On September 7, 1923 a meeting of the cotton merchandising industry was held in Atlanta, Georgia to explore the formation of a cotton trade association to embrace the states of Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and Florida.

At this meeting, Mr. F. M. Inman was elected President of the new organization and J. R. Ellis as Secretary.  The meeting also elected seven Directors.  It was decided to name the new organization the “Atlantic Cotton Association”.

Charter of Incorporation was granted by the Superior Court of Fulton County, Georgia, January 5, 1924.  The Association was incorporated as a non-capital, non-profit corporation.  The objects and purposes of the Association were described in the Charter, as follows:

“The objects and purposes of said corporation are social and educational, to establish harmony and uniformity of trade customs and practices among its members and just and equitable principles in the cotton trade; to promote the general welfare of its members and others engaged in the cotton business, to decide and determine matters of difference among its members, and between its members and others, when submitted to it for arbitration; to gather, compile and disseminate information and statistics relating to matters of special interest to the cotton industry.”

Through the American Cotton Shippers Association, the Atlantic Cotton Association is affiliated with the:

Southern Cotton Association, Memphis, Tennessee

Texas Cotton Association, Dallas, Texas

Western Cotton Shippers Association, Memphis, Tennessee

The combined memberships of all of the Affiliated Associations form the membership of the American Cotton Shippers Association.