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Title: Beulah Chamber of Commerce Records
Dates: 1960-1986
Collection Number: 10473
Quantity: 1 foot
Abstract: Consists of minutes, correspondence, newsletters, financial statements, rosters, promotional materials, memos, and reports.
Provenance: The State Historical Society of North Dakota acquired the Beulah Chamber of Commerce Records from the Chamber on January 24, 1986. This collection was processed and the inventory prepared by James A. Davis, Karen Mund, and Kari Rombs Kohlhoff in September 1988.
Property Rights: The State Historical Society of North Dakota owns the property rights to this collection.
Copyrights: The Beulah Chamber of Commerce has dedicated such copyrights as it possesses in this collection to the public. Consideration of all other copyrights is the responsibility of the researcher.
Access: This collection is open under the rules and regulations of the State Historical Society of North Dakota.
Citation: Researchers are requested to cite the collection title, collection number, and the State Historical Society of North Dakota in all footnote and bibliographic references.
Transfer: One-quarter foot of material was removed from the Beulah Chamber of Commerce Records and transferred to the appropriate collection management area of the State Archives. The majority of the transferred material consisted of publications such as bulletins, newsletters, surveys, and one published state document. All publications were transferred to the library.
Four maps of Beulah were transferred to the map collection. Two bumper stickers were transferred to the ephemera collection.
Related Material:
Manuscripts: Lawrence J. Joos Papers, ca. 1960, 10 items, G34. Contains, among other things, a brief history of the Beulah Chamber of Commerce.
Audio: The State Archives Oral History Collection contains three interviews on cassette tape of individuals from Beulah. They are L. F. Temme, August and Tillie Miller, and Joe Stewart.
HISTORICAL SKETCH
The Beulah Chamber of Commerce has a history as long as the town of Beulah itself. It began on August 6, 1914, when a group of civic leaders in the new community met in the Chris Henry Hotel to organize a commercial club. The club's first officers were C.B. Heinemeyer, president; R.G. Stuhr, vice-president; W.C. Kees, secretary; and C.E. Ratramel, treasurer.
During its early years, the commercial club was the only organization of its kind in Beulah. Problems encountered on the road to community growth were from the beginning channeled to specially-created committees. In the 1920s many other organizations of a "community promotion" nature were created which, while welcome additions to the town, resulted in a shifting in the true leadership for the community from time to time. For many years the commercial club's role was that of the "lending hand".
In 1954 the town's various civic promotion groups were consolidated. On December 21, after every organization had been counseled, the Beulah Chamber of Commerce was created. The old Athletic Club and Rodeo Committees, for example, plagued by debt and unsuccessful promotions, joined in. So did many other lesser, short-term promotion committees that had cropped up under the commercial club. The revitalized organization saw an increase in membership, with more farmers joining and coal miners finally interested in becoming members. In addition to non-business and farmers membership, three other classes of membership were available: major business, part-time business, and honorary. The Chamber's first officers were Emmanuel Liebelt, Sr., president; Francis Goodall, vice-president; Dr. J.A. Power, treasurer; and Simon F. Link, secretary. Other board members were: Otto Kasper, Jack Padilla, Ed Schulz, Ralph Murray, Carl Thelander, Tony Wolf, Ted Herman, Fred Galloway, and Walter Hafner.
Over the years the Beulah Chamber of Commerce has constantly sought to better its community. The Chamber has organized and/or supported a number of projects and special events such as the building of a steel bridge over the Knife River; the Mercer County Fair; the Beulah Rodeo, also known as the Cowboy's Reunion; the North Dakota High School Championship Rodeo; the annual "kraut and wiener" festival and annual steak fry; the Golden Anniversary book; and the construction of the coal gasification plant outside of the city. Sources: Jubilee Book Committee. Beulah North Dakota Golden Anniversary 1914-1964, Fargo, ND: Richtman's Printing, n.d.
Lawrence J. Joos Papers, ca. 1960s, 10 items, G34.
SCOPE AND CONTENT
The Beulah Chamber of Commerce Records date from 1960 to 1986 and measure 1 foot. This collection documents administration, meetings, activities, programs, and projects undertaken by the Chamber, which was organized to "...advance all of the business, professional, civic, and cultural interests of the City...." This collection consists of minutes and subject files.
The minutes date from 1974 to 1982 and measure one-quarter foot. Consisting of board of directors' as well as regular meeting minutes, these minutes cover the consideration of various projects, social and business events, new businesses, civil defense, bills, and paid memberships. Included are agenda, some correspondence, membership lists, and resolutions. Minutes are arranged chronologically.
The subject files date from 1960 to 1986 and measure three-quarters foot. Agenda, bylaws, clippings, correspondence, memoranda, and pamphlets are contained in these files. Subjects of interest include Chamber directors and committees, community betterment awards, area employment trends, expense and income data, and tourism. Arrangement is alphabetical by keyword.
BOX / FOLDER INVENTORY
Minutes
Box 1:
1 Minutes 1974
2 Minutes 1975
3 Minutes 1976
4 Minutes 1977
5 Minutes 1978
6 Minutes 1979
7 Minutes 1980
8 Minutes 1981
9 Minutes 1982
Subject Files
10 Agenda 1975-1976
11 Business Listings
12 Bylaws
13 Committees 1977-1983
14 Community Betterment Awards 1960
15 Community Fact Survey 1960
16 Community Survey by Residents 1960
17 Cooks for Chamber 1975-1983
18 Correspondence 1975
19 Correspondence 1976
20 Correspondence 1977
21 Correspondence 1978
22 Correspondence 1979
23 Correspondence 1980
24 Correspondence 1981
25 Correspondence 1982
26 Correspondence 1983
27 Correspondence 1984
28 Directors 1983
29 Employment Trends 1974-1975
30 Expenses 1978-1981
31 Lake Sakakawea Association 1978
32 Meal Tickets 1975-1983
33 Membership Renewal Notices 1975-1983
34 Mercer County Fair 1977-1984
35 Mercer County 4-H Recognition Night 1976
36 Steak Fry, Annual 1977-1984
37 Tourist Business
38 Tourist Information Packet 1985-1986
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