Springfield Association of Commerce and Industry Collection
Title
Springfield Association of Commerce and Industry Collection
Subject
Business education
Factories
Illinois--Springfield
Professional development
Parades
Illinois State Fair
Picnics
Shopping
Description
In 1953, Illinois businessmen established the Springfield Association of Commerce and Industry (ACI) to promote the economic, civil, and social welfare of the Springfield, Illinois area. The ACI grew out of the merger of the Springfield Chamber of Commerce, Springfield Manufacturers and Employers Association, and the Springfield Industrial Development Commission. During the 1950s, the association mainly focused on improving the city sewer system, completed plans for the creation of three industrial parks, and worked for a comprehensive zoning plan. However, with the growth of the Springfield area in the 1960s, the local economy became a concern of the entire Springfield metropolitan area, not just the city of Springfield, so the ACI changed its name to the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce in December 1970. The new Chamber of Commerce continued the ACI’s efforts to promote and improve the Springfield community in the 1970s, focusing primarily on developing the city’s convention and tourism trade.
The collection includes photographs relating to Springfield’s first Business-Education (B-E) Day on October 10, 1952, which was sponsored by the Springfield Association of Commerce and Industry. One-hundred public and parochial teachers from city and county schools participated in the program, visiting local industries, such as Springfield Works. This collection also has photographs from Springfield’s 1957 “Capitennial” celebration and other events sponsored by the ACI, ranging from the 1920s to the 1960s.
The collection also includes images of Dollar Day in downtown Springfield, the annual Plae Dae picnic, Springfield Day festivities at the Illinois State Fair, and Springfield's Capitennial celebration.
The collection includes photographs relating to Springfield’s first Business-Education (B-E) Day on October 10, 1952, which was sponsored by the Springfield Association of Commerce and Industry. One-hundred public and parochial teachers from city and county schools participated in the program, visiting local industries, such as Springfield Works. This collection also has photographs from Springfield’s 1957 “Capitennial” celebration and other events sponsored by the ACI, ranging from the 1920s to the 1960s.
The collection also includes images of Dollar Day in downtown Springfield, the annual Plae Dae picnic, Springfield Day festivities at the Illinois State Fair, and Springfield's Capitennial celebration.
Collection Items
Teachers in a Factory
Springfield Works guide (left) explains the machining operations that are necessary before BD motor grader rear axle housings can be installed during the first Business-Education Day in Springfield.
Teachers Watch Tractor Assembly
Industrial arts teachers observe an operator who is making the initial adjustment of bolting shoes to a sidebar rail during the assembly of tracks for crawler tractors during their visit at the Springfield Works as part of the first…
Teachers Observe Payroll Operations
A group of teachers observe the key punch operation in the payroll department at the Springfield Works Plant #1 during the first Business-Education Day.Photo caption: "A group of teachers is shown observing the key punch operation in the payroll…
Nuns Observe Tabulating Machine
Springfield Works guide (right) explains how a tabulating machine transcribes key punch cuttings to a group of teachers who visited the Springfield Works during the first Business-Education Day.Photo caption: "Springfield Works guide on right…
Teachers View Factory Work
A group of educators observe a turret lathe operation during a visit to the Allis-Chalmers Springfield Works (later known as Fiatallis) for the first Business-Education Day. The Allis-Chalmers Springfield Works built tractors and heavy construction…
Business-Education Day Luncheon
Individuals attend a luncheon hosted by International Shoe Company as part of the first Business-Education Day in Springfield.
Business-Education Day
Educators exit a company building during the first Business-Education Day in Springfield.
Business-Education Day
Educators watch a bottling machine at the Coca-Cola Bottling Company during the first Business-Education Day in Springfield.
Business-Education Day
Educators stand outside of busses during Business-Education Day in Springfield.
Land of Lincoln Capitennial
A large crowd participates in "Capitennial" festivities which celebrated the 125th anniversary of Springfield's founding and 120 years as the Illinois State Capitol.
Land of Lincoln Capitennial
Several individuals ride in a convertible during Capitennial festivities in Springfield.
Military Band
A military marching band performs as part of a parade during the Capitennial festivities in Springfield.
Speech at Lincoln's Tomb
A man makes a speech from atop Lincoln's Tomb during Capitennial festivities. Spectators stand on the flag-adorned stairs and balconies on either side of the speaker.
Land of Lincoln Capitennial
Two young women sit on a patriotic float decorated with the American flag and the Statue of Liberty as part of the nighttime parade celebrating Springfield's Capitennial.
Marching Band
Majorettes lead a marching band as part of the nighttime parade celebrating Springfield's Capitennial.
Parade Float
Three women sit on a parade float sponsored by the Springfield Civic Clubs in the parade celebrating Springfield's Capitennial.
Women in Carriage
A man escorts three ladies in a horse and buggy as would have been done in early Springfield as part of the Capitennial celebration.
Land of Lincoln Capitennial Carnival
An aerial view of the carnival set up around the Old State Capitol during Springfield's Capitennial celebration.
Balloon Release
Several children release balloons at the Old State Capitol building during the Springfield Capitennial festivities.
Acrobats
Acrobats perform in front of the Old State Capitol during the Springfield Capitennial festivities.
Springfield Day Parade
Governor and Mrs. William G. Stratton pass by the Firestone service station on Sixth Street while participating in a motor caravan to the State Fair Grounds during Springfield Day at the State Fair.
Miss Springfield Day Winners
Mayor Nelson Howarth (left) stands with the newly crowned "Miss Springfield Day" Susan Boucher, as well as runner-ups Myrna Canaday (far right) and Marilyn Vose (2nd from left). Governor William G. Stratton presented the cup to the winning…
Springfield Day Caravan
Several men ride in a convertible as part of the motor caravan down Sixth Street to the State Fair Grounds during Springfield Day at the Illinois State Fair.
Springfield Rural Urban Clinic Dental Department
Dr. Francis Wenzel stands in front of the Springfield Rural Urban Clinic Dental Department, located at 1030 S. 6th Street, with a group of Springfield teachers including Sister Ernestine Cronin (next to Wenzel), Sister Marylin Brennan (SHA '50), as…
Ordnance Plant Problems
Henry H. Bolz, Charles J. Keller, F. R. Henrekin, and Robert B. Irwin study a map during a meeting to discuss ordnance plant problems.
Collection Tree
- Illinois Photographic Collection
- Springfield Association of Commerce and Industry Collection