Duluth Jaycees records

The United States Junior Chamber (Jaycees) gives young people aged 21 to 39 opportunities in business development, management skills, individual training, community service, and international connections.

The idea of the Junior Chamber of Commerce was brought up by Henry Giessemberl, Jr. in about 1915. Established in 1920 to provide opportunities for young men to develop personal and leadership skills through service to others, the Jaycees later expanded to include women, reflecting the growing influence and leadership of women in America. Jaycees helped establish Air Mail services in America with Jaycee Charles Lindbergh, and have raised millions of dollars for causes such as the Muscular Dystrophy Association and the March of Dimes. They have built parks, playgrounds, hospitals, ball fields, and housing for the elderly while conducting service and support programs in thousands of communities nationwide.

The Duluth Jaycees is an action group. Young men were brought together within the community to work on many different activities and hobbies. The purpose of the corporation was to advance the commercial mercantile manufacturing, social and economic interests of the City of Duluth and territory tributary to inculcate just and equitable principles of trade, to acquire, possess and disseminate useful business information, to cooperate with the Duluth Chamber of Commerce and to promote the general prosperity of the City of Duluth. This corporation is not for profit, and no part of the net earnings of the corporation benefit private members or individuals.

During WWII the Jaycees faced a test of whether or not they would be able to stand the loss of members to the military. Many organizations were lost, and the number dropped down to about half of what it was before war. The Junior Chamber of Commerce participated in War Bond Drives, scrap salvage, started service for Men Centers, and hundreds of similar projects. Throughout the United States the Jaycees started programs of safety, fire prevention, youth welfare, agriculture, aviation, sports, and others. During 1946-1947 there were more than 350 new organizations created, and approximately 25,000 people joined the corporation. The members were only interested in making each community a better place to live and train the young for better accomplishments in the future.