JCI Early Year's

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Text Box: Overview of JCI’s Early Years

The origin of JCI (Junior Chamber International, Inc.) can be traced as far back as 1910 to the city of St. Louis, Missouri, USA, where a young man named Henry "Hy" Giessenbier dared to dream "impossible dreams." Giessenbier was born June 26, 1892, and was raised in St. Louis, Missouri. He was one of six children in the Giessenbier family.

The son of a German father and a kind-hearted mother was to rise out of this tapestry with a vision that would lead to the establishment of the world's foremost organization for young people. Henry Giessenbier was to create the structure that would motivate young adults across the country (and later, around the world) to blend their voices to create improvements in themselves and their communities.

In 1910, Giessenbier and his friends first formed the Herculaneum Dance Club with the main objective of advancing the social standing of its members. He frequently invited community leaders to speak to the group at its regular meetings. In 1915, Colonel Huse N. Morgan, a powerful orator, argued to the Federation the case for constructing a major parkway through the city. In so doing, he struck a responsive chord with Giessenbier who was realizing that there was more to life than dancing.
That objective changed when Giessenbier realized how much more young people could accomplish for their communities and for themselves if, inspired by noble ideals, they worked together. About a week later, the young banker was telling Morgan about an "idea" he had to organize a group of men, ages 18 to 30, with the purpose of: "... bringing the young men of our great city together into one grand body with that great purpose of fellowship, advancement and everything which would make a good boy a better boy, a good student a more proficient scholar and a good citizen a better citizen."

Morgan, whose parkway hopes would ultimately fail, recognized the potential in the 21-year-old's concept and offered his help. Following a trip to Cleveland to look into the young men's business club there, and investigating similar clubs in other cities, Giessenbier felt that none matched his lofty intentions.

Five years later, encouraged by Colonel Morgan, Giessenbier and 32 other young men formed the Young Men's Progressive Civic Association (YMPCA) on October 13, 1915. Giessenbier envisioned young people participating in the civic affairs of their communities to help and benefit people of all ages. YMPCA grew to a membership of 750 in less than five months. The association went on to dedicate itself to bringing about civic improvements and giving young people a constructive approach to civic problems.

Extending Locally and Nationally

The very next year, 1916, saw another name change as the YMPCA became "Junior Citizens," commonly called "JCs," which later became "Jaycees." Their work so impressed the St. Louis Junior Chamber of Commerce that they asked these young men in 1918 to adopt the name “Junior Chamber of Commerce” which was done despite some members objecting to the word Junior and some objecting to the word Commerce.

After World War I, Giessenbier contacted other cities in the United States with similar young businessmen's groups. St. Louis members had enthusiastically spread the news of their organization while off to war and, as a result, questions began pouring in from all over the country about how to form similar groups.

A pamphlet describing the "St. Louis Plan" was sent in response and caucus invitations were issued to all existing young men's groups. When the proceedings opened in St. Louis on January 21, 1920, 30 cities were represented. With the adoption of a provisional constitution until a convention could be held in June, and the election of officers, the national Junior Chamber movement was born.

The caucus-adopted constitution permitted wide latitude for member groups in regard to age of members and the name of their organizations. Names varied greatly from the Strollers Club and the Young Men's Business Club of New Orleans to the Under Forty Division of the Detroit Board of Commerce. Some clubs accepted men in their 40s, while others welcomed teenagers. These points would cause controversy and debate for years to come.

Giessenbier won election as provisional president of the U.S. Junior Chamber of Commerce (USJCC) by acclamation, and was joined by other officers from St. Louis; El Paso and Dallas Texas; Terre Haute, Indiana; and Springfield, Massachusetts. The United States Junior Chamber of Commerce (now JCI USA) was established with 29 clubs from around the nation. Henry Giessenbier was elected as the first President of the national organization.

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