Title: Mandan Chamber of Commerce Records
Dates: 1913-1981
Collection Number: 10479
Quantity: 9 feet
Abstract: Consists of minutes, correspondence, memos, subject files, financial statements, photographs, posters, promotional materials, and memorabilia; Custer Drama files, 1958-1961, including scripts, financial statements, cast rosters, photographs, programs, brochures, and tickets; and Mandan Development Corporation records, including minutes, lists of stockholders, and correspondence.
Provenance: The State Historical Society of North Dakota acquired the Mandan Chamber of Commerce Records from the Chamber on February 28, 1986. This collection was processed and the inventory prepared by Karen Mund, Grace Wanttaja, and Kari Rombs Kohlhoff in July 1988.
Property Rights: The State Historical Society of North Dakota owns the property rights to this collection.
Copyrights: The Mandan 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: Two feet of material were removed from the Mandan Chamber of Commerce Records and transferred to the appropriate collection management area of the State Archives. One-third foot of transferred material consisted of publications such as booklets, bulletins, magazines, newsletters, newspapers, annual reports, and published state and federal documents. All publications were transferred to the library.
One and one-third feet of material, consisting mainly of black and white photographs, were transferred to the Photo Archives. Photograph subjects include several floods, the Mandan Rodeo, aerial views of the city, businesses, churches, residences, the Amoco Oil Company Refinery, and events such as "Mad Market Days" and athletic contests. Also transferred were 32 color slides of the Mandan Community Center swimming pool.
Several items were transferred to the ephemera collection including two bumper stickers, eight buttons, and three "Mad Market Days" wooden nickels. Five maps were transferred to the map collection including three Mandan city maps and one 1965 state highway map. Several postal covers and postcards were placed with the philatelic collection.
Related Material:
Manuscripts:
MSS 10008 Mandan Creamery and Produce Company History Contest Records, 1933, .25 ft
MSS 10171 Mandan Telephone Company Records, 1906-1912, .25 ft.
MSS 10238 Bismarck-Mandan Friends of Public Television Records, 1978-1980, .25 ft.
MSS 10378 O'Ruarc and McGillic Grocery Records, 1881-1882, 1 microfilm roll.
MSS 10434 Ernest Keidel Scrapbook, n.d., 1 microfilm roll.
MSS 10471 Alfred and John Gould Diaries, 1877-1935, 4 vol.
MSS 20039 Henry R. Ward Ms., 1926, 1 item.
MSS 20500
H. K. Jensen Letter, 1926, 1 item.
MSS 20601 George Poletes Ms., ca. 1959-1968, 1 item.
MSS 20647 Bismarck-Mandan Library Circle Programs, 1950-1952, 1961, 4 items.
MSS 20693 Edna Dey Warner Typescript, 1961, 1 item.
State Industrial School, Mandan:
Record Series 30830 Minutes of the Board of Trustees, 1893-1911, 3 vol.
Record Series 30831 Administrative Subject Files, 1914-1917, 1.5 ft.
Record Series 30832 Budgets, 1923-1951, 1 item.
Record Series 30833 Biennial Reports, 1919-1956, .5 ft.
Record Series 30834 Property Inventories, 1912-1941, 1.75 ft.
Record Series 30835 Balance Ledger, Payment and Collection Record, and Check Register, 1903-1956, 7 vol.
Record Series 30836 Storekeeper's Record, 1916-1920, 1 vol.
Record Series 30837 Menus, 1916; 1923-1953, .5 ft.
Audio: The State Archives Oral History Collection contains a number of interviews on cassette tape of individuals from Mandan. They include: Mrs. Nancy Hendrickson, Palma Friestad, Nels Porsberg, Ernest Keidel, Mrs. Julia Massey, Mr. and Mrs. George Heidt, Charles J. Cadoo, Mrs. Anne Bucklin, Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Carlson, Charles Grantier, Mrs. Agnes Schmidt, and Mrs. Agnes Aronson.
Audio-visual: 1959 Band Day Parade Footage (50's Misc. #3), KFYR-TV. Tape 3. Consists of excerpts with Jim Backlin of the 1959 Band Day Parade held in Mandan.
HISTORICAL SKETCH
Several commercial organizations preceded the Mandan Chamber of Commerce. In 1884, a Board of Trade was organized; its first officers were Warren Carpenter, Jr., president; Elijah Boley, vice-president; A. L. Chapman, secretary; and Michael Lang, treasurer. The Board of Trade was replaced by the Business Men's Club, ca. 1906. In turn the Mandan Commercial Club replaced the Business Men's Club, ca. 1910. During this period a Retail Merchants Association also existed in Mandan; dates for the organization are undetermined, although the association is included in the 1912-1913 Mandan City and Morton County Directory. Mandan's present Chamber of Commerce was organized in 1939. It was formed, as stated in its bylaws, "...for the purpose of advancing the commercial, industrial, civic, and general interests of the City of Mandan". The Chamber was to be non-partisan, non-sectional, and non-sectarian in its activities. Over the years the Chamber has organized and/or supported a number of projects and special events designed to fulfill its objective: e.g. the Mandan Diamond Jubilee celebration in 1956; the "Custer Drama" productions, originally known as "Trail West", from 1958 to 1968; annual "Mad Market Days" sidewalk sales; and Junior Achievement activities.
Two auxiliary organizations associated with the Mandan Chamber of Commerce increase its effectiveness in community development. The Mandan Development Corporation was incorporated in 1960. Its mission was to promote the economic development and well-being of Mandan; to encourage the construction, development, and operation of new businesses within Mandan; to aid and assist any new or old businesses within the city to contribute to growth and development; to exercise all powers regularly exercised by corporations for any purpose for which corporations may be organized; and to operate, own, and dispose of any business which might be of benefit to the corporation. The other organization, the Mandan Historical Development Association, was incorporated in 1958. It was organized for the purpose of hiring, leasing, managing, promoting, and conducting indoor and outdoor amusements and tourist attractions; preserving, developing, promoting, protecting, and fostering the development of matters of historical interest in Mandan and vicinity. The Association, for example, sponsored the production of "Trail West"/"The Custer Drama".
Sources:
Fristad, Palma. Historic Mandan and Morton County: Early Days to 1970, Mandan, ND: (s.n.), 1970.
Mandan City and Morton County, N.D. Directory, 1912-1913, St. Paul, MN: Keiter Directory Company, 1912.
Mandan Daily Pioneer, June 29, 1956, p. 12.
Mandan Pioneer, January 12, 1906.
SCOPE AND CONTENT
The Mandan Chamber of Commerce Records date from 1913 to 1981, with the bulk of material dating from the mid 1930's to the mid 1970's, and measure 9 feet. This collection documents administration, meetings, activities, programs, and projects undertaken by the Chamber. The Mandan Chamber of Commerce Records contain three series: minutes, 1958-1980, 1/3 ft.; subject files, 1913-1981, 2 ft.; and scrapbooks, 1937-1977, 6 2/3 ft.
The minutes date from 1958 to 1980 and measure 1/3 ft. Minutes of the Mandan Chamber of Commerce, dating from 1958 to 1980, cover Board of Directors' as well as regular monthly meetings. Documented are the Chamber's efforts to promote tourism in the area, particularly at Fort Abraham Lincoln, and to the state in general; participation in special projects such as the Sweet Briar Dam project in the early 1960s and the printing of area history books; and internal affairs of the Chamber, e.g. dues, bills, election of officers, and annual dinner meetings. Chamber bylaws are included with the minutes. The minutes are arranged chronologically.
Minutes of the Mandan Development Corporation date from 1963 to 1972 and cover Board of Directors' as well as regular meeting. Documented are the corporation's efforts to promote the economic development of Mandan and to aid and assist businesses in Mandan by way of financial assistance; internal affairs such as bills and salaries are also documented. Articles of incorporation, bylaws, and certificates are included with the minutes. The minutes are arranged chronologically.
Minutes of the Mandan Historical Development Association date from 1958 to 1962 and cover Board of Directors' as well as regular meetings. Documented are the Association's efforts to promote and conduct indoor/outdoor amusements as tourist attractions, e.g. "Trail West"/"The Custer Drama", and efforts to preserve, develop, and promote the development of matters of historical interest in Mandan and vicinity. Internal affairs such as paying bills and contracting performers are also documented. Articles of incorporation, bylaws, a dividend record, and some correspondence and clippings are included with the minutes. The minutes are arranged chronologically.
The subject files date from 1913 to 1981 and measure 2 ft. The subject files contain bulletins, clippings, correspondence, financial statements, news releases, pamphlets, programs, surveys, and several oversized maps and posters. Included are files on the Custer Drama, Field Station, Medical
Arts Building, promotions, and tourist information. The subject files are arranged alphabetically by keyword.
The scrapbooks date from 1937 to 1977 and measure 6 2/3 ft. The majority of scrapbooks contain newspaper clippings which document meetings and special events held in Mandan. The scrapbooks also contain information on new businesses opening in the city, speaker engagements, and activities of individuals from Mandan and the surrounding area. Four scrapbooks, two of Mandan's Diamond Jubilee in 1956 and two of "Trail West"/"The Custer Drama", also contain photographs and memorabilia such as buttons and programs. The scrapbooks are arranged alphabetically by keyword with foldered material preceding bound volumes.
BOX / FOLDER INVENTORY
Minutes
Box 1:
1 Chamber of Commerce Minutes 1958-1964
2 Chamber of Commerce Minutes 1965-1980
3 Mandan Development Corporation Minutes 1963-1972
4 Mandan Development Corporation Minutes 1972
5 Mandan Historical Development Minutes 1958-1962
Subject Files
6 Bicentennial Committee 1976
7 Bicentennial Committee 1976
8 Bicentennial Half-Time Show 1976
9 Bismarck Chamber of Commerce 1963-1966
10 Bismarck Junior College 1967-1968
11 Bulletins 1937-1960
12 Chamber of Commerce 1961-1962
13 Clippings 1976
14 Congress 1963-1964
15 Conventions 1961
16 Correspondence 1914-1956
17 Correspondence 1962-1971
18 Custer Drama 1958-1968
19 Custer Drama 1958-1968
20 Custer Drama 1958-1968
21 Custer Drama 1958-1968
22 Custer Drama 1958-1968
23 Custer Drama, Cast 1958-1968
24 Custer Drama, Creditors 1958-1968
25 Custer Drama, Financial and Attendance 1958-1968
26 Custer Statue 1955
Box 2:
1 Dairy Month
2 Diamond Jubilee, North Dakota 1964
3 Displays 1966
4 Dues 1958-1959
5 Dues 1961
6 Dues 1961 002 06
7 Dues 1962
8 Employers Federation of North Dakota 1959
9 Fair Meeting 1963
10 Field Station 1961-1967
11 Financial Statements 1962-1963
12 Fort Lincoln
13 Greater North Dakota Association 1960-1963
14 Highway 94 1961-1963
15 Indian Congress 1963
16 Indian Culture 1964
17 Industries
18 Job Corps 1965
19 Junior Achievement 1965-1968
20 Junior Achievement 1969-1970
21 Junior Achievement 1971
22 Junior Achievement 1972
23 Junior Achievement 1973
24 Junior Achievement, Dan Kopp 1971-1973
25 Labor Market 1961
26 Lewis and Clark Trail Commission 1968
27 Mad Market Day
28 Mandan Businesses 1961 002
29 Mandan Development Corporation 1961-1968
30 Mandan Hospital Audit and Bylaws 1963
31 Mandan Industrial Company Audits 1975-1977
32 Mandan Information 1962
33 M.A.R. Club 1965-1975
34 Meat Inspection 1967
35 Medical Arts Building 1963-1964
36 Medical Arts Building 1963-1964
37 Medical Arts Building 1963-1964
38 Medical Arts Building, Contractors 1963-1964
39 Medical Arts Building, Specifications 1963
Box 3:
1 Memorial Highway Businesses
2 Montana-Dakota Utilities 1958
3 Moonlight Madness
4 Morton County Township Maps 1964
5 News Release
6 Newspaper Editors, North Dakota
7 Northern Pacific Railway 1961
8 Nursing Home 1966-1968
9 Nursing Home 1966-1968
10 Oahe Reservoir 1963-1967
11 Old West Trail Foundation Awards 1979
12 On the Job Training 1966
13 Pacific Northwest Travel Association 1962-1964
14 Parks Association, North Dakota
15 Poultry Processing 1960-1961
16 Practical Politics 1961
17 Promotions 1976
18 Sales and Use Taxes, North Dakota 1965
19 Scenic Sign Company 1961
20 Senior High School 1955-1967
21 Service Stations
22 Sitting Bull Bridge Dedication 1976
23 Small Business Association 1961-1963
24 Solicitation Policy 1955
25 Speakers Bureau 1963-1967
26 S.P.E.B.S.Q.U.A., Barbershop
27 Surveys
28 Teachers, Morton County 1966-1967
29 Telegrams 1961-1964
30 Thank You Letters 1961-1970
31 Tourist Information 1961
32 Travel Association, North Dakota 1961-1964
33 Travel Editors 1961-1965
34 T.V. Program, WDAY 1961
35 Yellowstone Journey 1976
36 Clippings Scrapbook #1 1937
37 Clippings Scrapbook #2 1937
38 Clippings Scrapbook #2 1937-1938
39 Clippings Scrapbook #3 1938
40 Clippings Scrapbook #3 1938-1939
41 Clippings Scrapbook #4 1942-1946
42 Clippings Scrapbook #4 1946-1949
43 Clippings Scrapbook #5 1958-1959
44 Custer Drama Scrapbook 1959-1966
45 Clippings Scrapbook Inserts 1952-1958
46 Clippings Scrapbook Inserts 1958-1959
47 Clippings Scrapbook Inserts 1959-1960
48 Clippings Scrapbook Inserts 1961
49 Clippings Scrapbook Inserts 1962
Box 4:
1 Clippings Scrapbook Inserts 1963
2 Clippings Scrapbook Inserts 1964
3 Clippings Scrapbook Inserts 1965
4 Clippings Scrapbook Inserts 1966
5 Clippings Scrapbook Inserts 1967
6 Clippings Scrapbook Inserts 1968
7 Clippings Scrapbook Inserts 1969
8 Clippings Scrapbook Inserts 1969
9 Clippings Scrapbook Inserts 1970
10 Clippings Scrapbook Inserts 1970
11 Clippings Scrapbook Inserts 1971
12 Clippings Scrapbook Inserts 1971
13 Clippings Scrapbook Inserts 1972
14 Clippings Scrapbook Inserts 1973
15 Clippings Scrapbook Inserts 1974
16 Clippings Scrapbook Inserts 1975
17 Clippings Scrapbook Inserts 1976
18 Clippings Scrapbook Inserts 1977
There is no Box 5
Box 6:
Minutes-1929-1958
Financial Statements. Ledger-ca. 1880's
Correspondence-Chamber
Correspondence-Historic Organization
Correspondence-Custer Drama
Correspondence-Misc.
Box 7:
Publications
Ephemera
Scrapbooks
3 Oversized
Box 8: Photos
1 Police force. b/w 4 negatives 6-15-44
2 Service Honor Roll and neg. 1944
3 Lewis and Clark Hotel, negs. 9-4-45
4 Paving Main Street, black/white negatives 7-17-48
5 Main Street negatives 9-1-48
6 Color Slides, MMM days, 69 slides ca. 1957
7 Framed Studio, 8x10, b/w, misc. 1950's
8 opening of Mandan Hospital 9-1963
9 Mandan Industrial Park Ground Breaking
10 Early Mandan
11 Early Mandan
12 Dakota Beer plant b/w/neg.
13 Mandan refinery. Color neg.
14 Trail West
15 Mandan Misc.
16 Custer Drama
17 Mandan floods ca. 1913-1950
18 Poultry 1960
19 Mad Market days color photos 1961
20 Junior Achievement 1965-1968
21 Dental Examiners Board 1963-1968
22 Mandan churches color photos 1974
23 color photos April 25,
24 group photos
25 Burt Pelty
26 Mandan, Heart Butte Dam
27 Mandan High School class reunion. Class of '38, '39, '40 1939-1940
28 Rodeo
29 Luncheon
30 Mandan City
31 Mandan Chamber of Commerce members-portraits
32 Nancy Hendrickson photos
33 Little Owl
34 Custer Drama
35 Mandan 1881
37 flood, misc. Mandan March 15
38 Mandan flood 1945
39 flood 1947
40 flood 1947
41 flood 1949
42 flood 1951
43 flood/ice jam 1952
44 Mandan flood/ice jam 1965
45 flood and ice jam
46 flood and Heart Butte Dam construction
47 flood
48 flood
49 flood
50 flood
51 flood
52 flood
53 flood, aerial photos of Missouri river and Heart River, Misc.
Box 9:
1 group photo, ca. 1910-1915
2 Rodeo and Misc. 1910
3 football and basketball, Mandan teams 1940
4 train 1945
5 Mandan High School band in parade in Minneapolis 1953
6 flood, Mandan, rodeo, misc.
7 rural Mandan
8 Mandan misc.
9 Mandan Beverage Co.
10 Misc. Mandan
11 Rural, group photos, Duke and Duchess of Halifax
12 Roosevelt statue, Mandan-negatives
13 Misc. photos for publicity pamphlet
14 misc.
15 rodeo
16 horses and people doing tricks with horses, coal mine
17 rodeo
18 rodeo
19 Northern Pacific office-Mandan
20 scrapbook material photos, Custer drama
Box 10:
1 Custer drama
2 slides-Mandan pool
OVERSIZE
City Maps and Miscellaneous 1913-1981
Diamond Jubilee Scrapbooks 1956
Scrapbooks
1 Clippings Scrapbook 1939-1942
2 Clippings Scrapbook 1952-1958
3 Clippings Scrapbook 1958-1959
4 Clippings Scrapbook 1959-1960
5 Clippings Scrapbook 1961
6 Clippings Scrapbook 1962
7 Clippings Scrapbook 1963
8 Clippings Scrapbook 1964
9 Clippings Scrapbook 1965
10 Clippings Scrapbook 1966
11 Clippings Scrapbook 1967
12 Clippings Scrapbook 1968
13 Clippings Scrapbook 1969
14 Clippings Scrapbook 1970
15 Clippings Scrapbook 1971
16 Clippings Scrapbook 1972
17 Clippings Scrapbook 1973
18 Clippings Scrapbook 1974
19 Clippings Scrapbook 1975
20 Clippings Scrapbook 1976
21 Clippings Scrapbook 1977
22 Trail West Scrapbook 1958-1959
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