Pieces of History

Collector, Feb 2008 by Rosso, Anne

The association assembled a historical room for ACA's 1980 convention in Minneapolis

In 1976, the United States' bicentennial year, ACA leaders and staff started piecing together a historical room at ACA Center to celebrate the growth of the credit and collection industry. They gathered archival materials, books, industry mementos and antique collection office furnishings for a permanent display. The association hoped to have the historical room ready for ACAs 1980 convention in Minneapolis.

Though work on the room was initially slow, as member interest in the project grew, so did ACAs historical collection. In 1978, ACA President Leonard Rose raised $4,000 from members attending the American Collectors Association of Texas annual meeting to buy two display cases for the historical room, and later the Oregon Unit donated money to purchase a third display case. Gradually, the room took shape.

By the close of the 1970s, framed black-and-white photos covered the walls of the room, depicting scenes from collection offices and highlights from association events and meetings. Memorabilia rested in lighted display cases, and archived files of Collector magazines, unit newsletters, ACA Directories and ACA Board of Directors meeting minutes lined tall bookshelves. Members also donated or purchased vintage collection manuals and pamphlets for the room. Slides taken at association and unit meetings and seminars were available for viewing, with a projector and screen nearby.

The room also featured collection agency office furnishings from the mid-1920s, donated by members or purchased with funds contributed by individuals and units, as well as a model collection office. The Illinois Collectors Association donated $1,200, which helped finance a refinished antique rolltop desk, similar to those in use in most ACA member offices 50 years earlier. Two brass lamps, an oak swivel chair, card files, an old-fashioned telephone and an assortment of antique typewriters rounded out the office set-up.

ACA recognized every person or unit contributing to the collection in a book on display in the historical room, and major items carried plaques listing donor names.

Ultimately, ACA staff and members finished the room in time for ACAs 41st Annual Convention, held June 24-27, 1980, in Minneapolis. ACA members spent an afternoon visiting ACA Center as part of the convention festivities. Arriving by bus from the Radisson South hotel in Minneapolis, members toured the building and explored the new historical room, marveling over the artifacts and pointing out familiar faces in the photos. ACAs First Fifty Years reported, "Later, while most of the 437 convention attendees enjoyed a buffet luncheon, 13 past presidents-a record number at one convention-autographed the newly issued Saga IV, which featured a history of events of ACAs past seven years."

Today, the materials from ACAs historical room are not just limited to one area but are scattered throughout ACA Center for staff and members to appreciate every day. As the years go by, ACA staff members add more photos and memorabilia to the display, enabling ACA to keep track of history in the making.

Anne Rosso is associate editor of Collector.