A Very Brief History of Club 103, now known officially as #3848

The Rotary Club of Chattanooga dates its beginning on New Year’s Night, January 1, 1914. On this night a group of business and professional men assembled in the old Commercial Club in the Hamilton National Bank and decided to organize a Rotary Club. The original group of founders included J.W. Bishop, Nelson C. Blanchard, A.W. Burke, John R. Evans, James F. Finlay, George J. Haley, Houston R. Harper, Charles H. Harris, Walter C. Johnson, Fred A. Maxwell, John T. Owen, Warren L. Rohr, William B. Schwartz, and Fred F. Wallace.

Chattanooga was the one hundred and third Rotary Club, the ninety-first American city to welcome Rotary, the eighth in the Southeast, and the third in Tennessee. The Rotary Club of Chattanooga is the oldest and largest club in District 6780. The State of Tennessee chartered the Rotary Club of Chattanooga on January 14, 1914. The charter was received and approved by the club at the Patten Hotel on January 23, 1914 with 24 members attending. The Club’s International charter, designating it as Club # 103, was issued on March 1, 1914. The new numbering system now calls Chattanooga "Club 3848" and our new district number is "6780".

As the Rotary Organization grew from "US" to "International" in scope, many old traditions have had to change.