Human Resources Management Association of Chicago
HRMAC began in 1915 with a group of seven people who met informally to discuss common problems, but within a few months, it had grown considerably and became known as the Employers' Advisory Group. This group became formally organized and instituted corporate memberships.
The Employers' Advisory Group had several more names and for a very short period, was a chapter of a national group. The chapter hosted the national organization meeting in Chicago in 1921 for 2,000 people. In fact, on the first day of the event, the wait staff at the conference hotel went on strike. Bag or box lunches were obtained and lunch was eaten at the delegates' seats in an auditorium.
The organization then became known as the Industrial Relations Association of Chicago and kept that name until 1982 when it became known as the Human Resources Management Association of Chicago.
HRMAC is Chicagoland's premier resource for advancing workplace strategy and leadership. HRMAC membership consists of 500 Chicago area organizations with a network of over 5,000 HR Professionals representing small private companies to multi-national public corporations from every business sector. With an unmatched tradition of fellowship, education, and leadership, HRMAC is the oldest human resources organization in the country.
Having recently concluded its 100th-anniversary celebration, HRMAC remains committed to serving the human resources community and advancing the impact of progressive HR strategies on business success.
Mission and Vision
Mission
The Human Resources Management Association of Chicago serves the specialized and ever-changing needs of any HR professional within the Chicago area by being a provider of best practice resources, real-life applications and a connector to HR peers and industry leaders.Vision
An open and vibrant Chicagoland community of professionals who are passionate about talent, building the best organizations of the future.Organization Time Line
1915: Fred V. Cann, of the training staff of Lakeside Press, invited several men from Chicago institutions to meet with him for the following purposes: acquaintance; mutual benefits; to assist in the proper placement and adjustment of those entering industries from the schools; exchange of young employees, rather than discharge of those not properly placed; study of employment records, test and job analysis; and close cooperation of the schools and the industries."This meeting led to the formation of the Employment Advisors Club of Chicago. Though there appeared to have been one other such group in the country in Boston, it was affiliated with the local Chamber of Commerce and had individual memberships, rather than corporate. Thus, the Chicago group could have a claim to being the first human resources organization for corporate members in the United States.
The Employment Advisors Club of Chicago held its first formal meeting on November 1, 1915, at the City Club. The speaker was Dr. H. D. Kitson of the University of Chicago, on the subject of "Psychological Tests in Employment."
The meeting was covered in the next morning's Chicago Tribune in the article, "Bump Your Head If You Want Job; Feeling ‘Em Now." The title is cryptic and today, but the writer's opinion couldn't be clearer on the "psychologists and character experts who say they are able to tell whether a man is fitted to become a cook or a carpenter by a look at his nose or a measurement of his head."
Mr. E.E. Sheldon, one of the Club's founders, later related, "My telephone began ringing and continued to ring….I had to take myself down to the Tribune and find the reporter who had inserted that article…. Although no great harm came, we did get a good deal of advertising from that half-page in the Tribune."
1916: the Employment Advisor's Club Ways and Means Committee set dues at $25.00 for company membership and $10.00 for placement agencies and civic memberships.
1919: In March a letter from the U. S. Department of Labor to Mr. Samuel T. Loftus officially chartered the "Employment Managers Association of Chicago." The word of the charter was excitedly communicated to the members back in Chicago, and the organization became "The Chicago Council of the National Association of Employment Managers."
The NAEM, founded in 1918, was one of the first organizations in the country to focus on corporate training and personnel issues, and Chicago was one of the first cities in the country to join in the formation of the national association. The first national conference was held in Cleveland in 1919.
1920: The National Association of Employment Managers became the Industrial Relations Association of America, and Chicago NAEM becomes the Industrial Relations Association of Chicago
In May, IRAC hosted the second annual national convention of the Industrial Relations Association. The three-day event drew more than 2,000 people from the United States and Canada. Cyrus McCormick, Jr., President of International Harvester, gave the opening address. Topics included "Radicalism," "Americanization," "How Many Hours per Day," "Shortage of Labor," and "Financial and Non-Financial Incentives."
1921: Chicago becomes the largest of the 36 affiliated chapters of the Industrial Relations Association of America.
1930s: In 1934 IRAC holds the 1st annual Midwest Conference on Industrial Relations. Throughout the thirties, IRAC continues to present information sessions for members and convene special committees on topics of interest. One topic of discussion was vacation pay. "Constant pressure from the employee representatives for the further extension of vacations with pay is in evidence in the records of these joint bodies. The former limitations to certain groups have been largely removed. The trend is in the direction of vacations with pay for all groups of employees." By 1938, the group's membership stands at 83.
1940: IRAC celebrates its 25th anniversary with a gala dinner and meeting at the Palmer House. The celebration opened with the entire group singing ‘Happy Birthday, dear Association’ as an enormous birthday cake with lighted candles was wheeled into the room and up to the speakers table….
1943: IRAC and the University of Chicago School of Business hosted the 10th Annual Midwest Conference on Industrial Relations.) The theme was "Labor for the Duration: A Duration that will be Longer than the War." The afternoon was devoted to roundtables on subjects including: "Recent War Labor Board Directives," "Pension and Profit Sharing Plans Under Recent Governmental Regulations," "Wage Incentives," "Effective Utilization of Essential Manpower," and "Employee Morale."
1945: IRAC pitched in to do its part for veterans of World War II. The President of IRAC documents this in a letter to Mr. G.L. Bergen, Personnel Manager at Marshall Field and Company: You are aware of the commitment we have with the Air Services Placement Center. In a recent conference with Commander Lyon of that group he advised me that they are now ready to start operating at capacity. Member companies provided personnel to give a day a month at the office of the Air Services Placement Center, working with separating fliers from the Navy, Army, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. IRAC members gave counseling and career guidance to the servicemen and linked them with job openings.
1950s: In 1950 IRAC membership was over 200. The Personnel Journal," September 1950, featured an article about IRAC by Theron Wright, President, Chicago Industrial Relations Association and Personnel Officer, Chicago Title and Trust Co. In referring to IRAC, the article states that "Chicago is the home of one of the oldest and most active of the many local personnel associations in the country and Canada." Throughout the 1950s, IRAC continued to expand its membership and present speakers of national prominence, including Robert F. Kennedy, then chief counsel for the Senate labor rackets committee. In November 1959, and Secretary of Labor James P. Mitchell drew 430 to a meeting in Chicago's Prudential Building.
1965: IRAC celebrates its 50th anniversary. As noted in the Annual Report of 1965, The final meeting, our Annual Meeting, being the Golden Anniversary of the Industrial Relations Association of Chicago, was held on May 19, 1965, in the Grand Ballroom of the Conrad Hilton Hotel. Also in 1965, Dr. Robert R. Blake presented to IRAC on his new management model, "The Managerial Grid" which became one of the most famous models of management style and a cornerstone of organizational psychology for years to come.
1970s: IRAC continues to grow and hold educational meetings for its members. In the Fall Conference, themed "The Strategic New Role of Human Resource Management," drew an attendance of 350 members. Jane Byrne, Mayor of Chicago at the time, gave the keynote speech, "Building a Better Business Climate".
1982: IRAC adopts its current name, "Human Resources Management Association of Chicago".
2005: HRMAC celetrates its 90th anniversary with a special program "Celebrating Yesterday, Shaping Tomorrow" at the Chicago Cultural Center. The Honorable Richard M. Daley, Mayor of Chicago, was the event's Honorary Chair. . Organization redesigns website.