Columbia National Bank, Washington, DC (Charter 3625)
Columbia National Bank, Washington, DC (Chartered 1887 - Open past 1935)
Town History
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia, also known as just Washington or simply D.C., is the capital city and federal district of the United States. It is located on the east bank of the Potomac River, which forms its southwestern and southern border with Virginia, and it shares a land border with Maryland on its other sides. The city was named for George Washington, a Founding Father and the first president of the United States, and the federal district is named after Columbia, a female personification of the nation. As the seat of the U.S. federal government and several international organizations, the city is an important world political capital. It is one of the most visited cities in the U.S. with over 20 million annual visitors as of 2016.
Washington, DC had 29 National Banks chartered during the Bank Note Era, and 25 of those banks issued National Bank Notes.
Bank History
- Organized November 15, 1886
- Chartered January 27, 1887
- Bank was Open past 1935
The following bank history was written by Edward C. Stone on the 50th anniversary of the Columbia National Bank. The bank's records showed that a preliminary meeting was held on November 2, 1886, at the office of H.B. Warner & Co., 916 F. Street, "the purpose of which was to organize a national bank on F. Street." The articles of association dated November 15th were signed by the following Washington men who also became the first board of directors: Brainard H. Warner, John Joy Edson, Samuel M. Bryan, George Truesdell, George C. Maynard, Alexander T. Britton, Samuel Ross, A.F. Fox, Myron M. Parker, H.K. Willard, W.E. Barker, David L. Morrison, Stilson Hutchins, John E. Herrell, and Charles C. Duncanson. The charter was granted on January 27, 1887. The bank had six vice presidents, including three who were later advanced to the presidency. A.T. Britton, elected November 15, 1886; Albert F. Fox, January 20, 1891; Charles B. Bailey, June 8, 1897; Benjamin W. Guy, April 27, 1909; F.J. Stryker, October 5, 1922; L. Whiting Estes, May 1, 1924; and James A. Messer, January 11, 1934. E.S. Parker was the bank's first cashier. The Columbia had practically always been in the same location, although it occupied temporary quarters in the old Le Droit Building pending remodeling of its permanent quarters at the time of its organization. In February 1928, the old building at 911 F. Street was razed and a very attractive structure erected, the new quarters being occupied on December 17th of that year.[1]
In May 1900, the officers were Albert F. Fox, president; Charles B. Bailey, vice president; and Clarence Corson, cashier. The directors were Charles B. Bailey, William E. Barker, John Cummack, Charles C. Duncanson, Albert F. Fox, John A. Hamilton, Benjamin F. Leighton, Frank B. Noyes, B. Francis Saul, Lenis P. Shoemaker, Orren G. Staples, Hon. John A. Swope, George Truesdell, Thomas E. Waggaman, and Brainard H. Warner. The bank had capital $250,000, surplus and profits $142,000.[2]
In January 1910, the directors elected were Charles B. Bailey, William E. Barker, John Joy Edson, Albert F. Fox, Benjamin W. Guy, John A. Hamilton, Benjamin F. Leighton, Alvin M. Lothrop, John Mitchell, Jr., Thomas C. Noyes, B. Francis Saul, Louis P. Shoemaker, George W.F. Swartzell, John A. Swope, and Brainard H. warner. The officers were Albert F. Fox, president; Charles B. Bailey and Benjamin W. Guy, vice presidents; and Clarence Corson, cashier.[3]
Monday, October 16, 1922, was a gala day at the Columbia National Bank. The veteran institution was ablaze with flowers in honor of James A. Messer, the new president, and Frank J. Stryker, vice president and cashier. Officials of the Federal National Bank called on F.J. Stryker to wish him success and gave Mr. Messer "the glad hand." Across the way in the office of the National Union Insurance Company, Albert F. Fox in company with his old associate Charles B. Bailey, was busy with his duties as president of the company. They paid their respects to their successors later in the day wishing them well. The directors of the Columbia National were James E. Ament, Charles B. Bailey, W. Clarence Duvall, John Joy Edson, L. Whiting Estes, C. Fenton Fadely, Albert F. Fox, Benjamin W. Guy, David J. Kaufman, James A. Messer, John H. Miller, Theodore W. Noyes, B. Francis Saul, Frank J. Stryker, and John N. Swartzell.[4]
On January 15, 1924, John N. Seitz of the Federal-American National Bank was added to the official personnel of the Columbia National Bank as an assistant cashier. Mr. Seitz was connected with the Federal-American as teller for the past six years. Prior to that time he was teller at the Continental Trust Company and previously a runner at the National Bank of Washington. Officers of the Columbia National were re-elected at the annual meeting of directors. They were James A. Messer, president; Benjamin W. Guy, vice president; Frank J. Stryker, vice president and cashier; Arthur N. Mitchell, assistant cashier and Walter B. Guy, attorney.[5] On Thursday, October 16th, John N. Seitz was named cashier of the Columbia National Bank, filling a vacancy caused by the elevation of Frank J. Stryker to the presidency of the institution. Revitalization of the old Columbia National which began with the coming of Mr. Stryker several years ago now was complete.[6]
In January 1925, John N. Seitz tendered his resignation. He would continue to keep in touch with his banking friends as he became associated with Giddings & Rogers, a Baltimore firm of bank stationers, making his headquarters in the District.[7]
On Tuesday, January 8, 1935, stockholders re-elected the following directors: Harry Blake, John Joy Edson, L. Whiting Estes, C. Fenton, Fadeley, Ernest C. Guy, David J. Kaufman, George M. Leimbach, James A. Messer, Joseph H. Milans, Theodore W. Noyes, Walter S. Pratt, Jr., Andrew Saul, Frank J. Stryker, John N. Swartzell, and Harry S. Wolf.[8] On July 15, 1935, John Joy Edson, who twice refused the post of District Commissioner, died in Washington, DC. He organized the Equitable Co-operative Building Association in 1879, was named president of the Washington Loan & Trust Co. in 1894 and board chairman in 1917. He also served as a director of the Columbia National Bank until his death.[9]
On Thursday, January 10, 1946, all officers were re-elected at a meeting of the board as follows: Frank J. Stryker, president; Robert C. Baker, vice president; Robert H. Lacey, cashier; Albert E. Yeatman, and Sheridan S. Kleindienst, assistant cashiers; and Walter B. Guy, attorney.[10] On October 3, 1946, Daniel W. Bell, president of the American Security & Trust Co., announced that its board of directors had approved an offer to purchase the assets and assume the liabilities of the Columbia National Bank located at 911 F Street NW and to establish the office as a branch of the trust company. Frank J. Stryker, president of Columbia advised that its board had unanimously voted to accept the officer subject to the required approval by the shareholders. A special meeting of the stockholders was called for November 5, to vote on the matter. The trust company proposed to retain the officers and personnel and stockholders would receive more that $400 per share for their stock.[11]
The American Security & Trust Company was chartered under Virginia laws in October 1889 with 1,250,000 capital, and was rechartered under District of Columbia laws a year later. In 1905, the bank moved from 1419 G Street NW to Fifteenth Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, enlarging facilities in 1932 with the erection of a 10-sotry office building. In 1919, the Home Savings Bank merged with the trust company and in 1946 the assets of the Columbia National Bank were purchased. Daniel W. Bell, former Undersecretary of the Treasury, succeeded Corcoran Thom, Sr., as president in 1946. A.T. Britton was the first president and Charles G. Bell the second.[12]
On Monday, December 2nd, the Columbia Branch of the American Security and Trust Company began business at 911 F Street NW. American Security operated five other branches plus the main office for broader banking and trust services.[13]
Official Bank Title
1: The Columbia National Bank of Washington, DC
Bank Note Types Issued
A total of $5,610,690 in National Bank Notes was issued by this bank between 1887 and 1935. This consisted of a total of 451,750 notes (374,484 large size and 77,266 small size notes).
This bank issued the following Types and Denominations of bank notes:
Series/Type Sheet/Denoms Serial#s Sheet Comments 1882 Brown Back 3x10-20 1 - 17260 $10s with Abnormal Border variety 1902 Red Seal 3x10-20 1 - 4000 1902 Date Back 3x10-20 1 - 19000 1902 Plain Back 3x10-20 19001 - 72361 1929 Type 1 6x10 1 - 8312 1929 Type 1 6x20 1 - 2164 1929 Type 2 5 1 - 324 1929 Type 2 10 1 - 11210 1929 Type 2 20 1 - 2876
Bank Presidents and Cashiers
Bank Presidents and Cashiers during the National Bank Note Era (1887 - 1935):
Presidents:
- Brainard Henry Warner, 1887-1890
- Edmund Southard Parker, 1891-1896
- Albert Frederick Fox, 1897-1922
- James Augustus Messer, 1923-1923
- Francis "Frank" J. Stryker, 1924-1935
Cashiers:
- Edmund Southard Parker, 1887-1890
- Pliny M. Hough, 1891-1891
- Clarence Corson, 1892-1922
- Francis "Frank" J. Stryker, 1923-1923
- Arthur N. Mitchell, 1925-1929
- Robert H. Lacey, 1930-1935
Other Known Bank Note Signers
- No other known bank note signers for this bank
Bank Note History Links
- Columbia National Bank, Washington, DC History (NB Lookup)
- District of Columbia Bank Note History (BNH Wiki)
Sources
- Washington, DC, on Wikipedia
- Don C. Kelly, National Bank Notes, A Guide with Prices. 6th Edition (Oxford, OH: The Paper Money Institute, 2008).
- Dean Oakes and John Hickman, Standard Catalog of National Bank Notes. 2nd Edition (Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 1990).
- Banks & Bankers Historical Database (1782-1935), https://spmc.org/bank-note-history-project
- ↑ Evening Star, Washington, DC, Wed., Jan. 27, 1937.
- ↑ Evening Star, Washington, DC, Sat., May 19, 1900.
- ↑ Evening Star, Washington, DC, Tue., Jan. 11, 1910.
- ↑ Evening Star, Washington, DC, Mon., Oct. 16, 1922.
- ↑ Evening Star, Washington, DC, Fri., Jan. 11, 1924.
- ↑ Evening Star, Washington, DC, Fri., Oct. 17, 1924.
- ↑ The Washington Post, Washington, DC, Sat., Jan. 10, 1925.
- ↑ Evening Star, Washington, DC, Tue., Jan. 8, 1935.
- ↑ Evening Star, Washington, DC, Sun., Oct. 26, 1958.
- ↑ Evening Star, Washington, DC, Fri., Jan. 11, 1946.
- ↑ Evening Star, Washington, DC, Thu., Oct. 3, 1946.
- ↑ Evening Star, Washington, DC, Thu., Dec. 8, 1949.
- ↑ Evening Star, Washington, DC, Sun., Dec. 1, 1946.