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| Born in St Louis, JCI Spans the World |
Giessenbier at the wheel with some of his associates in 1914
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On the birthday of JCI’s first Local Organization, take a look back at the rich history behind the original active citizens.
In October this year, JCI celebrates the 94th anniversary of its first Local Organization, originally established under the name Young Men's Progressive Civic Association (YMPCA) at the Mission Inn in St. Louis, Missouri, USA on October 13, 1915.
The origins of JCI can be traced as far back as 1910 to the city of St. Louis, where a young man called Henry "Hy" Giessenbier realized that young people working together had the power to transform problems into opportunities while developing themselves, their communities, their country and their world.
The Herculaneum Dancing Club
At the beginning of the 20th century in St. Louis, Giessenbier, born June 26, 1892, found excitement and opportunity amidst a myriad of problems. One of the problems for many families in St. Louis at that time was financial need, which compelled Giessenbier to begin working as an assistant photographer when he was 13.
In 1910 at age 18, Giessenbier was already working in a bank. Yearning to better himself, he frequently remained studying bookkeeping and other subjects until midnight. To improve his social standing and that of his friends, Giessenbier formed the Herculean Dancing Club, which sought to “form a close and more pleasant relationship among the members and concentrate their effort for higher and better ideals and social standing.”
The dancing club achieved a reputation as the leader among such groups and, in 1914, Giessenbier organized the Federation of Dancing Clubs. He made sure that that, along with providing social functions, the Federation contributed to the development of its members.
To help Federation members learn about community and social issues, Giessenbier frequently invited community leaders to speak at meetings. In 1915, one of the guest speakers, Colonel Huse N. Morgan, asked Federation members to help promote the construction a major parkway through the city. Morgan’s request helped Giessenbier realize that young people could do much more than dancing. They had the power to help develop their communities.
About a week later, Giessenbier met with Morgan and told him 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 offered his help to form such a group.
The Young Men's Progressive Civic Association
After securing a meeting place at Anschuetz’ Mission Inn, one of South St. Louis’s finest restaurants at the time, Giessenbier was ready for action. On October 13, 1915, with 32 men, the Young Men's Progressive Civic Association (YMPCA) was officially born.
In four and a half months, the YMPCA roster swelled from 32 to 750 under the leadership of Giessenbier as president, William H. Smith as vice president, Andy Mungenast as secretary, and Walter F. Koch as treasurer.
A pamphlet was printed to explain and promote the group. Endorsed by Morgan and other civic leaders, the pamphlet included the following reasons to join:
- It will put you in close touch with the wide-awake young businessmen of your own age, whose acquaintance is invaluable to you.
- It will give you the opportunity of hearing experts, and debates on every civic problem.
- It will give you a wider knowledge of business and civic matters by hearing at its meetings the masterminds of our country.
- It will give you a wider social acquaintance so desirable in business by the young men of today and open the door for you to some of the best entertainments of the young social set.
- It will connect you with a movement that is rapidly becoming national, knitting together the young businessmen of the country.
- It will make you an integral part of a powerful force in St. Louis, in business and civic matters of the present as well as the future, and will distinguish you from others by your association with this organization.
The pamphlet also included YMPCA’s objective: “to educate its members by study and discussion, irrespective of religion or politics, of business, national and civic problems and such other subjects and pursuits as will advance the character and efficiency of its members.”
The idea that young people could unite their energies to develop themselves and their communities spread like wildfire first throughout the United States and later throughout world.
The name of the organization changed, but its core ideas remained the same. JCI continues to help young people develop themselves while transforming challenges into opportunities to create positive change as active citizens. Born in St. Louis, JCI now spans the world.
Register to attend 2009 JCI World Congress to witness Giessenbier’s dreams fulfilled as young active citizens from more than 100 countries unite to magnify the impact of the JCI movement.
For more information, check out “A Legacy of Leadership” by John W. Clark.
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