

Membership book, 1886-1890

Box 7.

Membership book, 1881-1885

Membership book, 1891-1895

Box 8.

Folder 1. Book of officers, 1868-1943

Folder 2. By-laws and member signatures, 1868-1913

Folder 3. Correspondence re surrendered membership certificates, 1885-1895

Folder 4. Correspondence re transferred membership certificates, 1886-1892

Folder 5. Membership certificates, 1884

Folder 6. New member recommendations, 1902-1903

Folder 7. Visitor book, 1868-1879

Folder 8. Visitor book, 1879-1884

Folder 9. Visitor book, 1884-1907

Series 3: Miscellaneous

Box 8:

Folder 10. Certificate as charter member of Chamber of Commerce of the United States, 1956

Folder 11. Check register, 1885-1888

Folder 12. Committee to Entertain Delegates from Southern States. Minutes, 1897.

Folder 13. Letter copy book, 1882-1887

Folder 14. Letter copy book, 1887-1897

Folder 15. R.I. Association of Credit Men. Adjustment Bureau minutes, 1943-1968.

Folder 16. Scrapbook of printed resolutions, 1881-1898

Return to top

Subjects:

Boards of trade - Rhode Island - Providence

xGreater Providence Chamber of Commerce

xProvidence Chamber of Commerce

Retail Trade Board

Rhode Island Association of Credit Men

End of finding aid - return to top

RIHS1822