Created by
Bank of Finance, American, 1964 - 1981
Subject of
Granville, Onie Burnett, American, 1916 - 1998
Bradley, Tom, American, 1917 - 1998
Beal, Perry Weldon, American, 1905 - 1984
Clarke, Wilton A., American
Spencer, Lorenzo V., American, 1912 - 1969
Ballard, Edward Hunter, American, 1899 - 1988
Date
1964
Medium
metal
Dimensions
H x W x D: 27 15/16 × 22 1/16 × 3/8 in. (71 × 56 × 1 cm)
Caption
Founded by Onie B. Granville in 1964, the Bank of Finance was the first African American-owned and operated state chartered bank west of Kansas City. Granville, a long time real estate broker in Los Angeles, formed the institution with other prominent African American community leaders in Los Angeles: Los Angeles City Councilman and later mayor Tom Bradley, real estate broker Lorenzo Spencer, businessman Wilton A. Clark, and physicians Dr. Perry Beal and Dr. Edward Ballard. Along with Granville's sister, Bernice Malbrue, the six men named on this plaque became the bank's first board of directors. In the face of discriminatory housing and financial practices, the Bank of Finance played an important role in financing Black homeownership and businesses in the Los Angeles area until it was purchased by another bank in 1984.
Description
The bronze cornerstone plaque from the Bank of Finance building in Los Angeles, California, with the names of the bank's organizers. A rectangular metal plaque with six names in raised relief. The names are shined to a dull bronze color while the background is a darker color in a rough texture. Text on the plaque reads [Organizers / ONIE B. GRANVILLE / founder / PERRY W. BEAL, M.D. / WILTON CLARKE / LORENZO V. SPENCER / EDWARD H. BALLARD, M.D. / THOMAS BRADLEY, ATT].
Place used
Los Angeles, California, United States, North and Central America
Los Angeles, California, United States, North and Central America
Classification
Buildings and Structures
Type
plaques (flat objects)
Topic
American West
Business
Civil rights
Communities
Finance
U.S. History, 1961-1969
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Natalie Finney Mallard in memory of her Uncle Onie Burnett Granville
Object number
2016.33.1
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd58d70b872-36aa-4a3d-b090-dd45c158a88d

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

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