The Commercial Club of Chicago is a

nonprofit A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...

501(c)(4) social welfare organization founded in 1877 with a mission to promote the social and economic vitality of the

metropolitan area A metropolitan area or metro is a region that consists of a densely populated urban agglomeration and its surrounding territories sharing industries, commercial areas, transport network, infrastructures and housing. A metro area usually com ...

of Chicago.

History

The Commercial Club was founded in 1877 as a capitalist reaction to the Great Upheaval, a national labor strike that began with railroad workers in Martinsburg, West Virginia. In 1907, the Commercial Club merged with the

Merchants Club The Merchants Club was a predecessor club to The Commercial Club of Chicago. It was organized in Chicago in 1896. It merged with the Commercial Club in 190Its leaders included Charles G. Dawes, Frederic A. Delano, and Charles H. Wacker. It was ...

(organized in 1896). In 1933, the Industrial Club of Chicago (organized in 1905) joined. Its most active members included George Pullman, Marshall Field, Cyrus McCormick,

George Armour George Armour (24 April 1812 – 13 June 1881) was a Scottish American businessman and philanthropist known for his contributions to the global distribution process for commodities. He is credited with developing the grain elevator system, es ...

Frederic Delano Frederic Adrian Delano II (September 10, 1863 – March 28, 1953) was an American railroad president who served as the first Vice Chair of the Federal Reserve from 1914 to 1916. After his term as vice chairman, Delano continued to serve as a membe ...

, Sewell Avery, Rufus C. Dawes, and Julius Rosenwald. The club championed member Daniel Burnham's

Plan of Chicago The Burnham Plan is a popular name for the 1909 ''Plan of Chicago'', co-authored by Daniel Burnham and Edward H. Bennett and published in 1909. It recommended an integrated series of projects including new and widened streets, parks, new railr ...

(1909), also known as Burnham's plan. The plan gave the blueprint for the future growth and development of the entire Chicago region.

Activities

The Commercial Club addressed many other progressive reform issues: supported street cleaning and paving projects, smoke abatement and sanitation schemes, and the development of city parks and playgrounds. They also endorsed the creation of the Cook County Forest Preserve district. They also maintained a consciousness of social reform issues like

juvenile delinquency Juvenile delinquency, also known as juvenile offending, is the act of participating in unlawful behavior as a minor or individual younger than the statutory age of majority. In the United States of America, a juvenile delinquent is a person ...

, race relations, and old-age pensions. The club traces its origins back to the 17 founding members of the Commercial Club in 1877. The current chairman is Jennifer F. Scanlon and the current president is Kelly R. Welsh.

Criticism

The Civic Committee of the Commercial Club has often come under criticism for pursuing an unrealistic zeal for cutting the constitutionally protected pensions of state employees in Illinois. Former president

Tyrone C. Fahner Tyrone Clarence "Ty" Fahner ( ; born November 18, 1942) is an American lawyer and politician. A member of the Republican Party he served as Illinois Attorney General from 1980 until 1983. He was appointed to the position by Governor James R. Tho ...

stated that some members had talked to bond ratings agencies about lowering Illinois' bond rating to create more pressure for pension reform.

References

External links

* * {{Commons category-inline
Commercial Club of Chicago records
at The Newberry Civic and political organizations of the United States Progressive Era in the United States Non-profit organizations based in Chicago History of Chicago