Carmichael (Calif.) Chamber of Commerce records, 1900-2008, bulk 1960-2000

Printable guide [HTML]

Summary

Creators:
Carmichael Chamber of Commerce
Abstract:
The Carmichael (Calif.) Chamber of Commerce records document the business and civic activities of the Carmichael (Calif.) Chamber of Commerce. For over 60 years the chamber has been active in promoting businesses, the community and representing the interests of the citizens of the community. It has sponsored numerous civic activities over the years such as Founder's Day, 4th of July Parade, and Miss Carmichael Pageant which make up a significant part of the collection and are documented in its business records and especially in the extensive scrapbooks which document both chamber and community events and concerns.
Extent:
9 boxes (9.5 linear feet)
Language:
Languages represented in the collection: English
Preferred citation:

[Identifcation of item], MS0005, Carmichael (Calif.) Chamber of Commerce Records, Center for Sacramento History.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection primarily documents the business and civic activities of the Carmichael (Calif.) Chamber of Commerce. There is substantial material relating to the community and community history generally.

The original order of the papers was generally not discernible, and an artificial series hierarchy was created. Items in general are arranged chronologically within each folder. Titles found within brackets in the container list were created by CSH staff to provide context as no original title could be discerned. Most newsprint, of which there is a substantial amount, has been retained, although it has been separated from other materials to reduce acid migration.

Contained within the collection are textual records including business and membership records; programs; directories; correspondence; newspapers, newspaper clippings and magazine articles; editorials and press releases; and awards and certificates. Other formats include photographs and negatives which focus on chamber meetings and activities, business openings, and sponsored events (4th of July Parade, Founder's Day, and Miss Carmichael). The geographic focus of the material is Carmichael, California and to some extent adjacent areas, and dates from the early 1900s through the early 2000s with the bulk 1960-2000.

Included are two books commemorating parts of Carmichael history: A History of the Carmichael School and Community: 1880-1960 by James R. Cowan [1995?]; and Heritage of Faith: A 75-year history of Carmichael Presbyterian Church 1923-1998, by The Heritage Committee, Carmichael Presbyterian Church [1998]. Also included are writings and proofs by Carol Ann West from the 1990s and 2000s about the Orange Vale [Orangevale] Colonization Co., Inc. and Mt. Shasta Mineral Springs Company, Inc. including photographs of their founders.

The following series scope and content notes only offers selected highlights; please see the container list for a full listing of the series contents.

Series 1. Business Records comprises primarily material documenting the Chamber's business activities, records of officers, meetings, members and new business openings. Copies of Chamber newsletters and Directories are included. Portions of additional newsletters, columns written by Chamber officers, and newspaper articles relating to Chamber and community events may be found in the scrapbooks in Series 3. There are some photographs included in this series, but most photographs are in either Series 4 - Photographs, or in Series 3 - Carmichael Community in the scrapbooks.

Series 2. Sponsored Events contains records of events that the Chamber sponsored or was involved with promoting such as Founder's Day, Miss Carmichael and Miss Teen Carmichael Pageants, Teacher of the Year, Honorary Mayor, and Honorary Dog Catcher. Included are planning records, copies of programs and photographs, particularly of the Miss Carmichael Pageant. Many additional photographs can be found in Series 4 - Photographs. Additional news reports and photographs can be found in the scrapbooks in Series 3 - Carmichael Community.

Series 3. Carmichael Community contains historical information about the Carmichael community and surrounding area and the Chamber's involvement. Two books are included: A history of the Carmichael School and Community: 1880-1960 by James R. Cowan [1995?] ; and Heritage of Faith: A 75-year history of Carmichael Presbyterian Church 1923-1998, by The Heritage Committee, Carmichael Presbyterian Church [1998]. Also included are many scrapbooks containing primarily newspaper clippings with some photographs which document the community and Chamber events and activities.

Series 4. Photographs includes black and white, and color photographic stills and negatives. These images mostly focus on Chamber of Commerce activities, meetings, dinners, business openings/ribbon cuttings and Chamber-sponsored events such as Miss Carmichael and Miss Teen Carmichael Pageants, Founder's Day and 4th of July Parade.

Series 5. Oversize Items includes large scrapbooks; photographs; resolutions, proclamations, awards, posters and copies of the 1st year of the Carmichael Gazette newspaper. Also contained are materials related to Carol Ann (C.A.) West's research and writings about Orangevale and the Mt. Shasta Mineral Springs Company and other large items separated out from the collection for easier storage. If an item was pulled from its original folder, a separation sheet will indicate the item has been removed and its new location.

Biographical / historical:

Carmichael, an unincorporated community in Sacramento County, California, was founded in 1909 by Daniel W. Carmichael as an agricultural colony when he purchased a portion of the Rancho San Juan and Del Paso Rancho Mexican land grants and divided them into 10-acre parcels. It remained largely agricultural through World War II, after which it experienced a building boom and became urbanized. It is largely an urban/suburban residential area and the U.S. Census Bureau reported that at the time of the 2010 census it covered approximately 14 square miles with a population of 61,762.

The Carmichael (California) Chamber of Commerce was founded on January 9th, 1948 by nine small-business owners with Edwin Morgan as the first president. Its purpose was to promote business and enhance the quality of life for community residents. It has served as a liaison between the citizens and businesses of the community and the County of Sacramento. The Chamber serves as an information resource, referral service, assists schools, and promotes the area through business and community events.

Over the years the Chamber took a lead role in sponsoring and promoting events such as Founder's Day, the 4th of July Parade, Fireworks display, Teacher of the Year awards, and the Miss Carmichael and Miss Teen Carmichael Pageants. More recently, other groups have assumed responsibility for running many of these community events while the Chamber remains involved in participating in and supporting them, e.g., the Parks Department has since taken the lead in running Founder's Day in the Park.

Acquisition information:
Received from Carmichael (Calif.) Chamber of Commerce in October 2011 by the Center for Sacramento History (accession#2011/052).
Processing information:

Scrapbooks are composed mainly of newsprint clippings with some photographs pasted or taped to album pages, cellophane tape was used in many cases, and "magnetic" albums were used for some scrapbooks. Newsprint and photographs may also be found scattered in other files. EAD finding aid updated by Sean Heyliger, April 2019.

Physical location:
SP 2L6-7
Rules or conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

The collection is open for research use. However, some folders (such as Founder's Day & Membership) have items with full credit card numbers legible.

Terms of access:

All requests to publish or quote from private collections held by the Center for Sacramento History (CSH) must be submitted in writing to csh@cityofsacramento.org. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Center for Sacramento History as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the patron. No permission is necessary to publish or quote from public records.

Preferred citation:

[Identifcation of item], MS0005, Carmichael (Calif.) Chamber of Commerce Records, Center for Sacramento History.

Location of this collection:
551 Sequoia Pacific Blvd.
Sacramento, CA 95811, US
Contact:
(916) 808-7072
csh@cityofsacramento.org
Website