Old Town Merchants and Manufacturers Association records

This collection spans the years 1884-1980, with the bulk of material falling between 1930 and 1960. Types of records include minutes, cash books and ledgers, bank statements, membership cards, correspondence, reports, bills, and receipts. The minutes of the Old Town Merchants and Manufacturers Association (OTMMA) provide the most comprehensive look of the Association's activities, with reports on business-related problems, membership updates, presentations given during meetings, and planned social activities. Financial records such as the ledgers, cash books, bills, and receipts show income from membership dues, savings account interest, and banquet profits; disbursements include officers' salaries, charitable contributions, and meeting expenses. Correspondence includes letters to and from the Maryland House of Delegates, the Maryland Senate, the Baltimore City Council, and various mayors, as well as organizations with similar goals as the OTMMA.

The OTMMA collection is strongest in its representation of a variety of urban problems common in large cities between the 1930s and 1960s. These include abandoned housing, sanitary conditions, shoplifting, juvenile delinquency, taxation, and transportation problems such as parking, road repair, and bus service. Finally, the Depression and World War II were the two landmark events of this period for the OTMMA, and members' responses are revealed through correspondence, the minutes, and in their charitable contributions.

The OTMMA as a social organization is also well-represented. Meetings involved refreshments, films, and presentations as well as discussions about pressing concerns. The Annual Banquet consistently produced a modest profit and was well-attended by Baltimore's business leaders. Finally, the Annual Outing was an opportunity for travel with no other purpose than cameraderie.