Board of Trade Annual Directory Collection

Board of Trade Annual Directory Collection

The Board of Trade directory was a tourist-oriented directory featuring black-owned and operated businesses, primarily in the Northside of the City. It was organized October 15, 1929 by Dr. L.D. Wright, Clifford J. Newsome, Reymond G. Robinson, and Thomas B. Pursley. Its constitution stated “Owing to the rapid progress of the present civilized world along all lines, and more particularly along commercial lines, and since our group has kept pace with this upward progress, both in the Professional and Business fields, we, the citizens of the Northside of Atlantic City, New Jersey, deem it fitting and proper to form an Organization through and by which, we hope to be able to meet the Commercial needs of our community, and stimulate among them greater interest for cooperation and efficiency in their chosen Professions or Businesses and along all Commercial lines.” The goals of the Board of Trade were to work to foster cooperation between members and the businesses of Atlantic City’s Northside, bring conventions and tourists to the City and the Northside, to provide media with official news of events of the Northside, to improve businesses, and to collaborate with city officials and white business owners.