The records document the organization's efforts to advance the business and community interests of the Kenosha area. The collection has been organized in four series: Articles of Organization, Minutes, Financial Records, and an alphabetical Subject File, plus Photographs.
The ARTICLES OF ORGANIZATION consist of a Xerox copy of the 1916 articles and the printed, revised constitution and by-laws which were written during the 1927 reorganization.
The MINUTES record the Board of Directors' monthly meetings, 1916, 1927-1937, 1943-1953, and 1967-1972. Also included in the minutes are committee reports and financial statements, plus occasional newsletters, annual reports, and membership rosters as they were reported to the Board. The minutes for 1927-1937 are available only on microfilm; each of these volumes begins with a table of contents. In addition to those newsletters in this series, the Chamber's newsletters for 1952-1967 are available on microfilm in the State Historical Society Library.
The FINANCIAL RECORDS include anticipated revenue and disbursement statements, budgets, monthly statements of income and expense, and statements by division, bureau, or special project of the Chamber. These records cover roughly the years 1939-1964, although many gaps exist. Annual and monthly statements are also located in the minutes of the Board of Directors.
The alphabetical SUBJECT FILE comprises the bulk of the collection and includes clippings, correspondence, financial records, lists, minutes, miscellany, press releases, questionnaires, reports, and surveys. It reveals the activities of most of the Chamber's standing committees including the Civic Affairs, Convention, Credit Bureau, Education, Legislative, Public Relations, Retail, and Transportation Committees. (Missing are the Congressional Action and Executive Committees.) There are also files for several special purpose committees. Among these are the Air Service Committee, which lobbied for the creation of a Kenosha County Airport; the Carthage College Committee, which encouraged the College's move to the city; the Harbor Committee, which supported the development of the harbor; the Industrial Development Committee, which attempted to foster good relations with existing area businesses such as the MacWhyte Company, the Nash Motors Company, and the Simmons Company; and the Kenosha Industrial Development Foundation, Inc., which encouraged outside businesses to move to Kenosha. In addition to various committee affairs, the series also documents the Chamber's sponsorship of special activities and dinners and its relationship with other area organizations such as the Downtown Businessmen's Association, the Uptown Businessmen's Association, and the Milwaukee Chamber of Commerce.
PHOTOGRAPHS document the activities of the Chamber including annual dinners and events attended by Robert P. Gerholz, Charles W. Nash, and George Romney. Some of the photographs, mostly from the 1950s and 1960s, feature the entertainers performing at the functions. Also included are images of participants in the Miss Kenosha pageants of 1965 and 1966.
