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Guide to the Carmichael (Calif.) Chamber of Commerce records
MS0005
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Table of contents
Title: Carmichael (Calif.) Chamber of Commerce records
Dates: 1900-2008
Bulk Dates: 1960-2000
Collection number: MS0005
Creator:
Carmichael Chamber of Commerce
Collection Size:
9 boxes
(9.5 linear feet)
Repository:
Center for Sacramento History
Sacramento, California 95811-0229
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.
Languages:
Languages represented in the collection:
English
Physical location: SP 2L6-7
The collection is open for research use. However, some folders (such as Founder's Day & Membership) have items with full credit
card numbers legible.
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.
[Identifcation of item], MS0005, Carmichael (Calif.) Chamber of Commerce Records, Center for Sacramento History.
Received from Carmichael (Calif.) Chamber of Commerce in October 2011 by the Center for Sacramento History (accession#2011/052).
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.
Biography / Administrative History
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.
Scope and Content of Collection
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.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in
the library's online public access catalog.
Bernes, Bonnie
Carmichael, Daniel W.
Miars, Nancy
Morgan, Edwin
West, Carol Ann (C.A.)
Carmichael (Calif.) Chamber of Commerce
Carmichael Citizen
Carmichael Dispatch
Carmichael Times
Neighbors
Sacramento Bee
Sacramento Union
Carmichael Chamber of Commerce
Sacramento County (Calif.)-History
Carmichael (Calif.)-History
Beauty Pageant (Miss Carmichael & Miss Teen Carmichael)
Parade (4th of July)
Founder's Day (Carmichael)
Materials related to those in the Carmichael (Calif.) Chamber of Commerce records may be found in the following collections
at Center for Sacramento History: Carol Ann West (2000/032, 2000/130, 2003/010)