Founder Henry Giessenbier founded the Jaycees in 1920, with 3,000 members, in St. Louis, Missouri. It was Henry’s vision to provide young people with opportunities which they had little or no access to otherwise attain. He believed that young people could change the world. He was right. 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, and so he formed the founding ideals of the U.S. Junior Chamber. His theory was simple – to offer leadership opportunities to young people, giving them hands – on experience through serving the community. That concept has never wavered.
Timeline of Jaycees Nationwide
1892 June 26—Birth of Henry Giessenbier Jr.
1910 September 22—Herculaneum Dance Club formed by Giessenbier
1914 Federation of Dancing Clubs formed by Giessenbier
1915 October 13—Young Men’s Progressive Civic Association founded by Giessenbier
1916 August 24—YMPCA changes its name to St. Louis Junior Citizens, marking first time the term “J.C” is employed
1918 April 11—Junior Citizens changes name to Junior Chamber of Commerce
1920 January 21—The United States Junior Chamber of Commerce forms in St. Louis, Missouri, with 3000 members
June 17-19—First national convention held in St. Louis; Giessenbier elected first president.
1922 January 20—First presentation of Distinguished Service Award
1923 Get Out the Vote is first Jaycee program to receive national endorsement
1924 Missouri becomes first state member of USJCC
1925 Beginnings of national projects Know America First and Fire Prevention
Expansion authorized as first USJCC magazine
1926 Development of aviation adopted as national project
1927 Jaycee Charles A. Lindbergh makes first solo flight between New York and Paris
Jaycees work with Lindbergh to develop the U.S. Air Mail Service
Harry S. Krusz hired as first full-time executive secretary
1929 May 12-17—First National Junior Chamber of Commerce Week
September—Young Executive Magazine replaces Expansion
September 16—USJCC becomes incorporated
1930 Jaycee shield designed by Durward Howes
1931 Distinguished Service Awards program established on chapter level
1934 First sponsored exhibits and first parade at national convention
1935 Efforts to develop official relationship with Chamber of Commerce of the US end
November 7—Death of Henry Giessenbier Jr. at age 43
1936 National Wildlife Federation established with guidance of USJCC
1937 Venereal disease prevention programs for the public launched on state and national levels by Jaycees
1938 May 1—New constitution and bylaws and Ohio Plan implemented
September—Future replaces Young Executive as national magazine
1939 First Ten Outstanding Young Men of America winners announced
Safety with Light campaign gains national attention as thousands of street lights are donated to communities by Jaycees
1940 USJCC endorses the principle of a military draft
1944 December 11—Junior Chamber International organized in Mexico City
1946 Junior Golf program begins
1947 Official approval of “Jaycee” as synonym of organization
July 3—Headquarters moves from Chicago to Tulsa
September—Bill Brownfield’s Jaycee Creed officially adopted by USJCC
1950 March—“Faith in God” line added to Jaycee Creed
July 10—War Memorial Headquarters groundbreaking in Tulsa
1951 August 4—Dedication ceremonies for War Memorial Headquarters
1953 Jaycees sponsor stops on Professional Golfers’ Association tour for first time in Greensboro, NC, and Hartford, CT
1954 First Outstanding Young Farmer and Junior Tennis programs
1959 Jaycees support statehood for Alaska
1960 Hawaii granted statehood due to Jaycee efforts
1961 First Governmental Affairs Leadership Seminar
1962 Jaycees tackle Uniform Vehicle Code, resulting on adoption of national level
1963 Clean Water Program launched in communities across America
Shooting Education adopted as national program
1964 Project Concern raises 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
June 23—Name of organization officially changed to the U.S. Jaycees
June 24—Bylaw change requires individual members also to be members of Junior Chamber International
1970 USJCC Do Something campaign sparks national interest in volunteerism
1971 Jaycees provide more than 3,000,000 volunteer hours to help administer 7 million doses of rubella measles vaccine
1972 Jaycees undertake model Operation Identification program to combat burglaries and aid crime prevention efforts
Five million stickers distributed nationally through Operation Red Ball to reduce fire fatalities
June 20—Minimum age for membership lowered to 18
1973 The United States Jaycees’ Center for Improved Child Nutrition opens in Bloomington, MN
1977 Operation Threshold, a program dedicated to reducing alcohol abuse, reaches 23 million Americans
Muscular Dystrophy Fundraising adopted as a national program
1978 January 14—Dedication of archives at War Memorial Headquarters
1980 Daisy/US Jaycees Shooting Education program honored with National Safety Council Award for Youth Activities
1982 Healthy American Fitness Leaders awards adopted as national program
1984 Sign Up America campaign collects 1.5 million signatures supporting American’s Olympic athletes
August 16—Bylaw change admits women as full and regular members
1985 The U.S. Jaycees endorse Campaign for Liberty to encourage public support for restoration of Statue of Liberty
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Fundraising adopted as national program
1986 First women honored at Congress of Ten Outstanding Young Americans
1987 Jaycees Magazine replaces Future
June 17—Membership age changes to 21 through 39
1990 June-Name of organization officially changes back to The U.S. Junior Chamber of Commerce
1992 National Wake Up, America! Program urges communities to get involved in government and issues
Jaycees respond to devastating hurricanes in the Southeast with massive national support
1993 Junior Chamber members instrumental in bringing relief to flood-stricken Midwest
Green Works! Environmental education and community action program adopted by USJCC
1994 – Jaycees Against Youth Smoking adopted as national program
Junior Chamber Mission Inn adopted as national program to support children and adolescents affected by AIDS
The Jaycee Alliance formed to be “America’s voice for young people”
1995 – A Legacy of Leadership is published, celebrating The U.S. Junior Chamber’s 75-year history
2000 – First female-elected National President. Junior Chamber Center for Business Advancement develops web-based video seminar training.
2001 – Name changes to The United States Junior Chamber
2004 – Bylaw change established membership age as 18 through 40.