Washington State University Libraries Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections
Guide to the Commercial Bank of
Vancouver, Washington Records
1888-1911
Cage
18
Table of Contents
Summary Information
- Repository
- Washington State University Libraries, Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections
- Creator
- Commercial Bank of Vancouver, Washington
- Title
- Commercial Bank of Vancouver, Washington Records
- ID
- Cage 18
- Date [inclusive]
- 1888-1911
- Extent
- 66 containers., 9 linear feet of shelf space.
- Language
- Collection materials are in English.
- Abstract
- Correspondence, minute and account books, and ledgers of the Commercial Bank of Vancouver. Correspondents include Samuel M. Beard, President.
Preferred Citation
[Item Description]. Cage 18, Guide to the Commercial Bank of Vancouver, Washington Records. Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.
Biography/History
The Commercial Bank of Vancouver, Washington, was organized under territorial law in 1888 and continued in operation until December, 1910, when it closed amid controversy and suspicion. The bank's primary area of service was retail trade and small manufacturing in the Vancouver-Portland area. It also undertook considerable investment in land, some of a speculative nature. This combination of policies proved somewhat unstable throughout the bank's history, and, as a consequence, there arose differing views among the management. This resulted at times in rather drastic corrective measures such as the reduction of the capital stock or changes among the officers and directors.
The early years were dominated by Samuel M. Beard, for many years Cashier and then President until 1906. It was he who seem to have been the author of the investment policies of the bank. (Other business activities of S. M. Beard are documented in the papers and records of the Beard Fruit Company and the Vancouver Creamery Company in the Washington State University Library.) His successor, H. C. Phillip, continued these policies, which by 1910 were proving disastrous. Sensing the bank to be in difficulty, the state bank examiner, J. L. Mohundro, intervened and attempted to reorganize the bank and keep it operating. Feeling that the officers of the bank had deceived him, the examiner finally applied for a receiver and the bank went into a very involved liquidation, In addition, the President and Cashier were indicted for concealing the financial condition of the bank as well as illegally accepting deposits. After two trials, the President was acquitted, the Cashier's case was dropped, and the state bank examiner's office had its powers clarified by the legislature.
Scope and Content
Correspondence, minute and account books, and ledgers of the Commercial Bank of Vancouver, 1888-1911.
The papers of the Commercial Bank of Vancouver at Washington State University are far from complete. There are, however, enough to document the general policies, practices and problemS of the bank. In addition, the papers are more than sufficient as a representative sample which could be used to illustrate some of the banking practices of the early 20th century in Washington State. However, their incompleteness leaves considerable portions of the specific history of the Commercial Bank in doubt, especially the complicated series of events surrounding the closing of the bank.
Administrative Information
Publication Information
Washington State University Libraries Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections © 2012
http://www.libraries.wsu.edu/masc/
Terrell Library
P.O. Box 645610
Pullman, WA, 99164-5610 USA
509-335-6691
mascref@wsu.edu
Restrictions on Access
This collection is open for research use.
Names and Subjects
Corporate Name(s)
Creator(s) :
- Commercial Bank of Vancouver --Archives
Personal Name(s)
Creator(s) :
- Beard, Samuel M.
Subject(s)
- Banks and banking--Washington (State)--Vancouver--Records and correspondence.
Detailed Description of Collection
| item | ||||
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Minute books, articles of incorporation, by-laws, director's oaths, real estate papers 1888-1911 50 items. |
1 | |||
Letterbooks |
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| item | ||||
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December 18, 1889-October 13, 1890 |
2 | |||
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August 9, 1893-October 6, 1894 |
3 | |||
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September 17, 1895-June 25, 1896 |
4 | |||
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March 9, 1897-February 9, 1898 |
5 | |||
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February 10, 1898-February 15, 1899 |
6 | |||
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February 16, 1899-Febrary 6, 1900 |
7 | |||
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October 7, 1902-August 14, 1903 |
8 | |||
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January 18, 1910-May 31, 1910 |
9 | |||
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| item | ||||
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Letterbook of S. M. Beard re: Bank correspondence and other businesses with which Beard was associated April 8, 1899-September 23, 1904 |
10 | |||
Journal (fund accounts and daily balances) |
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| item | ||||
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January 2, 1890-August 1, 1900 |
11 | |||
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February 9, 1892-March 16, 1895 |
12 | |||
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March 18, 1895-April 23, 1898 |
13 | |||
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April 25, 1898-June 11, 1901 |
14 | |||
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August 2, 1904-September 25, 1907 |
15 | |||
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September 26, 1907-November 12, 1910 |
16 | |||
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Depositors Balance Book |
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| item | ||||
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September 1, 1892-June 6, 1893 |
17 | |||
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June 15, 1893-June 6, 1894 |
18 | |||
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June 7, 1894-May 8, 1895 |
19 | |||
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May 9, 1895-January 15, 1896 |
20 | |||
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January 16, 1896-January 8, 1897 |
21 | |||
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January 9, 1897-December 29, 1897 |
22 | |||
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December 30, 1897-December 23, 1898 |
23 | |||
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December 24, 1898-December 23, 1899 |
24 | |||
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December 26, 1899-January 28, 1901 |
25 | |||
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January 29, 1901-November 13, 1901 |
26 | |||
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November 14, 1901-May 31, 1902 |
27 | |||
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Jane 2, 1902-December 13, 1902 |
28 | |||
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Collections and remittances (interbank) |
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| item | ||||
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(Chase National Bank, New York) June 30, 1893-October 2, 1900 |
29 | |||
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(Bank of California, Portland) June 21, 1907-October 5, 1907 |
30 | |||
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(Bank of California, Portland) October 5, 1907-January 30, 1908 |
31 | |||
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(Bank of California, Portland) January 30, 1908-May 16, 1908 |
32 | |||
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(Bank of California, Portland May 16, 1908-September 10, 1908 |
33 | |||
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(Bank of California, Portland) September 10, 1908-January 11, 1909 |
34 | |||
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(Bank of California, Portland) January 12, 1909-May 17, 1909 |
35 | |||
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(Mixed and local) September 23, 1907-June 29, 1908 |
36 | |||
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(Bank of California, Portland) January 23, 1908-November 26, 1909 |
37 | |||
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(Chase National Bank, New York) October 29, 1908-February 17, 1910 |
38 | |||
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(Mixed and local) July 7, 1908-June 23, 1909 |
39 | |||
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(Local Banks) June 26, 1909-June 23, 1910 |
40 | |||
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(Bank of California, Portland) January 23, 1910-October 31, 1910 |
41 | |||
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(Wells Fargo Nevada National Bank, San Francisco) March 23, 1909-January 28, 1910 |
42 | |||
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(Bank of California, Portland) May 18, 1909-September 28, 1909 |
43 | |||
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(Bank of California, Portland) September 27, 1909-February 7, 1910 |
44 | |||
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(Bank of California, Portland) February 7, 1910-June 23, 1910 |
45 | |||
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(Bank of California, Seattle) August 4, 1909-December 17, 1910 |
46 | |||
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Checks and Deposits Register |
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| item | ||||
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February 10, 1897-August 15, 1898 |
47 | |||
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February 17, 1903-November 3, 1903 |
48 | |||
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November 21, 1905-May 18, 1906 |
49 | |||
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April 5, 1907-June 18, 1907 |
50 | |||
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June 11, 1908-October 21, 1908 |
51 | |||
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October 22, 1908-February 18, 1909 |
52 | |||
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June 29, 1908-March 4, 1909 |
53 | |||
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February 19, 1909-June 11, 1909 |
54 | |||
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November 1, 1909-March 29, 1910 |
55 | |||
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(includes some examiner records) March 30, 1910-June 15, 1910 |
56 | |||
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| item | ||||
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Paid Loans Register 1908-1911 |
57 | |||
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Depositor's Specimen Signature Register |
58 | |||
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Collections Register 1901 |
59 | |||
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Draft Register 1910-1904 |
60 | |||
| items | ||||
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Checks Register (these records may be of one of the associated businesses conducted by bank officers) 1891-1895 1908 1910 |
61-66 | |||