| Dates: | 1920-1956 |
| Size: | .25 linear foot |
| Repository: | Chicago Public Library, Woodson Regional Library, Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection of Afro-American History and Literature, 9525 S. Halsted Street, Chicago, Illinois 60628 |
|
Collection Number: |
2005/01 |
| Provenance: | Donated by Rosella E. Smith in January 2005, February 2005, and March 2005. Additional donations by James Priester in July 2004, January 2005, February 2005, and March 2005 and Judith A. Allen in December 2008. |
| Access: | No restrictions |
| Citation: |
When quoting material from this collection the preferred citation is: Rosella E. Smith Papers, [Box #, Folder #], Chicago Public Library, Woodson Regional Library, Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection of Afro-American History and Literature |
| Processed by: | Bianca Milligan, Library Associate, April 2021; supervised by Elizabeth Loch |
Biographical Note
Rosella E. Smith started this family archive of stock certificates and checks written to James E. White from Binga State Bank, the first privately-owned Black bank in Chicago, and Douglass National Bank of Chicago. White was the uncle of Mattie L. [Taylor] Priester who worked at Supreme Liberty Life Insurance and held shares at the company. Priester was the mother of donor James L. Priester. Donor Rosella Smith is the first cousin of James L. Priester.
Originally from Detroit, Michigan, Jesse Binga arrived in Chicago in 1890 and became a prominent business man. He was involved in business ventures of banking and real estate. He was inspired to create his own bank in 1908 since white-owned banks refused to lend money to African Americans. Binga State Bank prospered until its financial failure during the Great Depression in the 1930s.
Sources
Scope and Content
Within this collection is a series of stock share certificates and a check related to Binga State Bank, Supreme Liberty Life Insurance, and Douglass National Bank of Chicago between 1920 and 1956.
Arrangement
This small collection is separated into eleven folders. The folders are organized chronologically, then alphabetically.
Related Materials
Related materials at the Chicago Public Library include:
Container List
| Box 1 | Folder 1 | Check for share of Binga State Bank written by Jesse Binga, 1920 June 4 |
| Box 1 | Folder 2 | Binga State Bank Capital Stock shares, 1920 December 2 |
| Box 1 | Folder 3 | Binga State Capital Stock certificate [photocopies], 1920 December 2 |
| Box 1 | Folder 4 | Binga State Bank Capital Stock certificate [photocopies], 1920 December 2 |
| Box 1 | Folder 5 | Binga State Bank Capital Stock certificate [photocopy], 1924 September 5 |
| Box 1 | Folder 6 | Binga State Bank Capital Share certificate, 1924 September 5 |
| Box 1 | Folder 7 | The Douglass National Bank of Chicago Stock certificate, 1930 July 30 |
| Box 1 | Folder 8 | Supreme Liberty Life Insurance Company Capital Stock certificate, 1946 July 8 |
| Box 1 | Folder 9 | Supreme Liberty Life Insurance Company Capital Stock certificate, 1948 June 15 |
| Box 1 | Folder 10 | Supreme Liberty Life Insurance Company Capital Stock certificate, 1951 June 15 |
| Box 1 | Folder 11 | Supreme Liberty Life Insurance Company Capital Stock certificate, 1956 August 17 |
