Issued by
Bank of Finance, American, 1964 - 1981
Subject of
Granville, Onie Burnett, American, 1916 - 1998
Date
1964
Medium
ink on paper (fiber product)
Dimensions
H x W: 2 3/4 × 6 in. (7 × 15.2 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. 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
Two cancelled bank checks from The Bank of Finance in Los Angeles, California. The checks are pale blue with a faint pattern of wavy blue lines in the background. At the bottom left corner is the name of the bank, next to the bank logo. The logo consists of the capital letters "B / O / A" in an interlocking diagonal line with a rectangle with rounded sides. Above the bank name and logo is the printed phrase "Pay / to the / order of" with a handwritten name in the blank space. Check 2016.33.2.1 is for an amount of $22.20. Check 2016.33.2.2 is for an amount of $30. Each check is signed at the bottom by "Bernice Martin." Each check has a rectangular stamp on the front in red ink. Text along the top of the rectangle reads "Processed." The date "Dec 21 1964" is in the middle and the words "Bank of Finance" along the bottom. On the checks reverse are two illegible stamps in green. Each check is signed on the back by payee.
Place made
Los Angeles, California, United States, North and Central America
Classification
Documents and Manuscripts
Type
checks
Topic
American West
Business
Communities
Finance
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
2016.33.2.1-.2
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5de29da9d-f532-45f7-8a5b-0e8c9decf2dc

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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