Bozeman merchants originally organized a Chamber of Commerce in 1910 but due to lack of financial support it was disbanded in favor of the Young Men's Business League in 1911 . In 1912 when the U.S. Chamber of Commerce was created with established guidelines and organizational suggestions, Bozeman again started a Chamber of Commerce using the name Gallatin Valley Commercial Club. In 1917, the name Bozeman Chamber of Commerce was adopted. It consisted of merchants and community members interested in promoting Bozeman and the surrounding area. Finally, the present title of Bozeman Area Chamber of Commerce was adopted. The Chamber was organized with a Board of Directors that included a President and three Vice Presidents of divisions in three areas: Commercial (later called Economic Affairs), Civic (later called Community Affairs), and Administration. Each division had several committees chaired by volunteer members with interests in those areas. Over the years committees were dropped, added or renamed but always were concerned with agriculture, transportation, military, university/city relations, civic and legislative affairs, tourism and visitors promotion, business and industrial support and advocating for commercial and economic development and a strong membership. In later years the environment, recreation, and planning for the growth of the town and county became more important. Recruitment of members and their financial support was always difficult with some years more successful than others. In 1975 a past presidents committee named the Green Coats was created as a group to greet visitors at functions of the Chamber and the city. Finally temporary committees addressing special functions or programs such as BACCII (trade show), Wally Byam Caravan Club ( motor home conventions), CNRF (College National Rodeo Finals), Balloon Quest, Air Shows, plus National, State and local centennial celebrations were created as needed. The organization always had a paid secretary/manager/executive VP. As it grew and became more sophisticated, more paid employees were added as well as more outside financial services and computer networking and service supports. The location of the Chamber of Commerce office also changed many times. In the beginning, as an almost entirely volunteer organization it leased office space. As it grew and rents increased, it purchased the locations of its offices. At one downtown location, the Chamber office was gutted by a fire in 1922, and few records earlier than that date survived.
From the guide to the Bozeman Area Chamber of Commerce Records, 1911-1997, (Montana State University-Bozeman Library, Merrill G Burlingame Special Collections)
