Jaycees Timeline

1920s
1920 - The United States Junior Chamber of Commerce (USJCC) was formed in St. Louis, Missouri, with 3,000 members.
1923 - Get Out The Vote was the first Jaycee program to receive national endorsement.
1925 - Beginning of national projects Know America First and Fire Prevention. Birth of EXPANSION, the first USJC national magazine.
1926 - Development of aviation adopted as national project.
1927 - Jaycee Charles A. Lindbergh made the first solo flight between New York and Paris. Jaycees worked with Lindbergh to develop the U.S. Air Mail Service.

1930s
1931 - Distinguished Service Awards program established at the chapter level.
1935 - Death of founder Henry Giessenbier.
1936 - National Wildlife Federation established with guidance of USJC.
1937 - Programs begun at state and national level to inform public of need for diagnosis and treatment of venereal disease.
1938 - Future Magazine established. USJC name Ten Outstanding Young Men for the first time.
1939 - Safety with Light campaign gained national attention as thousands of street lights were donated to communities by Jaycees.

1940s
1940 - USJC endorsed the principle of a military draft.
1944 - Junior Chamber International (JCI) formed at Pan American Congress in Mexico City.
1946 - USJC established permanent headquarters in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Junior Golf program begun.
1947 - Official approval of Jaycee as synonym of organization. Adoption of Jaycee Creed.
1950s
1951 - War Memorial Headquarters in Tulsa dedicated. At urging of Andy Mungenast, the reference to “Faith in God” was added to the Jaycee Creed.
1953 - Jaycees sponsored stops on Professional Golfers’ Association tour for first time at Greensboro, North Carolina, and Hartford, Connecticut.
1954 - First Outstanding Young Farmer and Junior Tennis programs held.
1959 - Jaycees supported statehood for Alaska. Hawaii gained statehood the following year due to Jaycee efforts.