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Collection M 016:
Durango Chamber of Commerce records inventory

(this prints out as approx. 21 pages)

Links to contents
Preface
Introduction/ 
Scope and contents
Historical note

Info for doing research
at the Center of Southwest Studies

Administrative information

Series descriptions
Container list
Center of Southwest Studies collection inventories
Center of Southwest Studies

Introduction/ Scope and contents

Durango Chamber of Commerce records
1892-2007 (bulk y
ears -1989)
Quantity: 11 linear shelf feet (approximately 8,000 items, in 20.5 document cases and 2 flat boxes)

This collection contains the historically significant records retained from the Durango Chamber of Commerce (circa 1930-current) and its predecessors, the Durango Board of Trade (circa 1892-1910) and the Durango Exchange (circa 1914-1930).

The collection contains legal, administrative, evidential and informational records. The subject files are the predominant series. Material types include minutes, photocopied newspaper clippings, correspondence, financial statements, and printed publicity materials. Topics covered encompass many of the areas of life and issues in Durango for the year span of the collection.

These records will be useful to researchers studying the business, economic, and social history of Durango and the Animas/San Juan Basin.  In particular, they will be found to contain information on the key players: influential businessmen and major businesses.  The tourist resorts (Purgatory, Tamarron, Vallecito) are documented (along with the popular events like Snowdown), as are the industrial developments of Durango (Bodo Industrial Park, and on a broader plane the issue of industrial development in this remote corner in the Four Corners region. In addition to its documentation of tourism, the collection is useful for its primary source materials documenting the reasons why persons --workers as well as tourists -- and businesses came to Durango or considered doing so.  These records are especially valuable due to the long span of their coverage: most of the years since Durango was founded in the late 19th century.  Nevertheless, it will be found that there are many gaps in this collection's documentation of the Chamber's activities over time.  We hope that the future donation of additional records -- including those of the Chamber's successor, DACRA (Durango Area Chamber Resort Association), and those of Tamarron and the Durango-Purgatory Resort, will one day broaden and deepen the scope of our documentation in this area.

Note: no index was considered necessary for this inventory.  Records filed topically will be found in Series 6, Subject Files, described in the container listing for boxes12 through 20.

Access terms:
Business records--Colorado--Durango
Durango Exchange
Durango Civic Club
Durango Chamber of Commerce
Businessmen--Colorado--Durango
Business enterprises--Colorado--Durango
Business records--Colorado--Durango
Durango (Colo.)--Commerce


Historical note

The Durango Board of Trade, "though active in the 1880s, died and was resurrected in 1892."   Its goal in 1892 was "to advertise the city and promote its interests by disseminating information related to commercial, financial, and industrial affairs." Richard McCloud, a lawyer and former registrar of the U.S. Land Office, was its secretary (a term that included daily leadership of the organization) and as such was its spokesman.  He wrote the Durango As It Is pamphlet that first year (1892), to promote the city and the region. Other influential Durango businessmen dominated the Board.  Its members were "promotive, aggressive, and confident," even seeing to it that Durango had an exhibit on coal and coke at the Chicago World’s Fair.  As Duane Smith noted in his history of Durango, "A prime objective of these men was to carve out an economic empire, increasingly referred to as the San Juan Basin."  He added, "As conceived by Durangoans, the San Juan Basin stretched from Pagosa Springs on the east to Cortez on the west.  North to south, it ran from Silverton to the Farmington area.  More correctly it should have been called the Animas Basin, but the name San Juan translated into bigger things."

In 1914, the Durango Board of Trade merged with the Durango Club (a social organization) to form the Durango Exchange, which became the Durango Chamber of Commerce in 1930. Through at least the 1920s and probably for much longer, the Durango merchants and the Chamber of Commerce were considered to be the strongest civic influence in the city. Duane Smith quote Lester Gardenswartz (who opened a sporting goods store before the 1929 stock market crash) as saying that "`The town was run by a group of men that was running the Chamber of Commerce. It was a clique, we had a hard time breaking into it." Increasingly, a tension in the Chamber’s mission was to promote tourism while also supporting agriculture and industrial development in the Basin.

As the records in this collection demonstrate, the early themes of the Chamber’s history persisted as it grew ever more busy and maintained its influential role in the development of Durango and the surrounding area of the Animas River Basin.


Administrative information

Acquisition of this collection:  The bulk of this collection was acquired in two accessions (including 2002:03099 which was a retrospective accession of 2.5 linear shelf feet of records that the Chamber donated to the Center in 1968) through the efforts of Duane Smith and Jasper Welch.  Most of these (accession 1984:04026; 10 linear shelf feet before processing) are records of the Chamber's 20th century operations through 1984 that were given to the Center of Southwest Studies by the Chamber in 1984 through the agency of Jasper Welch, who was the key administrative official of the Chamber in its last years, in 1984.  Accession 2002:10010 in October of 2002 added to the collection inactive business records that Jane Zimmerman had compiled during her 19-year tenure of as Director of the Durango Area Chamber Resort Association.

Provenance of this collection:  Duane Smith has told the Archivist (Todd Ellison) that he (Duane) rescued the early records at some earlier date when they were on the verge of being destroyed.  It was noted in processing that some of these earlier records of the Chamber's predecessor organizations showed evidence of water damage and signs of having been stored in less than ideal conditions. The later records from the Chamber via Jasper were stored in a five-drawer steel filing cabinet at the Center of Southwest Studies for a number of years until they were reboxed (into seven records boxes and a document case, temporarily), and then processed.

About the organization of this collection:  The series and boxes are numbered consecutively.  The lower levels of organization is folder titles (only for the container listing, next section).  Because we do not expect to add to this collection, the boxes are numbered in one single numbering scheme starting with 1.

Processing information:  The collection was processed by the Archivist and Jayne Mitchell, a Fort Lewis College student in the SW 340 archival theory and practice course, from September through December of 1997.  Especially acidic materials (newspaper clippings, 1890s minutes on poor quality brittle brown paper, early thermofax photocopies) were photocopied onto PermaLife Bond paper on December 18, 1997.  This inventory was prepared by Todd Ellison and Fort Lewis College archival student Jayne Mitchell, finished on December 18, 1997.  Ellison last edited, added to, and reformatted it in August 2007.

Deaccessioning: The unprocessed collection occupied approximately 15 linear shelf feet.  The Center removed the following categories of materials from the collection during processing, which included deaccessioning 2 records boxes of materials.

  • Duplicate materials were pulled for regular disposal (they were not confidential records).
  • Housekeeping records that lost their administrative purpose after a specified period of time were similarly pulled for regular disposal (they were not confidential records).
  • Records that were outside the scope of the Center’s collection policy were also pulled for destruction (they lacked sufficient research quality to warrant advertising to send elsewhere).
  • Also: records that belonged in other collections were separated out and are so noted on their folders.

  • Series descriptions

    Arrangement note: Series are numbered consecutively.  Box numbers start with 1; folder numbers start with 1 in each box.  The series are organized from highest hierarchical level to lowest; from most general to most specific.  Items within each series are arranged chronologically, unless noted otherwise.  Because we do not expect to add to this collection, the boxes are numbered in one single numbering scheme starting with 1.

    Series:

    1    Legal documents, 1962-1972.  3 folders in Box 1.  Includes articles of incorporation and by-laws.

      Minutes, 1892-1984, incomplete.  Four document cases (Boxes 2-5).  Arranged chronologically.  Includes financial reports where attached to minutes.

    3    Financial records, 1915-1926 and 1957-1981.  20 folders and 1 volume in Boxes 6 and 7.  Arranged chronologically.  Includes Durango Exchange cash book and Chamber of Commerce budgets, audit reports, income statements, financial statements, and income tax records.  See also financial statements for 1925-1984 that are associated with minutes in Series 2.

    4    Printed materials, 1892-2007.  Two and one-half document cases (Boxes 8, 9, and 9A).  Arranged chronologically, except that like items (newspapers; Chamber newsletters; Chamber promotional materials) are grouped together.  Includes brochures, Chamber of Commerce group photos, and two scrapbooks from 1930-1933 and 1968-1969.

    5    Committee records, 1969-1989.  42 folders in two document cases (Boxes 10 and 11).  Arranged alphabetically by title of committee.

    6    Subject files, 1964-1989.  Eight document cases (Boxes 12-19).  Arranged alphabetically.

      Administrative records and correspondence, 1914-1984.  31 folders in two document cases s (Boxes 20 and 21).  Includes annual reports, records and correspondence, telephone message copy books, guest books, rubber stamps, and news releases.  This series is a catch-all for the director's records other than those grouped in Series 1-6. Arrangement is chronological.

    8    Durango Civic Club records, 1910-1937.  3 folders in Box 22.  Includes minutes, committee lists, and a membership dues ledger.


    Container list

    Box 1:  Series 1: Legal documents; and Series 2: Minutes, 1892-1906

    Folder 1    Durango Chamber of Commerce articles of incorporation, with amendments, 1962, 1972.

    Folder 2    Durango Chamber of Commerce bylaws, 1969 Sept. 29 revision-1979 (5 pages).

    Folder 3    Colorado Motel Association, Inc., Durango Chapter, bylaws, (circa 1968).

    Folder 4    Board of Trade minutes, 1892 Apr. 23-1893 Jan. 2. (1 volume)

    Folder 5    Board of Trade minutes, 1894 Apr. 5-1895 Feb. 21.

    Folder 6    Board of Trade minutes, 1895 Feb. 23-1895 July 8.

    Folder 7    Board of Trade minutes, 1896 Jan. 2-1896 Apr. 1.

    Folder 8    Board of Trade minutes, 1896 Apr. 14-1896 May 6.

    Folder 9    Board of Trade minutes, 1904 Dec. 12-1906 Dec. 17. (1 volume)
     

    Box 2: Series 2: Minutes, 1906-1915

    Folder 1    Board of Trade minutes, 1906 Dec. 26-1910 Dec. 2. (1 volume)

    Folder 2    Board of Trade minutes, 1910 Dec. 28-1915 Feb. 2. (1 volume)
     

    Box 3: Series 2: Minutes, 1915-1962

    Folder 1    Durango Exchange minutes, 1915 Feb. 1-1925 May 1. (1 volume).

    Folder 2    Durango Exchange minutes, 1919 Dec. 8-1935 May 13 (incomplete).

    Folder 3    Durango Exchange quarterly financial reports, 1925 June 3-1927 Dec. 15. (1 volume)

    Folder 4    Durango Chamber of Commerce minutes, 1932 Jan. 11-1936 Dec. 3. (1 volume)

    Folder 5    Durango Chamber of Commerce minutes, 1936 Dec. 7-1940 June 22. (1 volume)

    Folder 6    Durango Chamber of Commerce minutes, 1945 Dec. 3-1946 Dec. 31.

    Folder 7    Durango Chamber of Commerce minutes and financial reports, 1950 Jan. 4-1954 Dec. 14.

    Folder 8    Durango Chamber of Commerce minutes and financial reports, 1956- 1958 Feb. 6.

    Folder 9    Durango Chamber of Commerce minutes and financial reports, 1960- 1961 Dec. 21.

    Folder 10    Durango Chamber of Commerce minutes and financial reports, 1962.
     

    Box 4: Series 2: Minutes, 1963-1979

    Folder 1    Durango Chamber of Commerce minutes and financial reports, 1963.

    Folder 2    Durango Chamber of Commerce minutes and financial reports, 1964.

    Folder 3    Durango Chamber of Commerce minutes and financial reports, 1966.

    Folder 4    Durango Chamber of Commerce minutes and financial reports, 1968.  Also, a carbon copy of a revised description of suggested improvements to Brookside Park in addition to work planned by the Four Corners Museum Association, Inc., Oct. 4, 1968.

    Folder 5    Durango Chamber of Commerce minutes and financial reports, 1970.

    Folder 6    Durango Chamber of Commerce minutes and financial reports, 1971.

    Folder 7    Durango Chamber of Commerce minutes and financial reports, 1972.

    Folder 8    Durango Chamber of Commerce minutes and financial reports, 1973.

    Folder 9    Durango Chamber of Commerce minutes and financial reports, 1974.

    Folder 10    Durango Chamber of Commerce minutes and financial reports, 1975.

    Folder 11    Durango Chamber of Commerce minutes and financial reports, 1976.

    Folder 12    Durango Chamber of Commerce minutes and financial reports, 1977.

    Folder 13    Durango Chamber of Commerce minutes and financial reports, 1978.

    Folder 14    Durango Chamber of Commerce minutes and financial reports, 1979.
     

    Box 5: Series 2: Minutes, 1980-1984

    Folder 1    Durango Chamber of Commerce minutes and financial reports, 1980.

    Folder 2    Durango Chamber of Commerce minutes and financial reports, 1981.

    Folder 3    Durango Chamber of Commerce minutes and financial reports, 1982.

    Folder 4    Durango Chamber of Commerce minutes and financial reports, 1983.

    Folder 5    Durango Chamber of Commerce minutes and financial reports, 1984.
     

    Box 6: Series 3: Financial records, 1957-1983

    Folder 1    Durango Chamber of Commerce audit reports, 1957.

    Folder 2    Durango Chamber of Commerce audit reports, 1961-1962. (4 volumes) (2x each)

    Folder 3    Durango Chamber of Commerce audit reports, 1963-1964. (4 volumes) (2x each)

    Folder 4    Durango Chamber of Commerce audit reports, 1965-1967. 1969. (4 volumes) (2x each)

    Folder 5    Durango Chamber of Commerce audit reports, 1970-1974. (2 volumes)

    Folder 6    Durango Chamber of Commerce audit reports, 1974-75, 1975 (2x)-76.

    Folder 7    Durango Chamber of Commerce audit reports, 1976-77 (2x), 1977-78, 1978-79. (3 volumes)

    Folder 8    Durango Chamber of Commerce audit reports, 1980-81 (2x), 1982-83 (1x). (3 volumes)

    Folder 9    Durango Chamber of Commerce audit reports (empty-- for a future accretion).

    Folder 10    Durango Chamber of Commerce balance sheets, 1958 July 31 and Nov. 30.

    Folder 11    Durango Chamber of Commerce budgets, 1964-1982.

    Folder 12    Durango Chamber of Commerce financial statements, 1964 April-1965 Sept.

    Folder 13    Durango Chamber of Commerce income statements (financial statements), 1967-1968.

    Folder 14    Durango Chamber of Commerce financial statements, 1969. (1 volume)

    Folder 15    Durango Chamber of Commerce statement of operations, 1970, 1975, 1978, 1979.

    Folder 16    Durango Chamber of Commerce savings account book, 1963-1970.

    Folder 17    Durango Chamber of Commerce bills, invoices, and receipts, 1967.

    Folder 18    Durango Chamber of Commerce accounts ledger sheets, 1968, 1974-1979.

    Folder 19    Durango Chamber of Commerce reservation system checkbook, 1980-1981.

    Folder 20    Durango Chamber of Commerce forms, 1981.

    Folder 21    Durango Chamber of Commerce income tax records, 1972-1977.
     

    Box 7: Series 3: Financial records, 1957-1983

    Durango Chamber of Commerce cash book, 1915-1926. (1 volume)
     

    Box 8: Series 4: Printed materials, 1930-1969

    Durango Chamber of Commerce scrapbooks, 1930-1933 and 1968-1969. (2 volumes)
     

    Box 9: Series 4: Printed materials, 1892-1983  (arrangement is chronological)

    Folder 1    Durango: the smelter city: The City of Durango: with a mention of a few of the advantages of southwestern Colorado / by the Durango Board of Trade, booklet, 1898 fall. (21 p + map). With typed excerpts, 8 p., taken from booklet owned by Kenneth Logan of Animas Valley.

    Folder 2    Durango as it is / by Richard McCloud, Secretary, Durango Board of Trade, 1892 fall (only a photocopy).

    Folder 3    Durango Chamber of Commerce railroad meeting proceedings report, 1942 Oct. 12.

    Folder 4    Durango Labor Market News bulletin, 1946 June-1947 Dec., incomplete. (Vol. 1, Nos. 2, 6, 8; Vol. 2, Nos. 2, 5, 8-10, 12.)

    Folder 5    The story of Durango, Colorado / by Mrs. Arthur W. Ayres for the Durango Chamber of Commerce, undated (1 page).

    Folder 6    "Carbon Mountain: The phenomenon of the `Moving Mountain’," article by Durango Chamber of Commerce, undated (2 versions).

    Folder 7    Durango Chamber of Commerce letterhead, envelopes, and litter bag (circa 1999), undated.

    Folder 8    San Juan Congress (Durango, Colorado) letterhead, undated. 

    Folder 9    Durango and the Four Corners/Great Southwest maps, undated.

    Folder 10    Durango Chamber of Commerce newspaper clippings, 1949.

    Folder 11    Colorado's Navajo Trail region: beckoning business and industry/ by Colorado Division of Commerce and Development, et al.  Undated; circa 1967-68 (Governor John A. Love).  1 volume, spiral bound; 54 pages.  "This booklet presents, in profile, those 13 Colorado Counties which are located along or near U.S. Highway 160 - The Navajo Trail - in the southwestern part of the state."  Includes estimated populations as of 1967.  This publication was funded by the Colorado Interstate Gas Company (Colorado Springs, Colo.).  This volume was damaged by moisture and sustained mold damage; it is housed in the folder double-sleeved in archival plastic; care must be exercised when using this volume, to not disseminate mold spores in the collections storage and research areas.

    Folder 12    Durango promotional materials, 1968-1979.   Includes a business card of the Travel Network of Durango.

    Folder 13    Durango promotional materials, typescripts drafts and records, 1969.

    Folder 14    Durango Chamber of Commerce newspaper clippings, undated (circa 1968-1969).

    Folder 15    Durango Chamber of Commerce newspaper clippings, 1969.

    Folder 16    Durango Chamber of Commerce newspaper clippings, 1970.

    Folder 17    Durango Chamber of Commerce newspaper clippings, 1971.

    Folder 18    Durango Chamber of Commerce newspaper clippings, 1972-1973 June (bulk 1973).

    Folder 19    Colorado: a business approach; out-of-state business recruitment book/ by Colorado Division of Commerce and Development, Community Development Section, 1975.  1 volume, spiral bound; 140 pages.

    Folder 20    Durango Chamber of Commerce newspaper clippings, 1976-1977.

    Folder 21    Durango Chamber of Commerce promotional printed materials, 1964, 1972.

    Folder 22    Durango and vicinity maps and walking tour guides, 1976-2007.

    Folder 23    Durango Fundango seasonal events listings, 1977-1983.

    Folder 24    Durango (Colo.) and vicinity promotional materials in various non-Chamber publications, circa 1979-1981.

    Folder 25    Durango (Colo.) general information pamphlets / by Durango Chamber of Commerce, 1980.

    Folder 26    Durango promotional materials, 1980-1989.  Subjects include the Animas Chamber Players and the Animas School Museum.


    Box 9A:
    Series 4: Printed materials, continued (newsletters and membership directories and photographs, 1967-2007
    )

    Folder 1     Chamber news about Durango, newsletter, 1967-1968.  Incomplete.

    Folder 2     Chamber news about Durango, newsletter, 1970-1971.

    Folder 3     Chambers of commerce elsewhere, newsletters, 1970.

    Folder 4     Chamber news about Durango, newsletter, 1972-1974.  Monthly; some gaps.

    Folder 5     Chamber news about Durango, newsletter, 1978.

    Folder 6     The Chamber in the News newsletter, 1982 Nov.-Dec., and The Chamber Express! newsletter, 1982 Mar.-Apr.

    Folder 7     The Chamber Express! newsletter / by Durango Chamber of Commerce, 1983. (Vol. 3, Nos. 1-2, 4, 6.)

    Folder 8     DACRA Dateline newsletter, 1996, followed by The Chamber Connection newsletter, -2007..

    Folder 9     Durango Chamber of Commerce membership directory, 1984 (2x).

    Folder 10    Durango Chamber of Commerce membership directories, 2001-2002 and 2007.  Two volumes; 104 pages and 96 pages, respectively.

    Folder 11    Durango Chamber of Commerce photoprints, circa 1971-1979.   Includes two color photos of Engine 278 pulling cars over a trestle bridge; photos of exhibit booths at conventions; photos of individuals and groups; and a photo of the Chamber visitor center groundbreaking at Gateway (later renamed Santa Rita) Park. 
     

    Box 10: Series 5: Committee records, overall and A-I

    Folder 1    Committee chairmen list record, 1978.

    Folder 2    Committee list of charges, 1974.

    Folder 3    Activity Committee records and correspondence, 1969.

    Folder 4    Agriculture Committee records and correspondence, 1971.

    Folder 5    Airport Committee records and correspondence, 1971, 1973.

    Folder 6    Airport records and correspondence, 1976.

    Folder 7    Business Development Committee records and correspondence, 1971.

    Folder 8    Business Development Committee records and correspondence, 1972.

    Folder 9    Christmas Decoration Committee records and correspondence,1970-1976.

    Folder 9A   Colorado Centennial - [U.S.] Bicentennial Committee Durango kick-off ceremonies (July 20-21, 1972) records and correspondence and printed materials, 1972.  This was the kick-off for the whole state of Colorado.  (This is a thick folder.)

    Folder 9B   Colorado Centennial - [U.S.] Bicentennial Committee records and correspondence and printed materials, 1977.

    Folder 10    Convention Committee records and correspondence and printed materials, 1969.

    Folder 11    Convention Committee records and correspondence and printed materials, 1970.

    Folder 12    Convention Committee records and correspondence, 1971-1972.

    Folder 13    Education Committee records and correspondence, 1969-1970.

    Folder 14    Environmental Committee records and correspondence, 1975.

    Folder 15    Fort Lewis College Committee records and correspondence, 1970-1971.

    Folder 16    Health Committee records and correspondence, 1974.

    Folder 17    Hospitality Task Force records, 1989.  Includes minutes, agenda and brochures.

    Folder 18    Industrial Development Committee records and reports, 1969.

    Folder 19    Industrial Development Committee records and correspondence, 1970. Bill Martinson, chairman.
     

    Box 11: Series 5: Committee records, L-Z

    Folder 1    Legislative Committee records and correspondence, 1976.

    Folder 2    Membership Committee records, 1974.

    Folder 3    Movie Committee records and correspondence, 1969-1970 and 1974.   Mentions movies filmed in Durango, for example the "No Greater Love" episode of Lassie that aired on Sunday, November 23, 1969 on CBS.  Includes carbon copies of letters from Executive Secretary John J. McDermott asking to meet with movie executives in Los Angeles in March of 1969 to promote filming on location in Durango.  Some of these paper got wet at some point in the past, and have had rusted staples and other deterioration as a result, but are all still legible.

    Folder 4    Movie Committee records, correspondence, and printed materials, 1975-1976.

    Folder 5    New Business Committee records and correspondence, 1975-1976.

    Folder 5A   Olympic Committee records and correspondence, 1971.

    Folder 6    Outstanding Person Committee records and correspondence, 1969, 1970, 1978, 1979. "Woman of the Year", 1969. "Man of the Year".

    Folder 7    Planning Committee records and newspaper clippings, 1971-1972.

    Folder 8    Retail Merchants Committee records and correspondence, 1969.

    Folder 9    Retail Committee records and correspondence, 1970-1973.

    Folder 10    Roads and Transportation Committee records and correspondence, 1971-1973, 1976.  Includes proposals and resolutions.  A large map was removed and placed into a separate folder.

    Folder 11    Ski Jump Committee records and correspondence, 1967-1970.

    Folder 12    Subdivision regulations for La Plata County proposal / by the Planning Committee, 1970 Sept.

    Folder 13    Task Force Committee correspondence, 1971.

    Folder 13A  Tourism Committee records and correspondence, 1970.

    Folder 14    Tourism Committee records and correspondence, 1971-1973.

    Folder 15    Tourism Committee records and correspondence, 1975, 1979.

    Folder 16    Trainmen and Membership Committee records and correspondence, 1971-1973, 1976.

    Folder 17    Winter Carnival Committee records and correspondence, 1970-1971.

    Folder 18    Winter Business Committee records and correspondence, 1971-1972.

    Folder 19    Zoning general information for La Plata County, Durango only / by the Planning Committee, 1970.
     

    Box 12: Series 6: Subject files, A-Ch

    Folder 1    Amendment 8 records and correspondence, 1976.

    Folder 2    Animas Regional Planning Commission records and correspondence, 1975 July -1971 Feb.  Includes Rural Development.  See also: La Plata County growth and development issues, business relocation prospects, and San Juan Basin Regional Planning Commission.

    Folder 3    Annual banquet records and correspondence, 1968-1969 and 1971.

    Folder 4    Annual banquet records and correspondence, 1970, 1971, 1978.

    Folder 5    Annual banquet records and correspondence, 1976.

    Folder 6    Annual retreat records and correspondence, 1978, 1980.

    Folder 7    Annual retreat reports, 1982-1984. (3 volumes).

    Folder 7A  Apollo 14 astronaut Stuart A. Roosa banquet at Fort Lewis College July 1, 1971, records and correspondence, 1971.   (Durango was his birthplace.)

    Folder 8    Art Linkletter luncheon records and correspondence, 1971 May 3.

    Folder 9    Better Business complaints records and correspondence, 1968.

    Folder 10   Better Business complaints records and correspondence, 1968-1972.

    Folder 11    Better Business complaints records and correspondence, 1977 Dec. 31-1978 May 31.

    Folder 12    Better Business complaints records and correspondence, 1978 Apr.-1978 Dec. 31.

    Folder 13    Board Election tally sheets & ballots, 1979.

    Folder 14     Durango Chamber of Commerce] Board of Directors membership lists, 1964, 1965, 1968, 1975-1981.

    Folder 15    Bodo Industrial Park development records and correspondence, 1976.  Includes Craftsman Printers, Inc. (Lubbock, Texas).

    Folder 16    Brochure printing jobs records and correspondence, 1970-1978.  Includes Craftsman Printers, Inc. (Lubbock, Texas).

    Folder 17    Business relocation prospects records and correspondence, 1975-1976.  See also: Subject folder on La Plata County growth and development issues, Small Communities Development Project (Colorado) and Rural Development.

    Folder 18    Business relocation prospect call reports, 1976 May 11.

    Folder 18A  Census records and correspondence, 1970.  Includes Chamber refutation of the Census Bureau's report of a decreased local population, and includes tables of census data regarding Durango and regarding Colorado counties, 1950-1970.

    Folder 19    Central Reservations Association of Mountain Resorts, 1981.

    Folder 20    Chambers of Commerce elsewhere, records, correspondence, and newspaper clippings, 1970-1972.  Includes carbon copies of letters of invitation from the Durango chamber and notices of meetings, such as a banquet of the Aztec Chambers of Commerce, Cortez Chambers of Commerce and Farmington Chambers of Commerce.  See also Box 19, folder 11, Western Slope [et al.] Colorado Chambers of Commerce printed materials and correspondence, 1950s.

    Folder 21    Chambers of Commerce rosters, 1968-1969.  Includes MAC and CCCE.

    Folder 22    Club 20 for Colorado West, records and correspondence, 1969-1970.

    Folder 23    Club 20 for Colorado West, printed materials and correspondence, 1972-1973.  Includes clippings and press release.

    Folder 24    Clubs and organizations and churches directories, 1976 and Sept. 1983.
     

    Box 13: Series 6: Subject files, Ci-Durango

    Folder 1    Citizen of the Year award records and correspondence, 1981.

    Folder 2    City directory records (by Johnson Publishing Company, Loveland, Colorado), 1970-1972, 1978, 1980. 

    Folder 3    Climatological data for Colorado /by U. S. Dept. of Commerce. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Environmental Data Service, 1972 and letter, 1972 April 4.

    Folder 4    Coal fields (La Plata County, Colorado) reports and printed materials, 1930.

    Folder 5    Colorado Chamber of Commerce records, printed materials, and correspondence, 1970-1971.

    Folder 6    Colorado high school rodeo finals records, 1977 March-June.   Also (not related to the records except by the topic) a round plastic button, "Lakeside Fair & Rodeo, April 16-19."

    Folder 7    Colorado Highway records and correspondence, 1968-1970.  Includes: National Highway Week, Sept. 22-28, 1968; Colorado Department of Highways correspondence on the rerouting of the Highway 160 south approach to Durango and Route 550 from Durango south to Bondad, 1969; a resolution from the La Plata County Board of Commissioners to the Colorado State Highway Commission, November 1970; Colorado Highway Users Conference records and correspondence, 1978; a Colorado Public Expenditure Council (CPEC) report on Colorado's Highway Users Tax Fund, Part II: an analysis of the distribution formula, July 12, 1968, by H. Earl Hunsicker; a CPEC report on Colorado State government expenditure, revenue and ranking, 1963-1965, issued August 2, 1968; and a CPEC report on Colorado's revenue and expenditure patterns in regional and national perspective, 1959 and 1969, issued November 20, 1970.

    Folder 8    Colorado Industrial Organization records and correspondence, 1966-1968.

    Folder 9    Colorado Industrial Organization records and correspondence, 1969.

    Folder 10   Colorado Visitors Bureau records and correspondence, 1971.  Also, ten of the Bureau's Colorado Host weekly summer newsletters of events around the state, 1968.

    Folder 11   Community organizations in Colorado lists /by Colorado Assn. of Commerce and Industry, [circa 196-].

    Folder 12   Community organizations in Colorado, directory, 1973 April 1. [8 pages].

    Folder 13    Convention facilities brochure typescript, [circa 1969]. [3x21 pages].

    Folder 14    Dating Game couple promotional visits records and correspondence, 1970-1971.  Includes Purgatory Inn, clippings and slides.

    Folder 15    Downtown Durango fire, 1974 August 24 records and printed materials, 1974.  Includes fires: Main Avenue, Memorial funds and clippings.

    Folder 16    Durango (Colorado) businesses addresses lists, [circa 1968]-[197-].

    Folder 17    Durango Kiwanis Club records and correspondence, 1971, 1973.

    Folder 18    Durango Purgatory ski vacations reservations records and correspondence, 1971.

    Folder 19    Durango Purgatory Reservation system records and correspondence, 1973-1974.  Includes WATS line, Purgatory ski resort.  See also: motel rates, Motels-rate agreements.

    Folder 20    Durango Purgatory Reservation system package plan participants records and correspondence, 1975.  Includes Motels-rate agreements.

    Folder 21    Durango Purgatory Reservation system records and correspondence, 1977-1980.  Includes Motels-rates and Condominiums-rates.
     

    Box 14: Series 6: Subject files, Durango (continued)-H

    Folder 1    Durango/Purgatory Resort Association balance ledgers, 1978-1981. [2 volumes].  Includes Motels-rates.

    Folder 2    Durango/Purgatory Resort Association records and financial records, 1980-1982.

    Folder 3    Durango-Purgatory lodging rates, [Winter 1981-1982].

    Folder 4    Durango Purgatory Resort Association projected budget, 1981-1982.

    Folder 5    Durango Purgatory Resort Association Reservation system records and correspondence, 1981-1982.

    Folder 6    Durango (Colo.) statistical record, 1978.

    Folder 7    Economic Development Committee of the San Juan Basin, Denver trip, 1976 May 11-12. records and correspondence, 1976 May-June.  Includes business leaders-Colorado--Durango.

    Folder 8    Energy crisis printed materials, 1973.  Includes Gasoline shortage and Purgatory Resort-car pool.

    Folder 9    Escalante Expedition memorial printed materials and records, 1946.

    Folder 10    Exchange Students records and correspondence, 1970.

    Folder 11   Fall and winter development records and correspondence, 1969-1970.  Topics include ski packages.   Includes the program and p.r. for the 57th annual Ski Steamboat Winter Carnival, Feb. 6-15, 1970, and the SNO-fari news and events newspaper, August 1970.  Also, a color photo of [Purgatory Resort?] ski run in July, 1968.

    Folder 12    Farm City Week records and correspondence, 1977 Nov. 18-24 and 1978 Nov. 17.

    Folder 13    FM Radio Station FCC application records and correspondence, 1978-1980.

    Folder 14    Fort Lewis College student Business Club survey of students re: college and residence community inadequacies/ by Brent Lunt and Ben Tomasi, report and correspondence, 1968-1969.

    Folder 15    Four Corners Electric Plant, Senate Committee Hearing records and correspondence, 1971.

    Folder 16   Four Corners Regional Commission records and correspondence, 1967-1970.  Particularly, the Durango Chamber's bid for the headquarters of the newly formed Commission of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

    Folder 17   Four Corners Tourism Council, Inc. by-laws, [undated].

    Folder 18  Frontier Airlines, records, printed materials, and correspondence, 1968-1970.  Includes annual financial reports and a Chamber resolution regarding air service to Durango.

    Folder 19    Gateway Park monument to mining industry, records and correspondence, 1989-1993.  Includes Doney, Clyde-Sculptor.

    Folder 20    Golden Circle Promotional Association (Moab, Utah), records and correspondence, 1971.

    Folder 21    Governor’s banquet records and correspondence, 1970.

    Folder 22    Governor’s luncheon meeting printed materials correspondence, 1972.

    Folder 23    Grazing fees records and correspondence, 1968-1969.

    Folder 24    Hesperus Ski Center publicity materials, [197-].

    Folder 25    Historical and Cultural Theater of Southwestern Colorado, Inc., records and correspondence, 1971-1973.  Includes Merrick-Curtis Productions.
     

    Box 15: Series 6: Subject files, I-Mem

    Folder 1    Industrial Development records and correspondence, 1969-1970.  See also: Industrial Development Committee, 1969.

    Folder 2    Inquiries records and correspondence, 1968-1969.  See also: Letters received tally sheets.

    Folder 3    Inquiries [Durango Chamber of Commerce] statistical summaries , 1978-1980.

    Folder 4    Inquiries [Durango Chamber of Commerce] statistical summaries, 1981-1982.

    Folder 5    Iron Horse bicycle race series printed materials, 1978.

    Folder 6    La Plata County centennial records and correspondence, 1973-1974.

    Folder 7    La Plata County growth and development issues records and correspondence, 1973-1976.  Includes Surveys-Reports.  See also Subject folders on Business relocation prospects, Rural development, clippings, San Juan Basin Regional Planning Commission, and Animas Regional Planning Commission.

    Folder 8    La Plata County sales tax issue records and correspondence, 1982.

    Folder 9    Letters received, by state, tally sheets, 1970 March-1973 Dec. Chronological by year and month.  See also Inquiries.

    Folder 10    Lodges and rental tax ordinance reports, 1979.

    Folder 11    Manager search records and correspondence, 1978, 1979.

    Folder 12    Membership drive records and correspondence, 1969.

    Folder 13    Membership dues records and correspondence, 1968-1970.  See also Membership list [1969].

    Folder 14    Membership dues records and correspondence, 1971-1972.

    Folder 15    Membership dues records and correspondence, 1973.

    Folder 16    Membership dues records and correspondence, 1974.

    Folder 17    Membership dues records and correspondence, 1975-1976.

    Folder 18    Membership dues records and correspondence, 1978-1979.  Includes an eclectic sampling of cancelled memberships records.

    Folder 19    Membership lists [Durango Chamber of Commerce] 194--1976.

    Folder 20    Membership lists [Durango Chamber of Commerce] 1977- 1978.
     

    Box 16 Series 6: Subject files, Mesa-Ra

    Folder 1    Mesa Verde National Park records and correspondence, 1970-1971.

    Folder 2    Monthly Forum meeting records and correspondence, 1970.

    Folder 3    Monthly meetings records and correspondence, 1971-1973.

    Folder 4    Monthly luncheons records and correspondence, 1976.

    Folder 5    Monthly luncheons records and correspondence, 1977.

    Folder 6    Motel rates lists, 1967-1969 / by the Durango Motel Association.

    Folder 7    Motel rates lists, 1970-1981.  See also: Guest ranches and Vallecito lake resort, 1969.

    Folder 8    Motorcycling trails (Durango, Colorado) records and correspondence, 1970-1971.  Includes hearings-transcripts, press releases, and permits.

    Folder 9    Movie making brochure typescript.  Best copy available.  Duplicates were tossed on 10/7/97; mold/dirt was on those papers.

    Folder 10    Narrow Gauge Days Celebration printed materials/Trainmen Committee, 1976-1977.

    Folder 11    Navajo Trails Fiesta typescript and printed material, 1978.

    Folder 12    Purgatory Ski Resort printed materials /Durango Ski Corporation, 1972-1977.  See also: Durango-Purgatory records under "D" in subject files.

    Folder 13    Purgatory Ski Resort printed materials /Durango Ski Corporation, 1978-1979.

    Folder 14    Radio/TV records and correspondence, 1971-1972.  See also FM Radio.

    Folder 15    Railroad topics records and printed materials, 1969-1975.  Trains: narrow gauge railroad Durango-Silverton railroad.  Includes minutes (see next folder), clippings, brochures and pamphlet.  Also, local business promotions to celebrate the 100,000th passenger on the narrow gauge train to Silverton, 1971.

    Folder 16    Railroad topics records and correspondence, 1971-1975.  Includes minutes.
     

    Box 17: Series 6: Subject files, Re-Southern

    Folder 1    Real estate records and correspondence, 1980 Aug.

    Folder 2    Real estate records and correspondence, 1980 Sept.

    Folder 3    Recommendation letters by C. R. Ellsworth, Manager, Durango Chamber of Commerce, 1975-1976. Includes Businessmen --Colorado--Durango.

    Folder 4    San Juan Basin Regional Planning Commission, Region 9 directory, [circa 1975].

    Folder 5    San Juan Railroad Committee records, 1921.

    Folder 6    Sister City Badgastein, Austria, records and correspondence, 1970-1973.  Includes clippings, maps, Bavaria, Alps, Austria and brochures.

    Folder 7    Ski jump records and correspondence, 1971 Jan.  Includes Purgatory Ski Area, Kuss, Dolph, USSA National Championships (Durango, Colorado)-1971 Jan.  Snow Craze Daze.

    Folder 8    Small Business Administration Award banquet records and correspondence, 1973.

    Folder 9    Small Communities Development Project (Colorado) records and correspondence, 1975. Rural Development.  See also: Animas Regional Planning Commission, Business relocation prospects, and La Plata County growth and development issues.

    Folder 10    Snowdown winter carnival events, schedules, 1979-1980.

    Folder 11    Snowdown winter carnival 1982 events schedule and entry form, 1982 Jan. [3x of each].

    Folder 12    Snowdown winter carnival 1982 events records. 1982 Jan.

    Folder 13    Snowdown winter carnival 1982 Broom ball event rules and team signup sheets, 1982 Jan.  (Archival staff deaccessioned 4l shelf inches of entry forms on 9/30/1997.)

    Folder 14    Southern Ute Indian Tribe correspondence and printed materials, 1970-1977.  Includes Pow-wows, press release, Comanche-Ute peace treaty ceremonies, 1977 July 21-24, newspaper clippings (archival photocopies made on PermaLife bond on 10/14/97).
     

    Box 18: Series 6: Subject files, Southwest-Su

    Folder 1    Southwest Mental Health Center records and correspondence, 1971.

    Folder 2    Special polls services records and correspondence, 1970-1971.

    Folder 3    State government decentralization records and correspondence / La Plata County Rural Development Advisory Committee, 1976-1977.

    Folder 4    Suggestion forms, completed, 1970 Nov. 24.

    Folder 5    Summer activities and events records, 1970 -1977.

    Folder 6    Summer vacation correspondence, 1980 Aug.

    Folder 7    Summer vacation correspondence, 1980 Aug.

    Folder 8    Summer vacation correspondence, 1982.

    Folder 9    Summer vacation correspondence, 1982 Aug 1-5.

    Folder 10    Summer vacation correspondence, 1982 Aug. 6-31.
     

    Box 19: Series 6: Subject files, T-W

    Folder 1    Tamarron resort records and correspondence, 1973.

    Folder 2    Tamarron resort printed materials, 1978.

    Folder 3    Thank you letters, 1969-1970, 1978.

    Folder 4    Thunderbird Convention records and correspondence, 1969-1970.

    Folder 5    Tour groups records and correspondence, 1971-1973.

    Folder 5a   Tourism brochure records and correspondence, 1968-1970.

    Folder 6    Transportation of Durango tourists survey sheets, 1978 Sept.

    Folder 7    Transportation system for Durango area, proposals, 1979.

    Folder 8    Truth-in-lending law records and correspondence, 1969.

    Folder 8A  U.S. Department of the Interior informational memos re: Indian ceremonials, activities, and fishing information, and Mesa Verde National Park tour schedules, 1968.

    Folder 9    Vending ordinance proposal, 1982.

    Folder 10  Visitors Center records and correspondence, 1971.

    Folder 11    Western Slope [et al.] Colorado Chambers of Commerce printed materials and correspondence, 195-.   See also Box 12, folder 20, records pertaining to other chambers of commerce.

    Folder 12    Western Slope County Commissioners names and addresses list, [circa 1969].

    Folder 13    Western Slope towns printed materials, [197-].  Includes maps of Salida (Colo.) and materials regarding Leadville and Ouray.

    Folder 14    Winter vacations correspondence, 1980 and 1983.
     

    Box 20: Series 7: Administrative records and correspondence, 1914-1984

    Folder 1    Durango Chamber of Commerce annual reports, 1981-1982.

    Folder 2    Durango Board of Trade records and correspondence, 1914.

    Folder 3    Durango Chamber of Commerce records and correspondence, 1940s.

    Folder 3A  Durango Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors records and correspondence, 1965-1967 (bulk 1966).

    Folder 3B  Durango Chamber of Commerce news releases, 1968-1969.

    Folder 3C  Durango Chamber of Commerce press releases, 1970-1971.

    Folder 4    Durango Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors records and correspondence, 1976-1977.

    Folder 5    Durango Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors records and correspondence, 1978 February-August.

    Folder 6    Durango Chamber of Commerce records and correspondence, 1978 September-December.

    Folder 7    Forwarded correspondence, 1978 May-November.  Includes records of inquiries from outside Durango forwarded to other persons to answer.

    Folder 8    Durango Chamber of Commerce records and correspondence, 1979.

    Folder 9    Durango Chamber of Commerce records and correspondence, 1980.

    Folder 10    Durango Chamber of Commerce records and correspondence, 1981.

    Folder 11    Durango Chamber of Commerce records and correspondence, 1982.

    Folder 12    Durango Chamber of Commerce records and correspondence, 1983.

    Folder 13    Durango Chamber of Commerce records and correspondence, 1984.

    Folder 14    News releases, 1978, 1981.

    Note: The Central Correspondence Files sub-series is arranged by the name of incoming correspondent.

    Folder 15    Central correspondence files, A-B, [197-].

    Folder 16    Central correspondence files, C-D, [197-].

    Folder 17    Central correspondence files, E-F, [197-].

    Folder 18    Central correspondence files, G-H, [197-].

    Folder 19    Central correspondence files, I-L, [197-].

    Folder 20    Central correspondence files, M-N, [197-].

    Folder 21    Central correspondence files, O-R, [197-].

    Folder 22    Central correspondence files, S, [197-].

    Folder 23    Central correspondence files, T-Z, [197-].
     

    Box 21: Series 7: Administrative records and correspondence, 1982-1983

    Folder 1    Telephone messages record copy book, 1982 Jan. 19-Oct. 7.

    Folder 2    Telephone messages record copy book, 1982 Jan. 20-1983 Jan. 7.

    Folder 3    Telephone messages record copy book, 1983 Jan. 7-March 24 [l volume]. 

    Folder 4    Durango Chamber of Commerce guest book, 1982 June 24-Aug. 16 [l volume]. 

    Folder 5    Rubber stamps [2 items].  
     

    Box 22: Series 8: Durango Civic Club records, 1910-1937

    Folder 1    Durango Civic Club minutes, 1925 Dec. 8-1937 Apr. 13.

    Folder 2    Durango Civic Club committees lists for 1925 and 1926.

    Folder 3    Durango Civic Club membership dues ledger, 1910 Mar. 19-1925 Feb. 10. {l volume].


    Doing your own research:  This description of a portion of the collections at the Fort Lewis College Center of Southwest Studies is provided to inform interested parties about the nature and depth of the repository's collections.  It cannot serve as a substitute for a visit to the repository for those with substantial research interests in the collections.

    This collection is located at the Center of Southwest Studies on the campus of Fort Lewis College.  Researchers wanting more information about using this material at the Delaney Southwest Research Library at the Center may email the archivist at archives@fortlewis.edu or click here to use our E-mail Reference Request Form (or phone the archivist at 970/247-7126).  The Center does not have a budget for outgoing long-distance phone calls to answer reference requests, so please email if you wish to receive a response from the Center.  To request reproductions/copies, click here for instructions.


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