Montana Chamber of Commerce

Montana business promotional organization.

The Montana Chamber of Commerce was established in 1931 as Montanans, Inc. The organization's name was changed to Montana Chamber of Commerce in 1946. The Chamber promotes tourism, foreign trade, and agricultural and industrial development, and lobbies the state legislature and the U.S. Congress.

From the description of Montana Chamber of Commerce records, 1931-1967 bulk 1943-1967. (Montana Historical Society Library). WorldCat record id: 42926981

Montana business promotional organization.

The Montana Chamber of Commerce was established as Montanans, Inc. in 1931. The organization's name was changed to Montana Chamber of Commerce in 1946. The Chamber promotes tourism, foreign trade, and agricultural and industrial development, and lobbies the state and federal legislatures.

From the description of Montana Chamber of Commerce records, 1931-1967. (Montana Historical Society Library). WorldCat record id: 154689148

The Montana Chamber of Commerce, a private non-profit membership organization that advocates for the state's business and professional interests, was established as Montanans, Inc. on January 30, 1931, in Helena. The organization adopted its present name in July 1946. The Chamber's committees and staff promote tourism, foreign trade (especially with Canada), agricultural and industrial development, and lobby the state and federal legislatures for measures favorable to its constituency, such as lower property taxes and a sales tax.

Staff members included Gerald J. Skibbins who held the position of manager of the Montana Chamber of Commerce in the 1950s. Patrick E. Lee, a former Carroll College instructor, was the Chamber's publicity director from 1957 until 1959. William H. Browning began serving as executive vice president of the Montana Chamber of Commerce in 1956. He joined the Chamber staff as director of travel and publicity, and was promoted to manager in 1951. Browning also served concurrently as the first secretary of the Montana Citizens Freight Rate Association from 1951 to 1952. He was named national director of the Outdoor Writers Association of America and promoted Missoula as the location for that organization's national convention in 1953.

From the guide to the Montana Chamber of Commerce records>, 1931-1967, (Montana Historical Society Research Center)