Northern California Black Chamber of Commerce records, 1979-1998

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Summary

Creators:
Coffey, Oscar J. Jr. and Northern California Black Chamber of Commerce
Abstract:
The Northern California Black Chamber of Commerce (NCBCC) was established in Oakland, California in 1978 by the members of the United Men of Action, Inc. to promote and support black businesses and black tourism in Northern California. The Northern California Black Chamber of Commerce records consist of constitution and bylaws, meeting minutes, brochures, newsletters, and photographs of the organization and assorted conference programs and flyers related to black business.
Extent:
1.5 linear feet (3 boxes + 1 oversized box)
Language:
Languages represented in the collection: English
Preferred citation:

Northern California Black Chamber of Commerce records, MS 158, African American Museum & Library at Oakland, Oakland Public Library. Oakland, California.

Background

Scope and content:

The Northern California Black Chamber of Commerce records consist of constitution and bylaws, meeting minutes, brochures, newsletters, and photographs of the organization and assorted conference programs and flyers related to black business. The records are organized into three series: I. Administrative files II. Photographs III. Assorted printed materials. The administrative files document the establishment and day-to-day activities of the organization and planning and funding for the Preservation Park development project. Also included are remarks presented by Housing and Urban Development secretary Samuel Pierce at the groundbreaking ceremony for the project in 1984. The bulk of the photographs in the collection document the chamber's meetings, portraits of NCBCC’s officers and board of directors, and garden parties held at its offices at 7700 Edgewater Drive in Oakland, California. Also included are photographs of ceremonies honoring baseball players Frank Robinson and Willie Stargell.

Biographical / historical:

The Northern California Black Chamber of Commerce (NCBCC) was established in Oakland, California in 1978 by members of the United Men of Action, Inc. to promote and support black businesses and black tourism in Northern California. The Northern California Black Chamber of Commerce’s operations were managed by its President Oscar J. Coffey Jr. along with five staff members, and the chamber’s administration was directed by an elected board of directors and ten officers that chaired the chamber’s economic development, finance/membership, public affairs, community development, and human resources committees. Staff offices were located at 7700 Edgewater Drive in Oakland, California and were often host to many chamber events and social gatherings.

The Northern California Black Chamber of Commerce received the bulk of its funding through the City of Oakland to promote black tourism to Oakland and the Oakland Convention Center. The organization also received a Federal Historic Preservation Tax Credit in 1982 to promote urban development projects including the Preservation Park development project, which relocated 11 historic homes on 13th St. in downtown Oakland to their current location in Preservation Park. As part of a larger investigation into the misappropriation of funds by Housing and Urban Development Secretary Samuel Pierce, Oakland city manager Henry Gardner requested an audit of the Northern California Black Chamber of Commerce’s finances in 1988. Two years later the organization was renamed the Oakland/ Alameda Black Chamber of Commerce before losing all funding from the City of Oakland in 1991.

Acquisition information:
Donated to the African American Museum Library at Oakland by Oscar J. Coffey Jr. in 2005.
Processing information:

Processed by Sean Heyliger, October 4, 2017.

Arrangement:

Series I. Administrative files Series II. Photographs Series III. Assorted printed material

Rules or conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

No access restrictions. Collection is open to the public.

Materials are for use in-library only, non-circulating.

Terms of access:

Permission to publish from the Northern California Black Chamber of Commerce Records must be obtained from the African American Museum & Library at Oakland.

Preferred citation:

Northern California Black Chamber of Commerce records, MS 158, African American Museum & Library at Oakland, Oakland Public Library. Oakland, California.

Location of this collection:
659 14th Street
Oakland, CA 94612, US
Contact:
(510) 637-0198
aamlo@oaklandlibrary.org
Website