MS-6
PIQUA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE COLLECTION
INTRODUCTION
The papers and records of the Piqua Chamber of Commerce were accessioned into the Flesh Public Library Archives and Special Collections in February 1986, with some small additions later that same year. They were donated by the Chamber of Commerce. The collection consists of 10 Hollinger boxes. The papers cover the years of 1945 through 1982, with some years missing. There are also some photographs taken in 1939.
SCOPE AND CONTENT
The Piqua Chamber of Commerce Collection is divided into seven series: Photographs, Organizational Materials, Reports on Piqua, Ohio, Reports on the Upper Miami Valley, Newspaper Clippings, the High School Bond Issue, and the Piqua Heritage Festival.
SERIES I: Photographs, contains several hundred photographs dating from 1939 to circa 1970s. Many are unidentified, but relate to Piqua activities.
SERIES II: Organizational Materials, is a collection of Members Lists, Minutes, Agendas of meetings, Financial Reports and other papers relating to the organization itself. The papers date from 1945 to 1967 with some years not complete.
SERIES III: Reports on Piqua, Ohio, contains papers and reports concerning among other areas: hospital, downtown area, power plant, zoning, water and waste, railroad, traffic control, etc.
SERIES IV: Reports on the Upper Miami Valley, contains papers, reports and booklets concerning the Miami Valley. The papers date from 1960 to 1981 and cover a wide range of topics.
SERIES V: Newspaper Clippings is a collection of papers covering material from 1967 to 1971. Each file is indexed.
SERIES VI: High School Bond Issue, contains all papers relating to the building of the new Piqua High School in circa 1982. These include the evaluations of the central schools system and in particular, the Piqua Central High School.
SERIES VII: Piqua Heritage Festival, is a collection of all papers relating to the first year of the Piqua Heritage Festival in 1981-1982.
HISTORY
The forerunner of the Piqua Area Chamber of Commerce was the Piqua Board of Trade, which was organized in 1876. The Piqua Board of Trade was located over the present location of the Second Story Frame Shop on Main Street.
The Board of Trade was a very active organization. It secured for the city the Favorite Stove Works, the Cincinnati Corrugating Company, and the Piqua Rolling Mills. In addition, it was responsible for securing aid for road and bridge improvements.
In the early 1890’s, the Piqua Board of Trade reorganized into the Piqua Business Men’s Association, and in January, 1914, the organization became the Piqua Chamber of Commerce. At that time the Piqua Chamber of Commerce was located on the second floor of the Boal Building on North Wayne Street.
In 1920 the Chamber established a Traffic Department to encourage business transportation. In 1921 the Traffic Department reorganized into the Piqua Shippers Association and replaced the Chamber of Commerce. In 1930 the Piqua Civic Association was formed to promote and encourage new business in Piqua. The Civic Association disbanded in 1944, and a new Chamber of Commerce was established.
In 1965 the Chamber held its first Top 100 Scholastic Awards Banquet. In 1968 the “Order of George” Award was instituted naming Robert Hance as its first recipient. In 1972 the Chamber moved its offices to 400 N. Wayne Street. In 1995 the Piqua Civic Hall of Fame was organized. The Chamber moved its offices to 326 North Main Street in 1997.
CONTAINER LISTING
SERIES I: PHOTOGRAPHS
BOX 1
File
1 School Related Photographs
2 School Activities
3 Piqua City Schools
4 School Board
5 Piqua Basketball Tournament (1969-1970)
6 Miscellaneous
7 Historic Buildings (January 1939)
8 Christmas Parade (1956)
9 Old Fashioned Days Parade (October 1956)
10 Miss Miamiland Pageant (1961)
Loose Folder 1 Piqua Nuclear Reactor (1962-1963)
SERIES II: ORGANIZATIONAL MATERIALS
BOX 2
File
1 Constitution and By-Laws – Amended, 1945, 48, 49, 54
2 Members terms of Office – 1953-1967
3 Board Minutes – June 6, 1945-November 13, 1945; 1946; 1947
4 Board Minutes – 1948
5 Board Minutes – 1949
6 Board Minutes – 1950
7 Board Minutes – 1951
8 Board Minutes – 1952
9 Board Minutes – 1953
10 Board Minutes – 1954
11 Board Minutes – 1955
12 Board Minutes – 1956
13 Board Minutes – 1957
14 Board Minutes – 1958
15 Board Minutes – 1959
Board Minutes – 1960-1962 are not part of the collection
16 Board Minutes – 1963
17 Board Minutes – 1964
18 Correspondence, Programs, Agendas – June 8, 1945-December 11, 1945
19 Programs and Agendas – 1946
20 Programs and Agendas – 1947
21 Programs and Agendas – 1948
22 Agendas – 1949
23 Agendas – 1950
24 Agendas – 1951
25 Programs and Agendas – 1952
26 Agendas – 1953
27 Agendas – 1954
28 Agendas – 1955
29 Agendas – 1956
30 Agendas – 1957
31 Agendas – 1958
32 Agendas – 1959
Agendas 1960-1962 are not part of the collection
33 Agendas – 1963
34 Agendas – 1964
35 Bulletins – June 1945-December 1945
36 Miscellaneous – 1945-1946
37 Community Chest – November 1945-February 1946
38 Government Affairs – December 1945-February 1946
39 Economic Base of the Community – c. 1940
40 Women’s Division – 1952
BOX 3
File
1 City of Piqua Financial Reports – 1954-1959
2 Financial Statements – June 1945-November 1945, 1946, 1947
3 Financial Statements – 1948
4 Financial Statements – 1949
5 Financial Statements – 1950
6 Financial Statements – 1951
7 Financial Statements – 1952
8 Financial Statements – 1953
9 Financial Statements – 1954
10 Financial Statements – 1955
11 Financial Statements – 1956
12 Financial Statements – 1957
13 Financial Statements – 1958
14 Financial Statements – 1959
Financial Statements – 1960-1962 are not part of the collection
15 Financial Statements – 1963
16 Financial Statements – 1964
17 Bulletins – 1946
18 Bulletins – 1947
19 Bulletins – 1948
20 Appointments – 1979
21 Bulletins – January 1961-October 1964
SERIES III: REPORTS ON PIQUA, OHIO
BOX 4
File
1 Piqua Booklet – 1972
2 City Beautification – 1968
3 City Beautification – 1969
4 City Beautification – 1970
5 Piqua Memorial Hospital Modernization Project – July 1981
6 Executive Study, Piqua Memorial Hospital – 1982
7 Downtown Development – 1967
8 Community Data Report – D. P. & L. – 1964
BOX 5
File
1 Zoning Regulations – 1971
2 Zoning Resolution – September 1980
3 Ohio Zoning Code, City of Piqua – June 8, 1982
4 Proposed Utility Board – July 1980
5 Power Plant Heating and Cooling Report – June 1979
6 Economic Study, Piqua Municipal Electric System – January 1979
7 Wastewater, Sewer Regulations and Charges – 1979
8 Power Plant Advisory Committee Handbook
9 Community Profile – 1968
10 Comprehensive Plan – 1970
BOX 6
File
1 Position Classifications for City of Piqua – January 1963
2 Map, Water Distribution System –
3 Appraisal, Armco Steel – 1965
4 Research Report Abandonment of Rail Road Service – July 1975
5 B&O Railroad – Sidetrack Proposal – 1967
6 Traffic Control – 1955
7 Traffic Control – 1955
8 Traffic Control – 1973
9 Traffic Control – 1973
SERIES IV: UPPER MIAMI VALLEY REPORTS
BOX 6
File
10 Lockington Lodge Financial Study – April 1978
11 Small Business Administration Certified Development Company Program – January 1981
12 Community College – February 1971
13 Edison State report – 1977
BOX 7
File
1 Ohio Populations Growth and Distribution – 1810-1970 – Map 1960
2 Population Study – 1966
3 Open Space Report – Miami Valley – November 1967
4 Open Space Map – November 1967
5 Public Finances – June 1968
6 Resources Directory – 1967-1970
7 Industry in Miami Valley – 1970
8 Public Finances – 1971
9 Miami Valley Housing Plan – 1973
BOX 8
File
1 Southwest Ohio Water development Plan – 1969
2 Regional Planning in the Miami Valley – 1961
3 Open Space report – 1972
4 Housing Profile – Miami Valley – 1969
5 Housing Profile – Miami Valley – 1972
6 Air Quality Report – 1981
7 Sanitary Sewer Map
8 Cleveland Radio Editorial – 1962 – Tax Levy
9 Community College – 1970
SERIES V: NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS
BOX 8
File
10 Newspaper Clippings – 1967
11 Newspaper Clippings – 1968
12 Newspaper Clippings – 1969
13 Newspaper Clippings – 1970 & one from 1971
SERIES VI: PIQUA HIGH SCHOOL BOND ISSUE
BOX 9
File
1 High School Bond Issue
2 Facility Evaluation Study, Piqua Central High School – January 1976
3 Attitude analysis for the New High School Bond Issue – June 1978
4 Ohio State Report: Educational Needs for City of Piqua – October 1969
5 North Central Evaluation of Piqua Central High School – March 1975
6 Annual School Report – 1978
SERIES VII: PIQUA HERITAGE FESTIVAL
File
7 Piqua Heritage Festival – 1981-1982