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History of the Junior Chamber
Reprinted from the JCI and US Junior Chamber Web sites
 The
origin of Junior Chamber can be traced as far back as 1910 to the city of St.
Louis, Missouri, in the United States of America. A young man named Henry "Hy"
Giessenbier and his friends formed the Herculaneum Dance Club with the main
objective being the preservation of conservative dance styles.
Five years later, in 1915, Colonel H.N. Morgan, a prominent St. Louis citizen,
inspired the members of the dance club to become more involved in civic issues.
Giessenbier and 32 other young men formed the Young Men's Progressive Civic
Association (YMPCA) on October 13, 1915. This organization grew to a membership
of 750 in less than five months.
Giessenbier visualized an organization that would allow young men to develop
their business skills and reputations in the community. In his era, most young
men were out of school and working by the age of 15. Their first jobs were most
likely the jobs they held throughout their lives. With luck and hard work, some
might reach executive positions by their forties. Giessenbier felt that young
men were not receiving the opportunities necessary to develop their skills at a
younger age, thus depriving our nation of an important resource. Providing those
opportunities formed the founding ideals of the U.S. Junior Chamber.
THE BIRTH OF JUNIOR CHAMBER
The very next year, 1916, saw another change of name as the YMPCA became Junior
Citizens, commonly called JCs, which later became Jaycees. The year 1918 marked another
change as the JCs were affiliated with the St. Louis Chamber of Commerce and officially
became the St. Louis Junior Chamber of Commerce.
After WWI, Giessenbier contacted other cities in the United States with similar young
businessmen's groups, and, subsequently, 29 clubs from around the nation formed the
United States Junior Chamber of Commerce. Henry Giessenbier was elected the first
President of the national organization. The Nebraska Junior Chamber of Commerce was
founded December 26, 1927.
CROSSING THE ATLANTIC
The international chapter of the organization began in 1923 with the Winnipeg Board of
Trade's becoming the first Junior Chamber outside the United States. By 1928 the idea of
an international body crossed the Atlantic Ocean to England.
In 1940 a resolution was passed by the United States Junior Chamber approving a program
to further mutual interests among countries in Central and South America. This lead to the
establishment of Junior Chambers in Mexico City, Guatemala City, El Salvador, Honduras,
Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama City in 1943.
The realization of Junior Chamber International had begun. In 1944 the first international
conference was held in Mexico City. Raul Garcia Vidal of Mexico was elected the first
President. The countries which formed Junior Chamber International were: Costa Rica, El
Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama and the United States of
America.
 THE FIRST WORLD CONGRESS
Two years later, in February of 1946, the first World Congress was held in Panama City.
This congress was attended by 44 delegates from 16 different countries. The international
organization was formally constituted, a temporary constitution was approved, and the
word "Commerce" was omitted from the official name.
Erasmo Chambonnet of Panama was elected the second JCI President at that Congress,
and Australia and Canada were officially affiliated.
In 1948 the JCI Creed was officially adopted at the IV JCI World Congress in Rio de Janeiro,
and in 1952 a permanent Secretariat was established. In 1972 the name was changed to
Jaycees International; however, in 1988 the name was changed back to Junior Chamber
International.
MILESTONES
Every year, new and exiting advancements and decisions are made in this organization. As
it is impossible to list them all, the following are the events that are truly regarded as
landmarks in the history of this worldwide organization.
1910s
1910 - The organization began in Saint Louis, Missouri, U.S.A. The founder, Henry
Giessenbier, had formed the Herculaneum dance Club with the purpose of bringing about
the social elevation of its members.
1915 - The first step toward the creation of the Junior Chamber movement was taken in
1915 when 32 young men met at the Mission Inn on October 13, 1915, to form the Young
Mens' Progressive Civic Association with Giessenbier as president.
1916 - In August 1916 the organization's name was changed to Junior Citizens and it was
at this time that the initials "JC" were first used. This group became affiliated with the
Saint Louis Chamber of Commerce and in 1918 the name Junior Chamber was adopted.
1920s
1920 - On January 21 through the 22nd, 1920, The United States Junior Chamber of
Commerce (USJCC) was formed in St. Louis, Missouri, with 3,000 members. Twenty-nine
clubs around the nation were in attendance. Henry Giessenbier was elected as the first
national president.
1923 - Get Out The Vote was the first Jaycee program to receive national endorsement.
1925 - Beginning of national projects Know America First and Fire Prevention. Birth of
Expansion, the first USJCC national magazine.
1926 - Development of aviation adopted as national project.
1927 - Jaycee Charles A. Lindbergh made the first solo flight between New York and Paris.
Jaycees worked with Lindbergh to develop the U.S. Air Mail Service. The Nebraska Junior
Chamber of Commerce was founded December 26, 1927.
1930s
1931 - Distinguished Service Awards program established at the chapter level.
1932 - Many actions were taken to form a Junior Chamber International including the
creation of the International Executive Council of Junior Chamber of Commerce formed at
the Olympic Games in 1932.
1935 - Death of founder Henry Giessenbier.
1936 - National Wildlife Federation established with guidance of USJCC.
1937 - Programs begun at state and national level to inform public of need for diagnosis
and treatment of venereal disease.
1938 - Future Magazine established. USJCC name Ten Outstanding Young Men for the first
time.
1939 - Safety with Light campaign gained national attention as thousands of street lights
were donated to communities by Jaycees.
1940s
1940 - USJCC endorsed the principle of a military draft.
1944 - JCI was born in Mexico City on December 7-11, 1944. Witnesses to the birth of the
organization were 30 delegates from North and Central America. Raul Garcia Vidal, from
Mexico, was elected the first JCI President.
1946 - USJCC established permanent headquarters in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In February 1946
the first JCI World Congress was held in Panama City. Junior Golf program begun. Jaycee
Creed written by C. William Brownfield.
1947 - Official approval of Jaycee as synonym of organization. Adoption of Jaycee Creed.
1950s
1951 - War Memorial Headquarters in Tulsa dedicated. At urging of Andy Mungenast, the
reference to "Faith in God" was added to the Jaycee Creed.
1953 - Jaycees sponsored stops on Professional Golfers' Association tour for first time at
Greensboro, North Carolina, and Hartford, Connecticut.
1954 - First Outstanding Young Farmer and Junior Tennis programs held.
1959 - Jaycees supported statehood for Alaska. Hawaii gained statehood the following year
due to Jaycee efforts.
1960s
1961 - First Governmental Affairs Leadership Seminar (GALS) conducted.
1962 - Jaycees urge adoption of Uniform Vehicle Code, with emphasis on state action
resulting in adoption nationally.
1963 - Clean Water Program launched to improve water quality in communities across
America. Shooting Education adopted as a national program.
1964 - Project Concern adopted as International Relations activity. Program raised money
and equipment for clinics providing medical care to Chinese refugees in Hong Kong.
1965 - Jaycees presented first annual National Award of Distinction from National Clean
Up-Paint Up-Fix Up Bureau.
1966 - Name of organization officially changed to U.S. Jaycees.
1970s
1970 - Do Something campaign sparked national interest in volunteerism. Jaycees'
cooperation with other service organizations resulted in the founding of the National Center
for Voluntary Action.
1971 - More than 3,000,000 volunteer hours were provided by Jaycees to help administer
seven million doses of rubella measles vaccine.
1972 - Jaycees undertook model Operation Identification program to combat burglaries and
aid crime prevention efforts. Five million stickers were distributed nationally through
Operation Red Ball to reduce fire fatalities. Bylaw change admitted 18-year-olds as regular
members.
1973 - The United States Jaycees' Center for Improved Child Nutrition opened in
Bloomington, Minnesota.
1977 - Operation Threshold, a program dedicated to reducing alcohol abuse, reached more
than 23 million Americans. Muscular Dystrophy Fund Raising adopted as national program.
1980s
1980 - Daisy/U.S. Jaycees Shooting Education program honored with National Safety
Council Award for Youth Activities.
1982 - Healthy American Fitness Leaders adopted as national program.
1984 - Bylaw change admitted women as full and regular members. Sign Up America
campaign collected 1.5 million signatures supporting America's Olympic athletes.
1985 - The U.S. Jaycees endorsed Campaign for Liberty to encourage public support for
restoration of Statue of Liberty. St. Jude Fundraising adopted as national program.
1986 - First woman honored by Congress of Ten Outstanding Young Americans.
1987 - Bylaw change established membership age as 21 through 39. Name of U.S. Jaycees'
official publication changed to Jaycees Magazine.
1990s
1990 - Name of organization officially changed back to The U.S. Junior Chamber of
Commerce.
1992 - National Wake Up America program urged communities to get involved in politics by
coordinating voter registration campaigns, hosting debates, and embracing pertinent
community issues. Jaycees responded to devastating hurricanes in the southeast with
national support.
1993 - GreenWorks! environmental education and community action program adopted by
USJCC. Jaycees Against Youth Smoking (JAYS) adopted as national program. Junior
Chamber members were instrumental in bringing relief to the flood-stricken Midwest.
1994 - Junior Chamber Mission Inn Foundation created to build a nationwide network of
care facilities for children and adolescents affected by HIV/AIDS.
1995 - The Jaycee Alliance was formed as a non-partisan, educational, grassroots
governmental advocacy organization to give young Americans a voice in government. The
Jaycee KidCare I.D. Program was organized to provide identification to aid in the recovery
of missing children.
1996 - The Jaycees Wake Up America Tour bus began a journey through the 48 contiguous
states promoting programs and membership. Social Security Reform Town Hall Meetings
program initiated.
1997 - Junior Chamber Center for Entrepreneurship and Career Advancement begun
— a program designed to train young entrepreneurs and improve local economies.
1998 - Junior Chamber Center for Entrepreneurship and Career Advancement name changed
to Junior Chamber Center for Business Advancement. Two new programs, National Business
Network and Virtual Networking, added to encourage Junior Chamber members to business
network via the Internet both nationally and internationally.
1999 - JAYS program reintroduced as an educational program that informs children about
the dangers of smoking. Value Investing and Career Advancement added to the Junior
Chamber Center for Business Advancement.
2000s
2000 - First female elected National President. Junior Chamber Center for Business
Advancement develops Web-based video seminar training.
2002 - Jaycees' Citizen Corps Program launched. Over 700 Chapters pledge 10 hours of
community service for homeland security. United States Junior Chamber National Service
Center Relocates to the War Memorial Fund's new U.S. Junior Chamber Headquarters.
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