North Dakota Bankers' Association Photograph Collection
Collection
Identifier: Photo 403-Photo Folio 95
Scope and Content
The North Dakota Bankers’ Association Photograph Collection contain portrait photographs of the organization’s presidents and members. The first folder is a single panoramic group photograph showing members attending a banker’s convention in Williston, it is undated.
The second folder is portrait photograph organized alphabetically from A to F. They include portraits of R.S. Adams, C. E. Batcheller, M.C. Bacheller, R. E. Barron, J. L. Cashel, F. W. Cathro, Lewis F. Crawford, J. J. Earley, Edward Engerud, Karl J. Farup, and Blanding Fisher.
The third folder is portrait photographs arranged alphabetically from G to P. They include portraits of C. R. Green, G. H. Leick, C. J. Lord, S. S. Lyon, Ed Pierce, W. D. McClintock, Wesley C. McDowell, W. C. Macfadden, M. F. Murphy, J. J. Nierling, and J. E. Phelan.
The fourth folder is located in (Photo Folio 95) and contains one photo of the North Dakota Bankers Association Band at Grand Forks, N.D. June 29, 1921.
The second folder is portrait photograph organized alphabetically from A to F. They include portraits of R.S. Adams, C. E. Batcheller, M.C. Bacheller, R. E. Barron, J. L. Cashel, F. W. Cathro, Lewis F. Crawford, J. J. Earley, Edward Engerud, Karl J. Farup, and Blanding Fisher.
The third folder is portrait photographs arranged alphabetically from G to P. They include portraits of C. R. Green, G. H. Leick, C. J. Lord, S. S. Lyon, Ed Pierce, W. D. McClintock, Wesley C. McDowell, W. C. Macfadden, M. F. Murphy, J. J. Nierling, and J. E. Phelan.
The fourth folder is located in (Photo Folio 95) and contains one photo of the North Dakota Bankers Association Band at Grand Forks, N.D. June 29, 1921.
Dates
- 1900s-1930s
Access
The collection is open under the rules and regulations of the NDSU Archives.
Copyrights
Copyrights to this collection remain with the creators or is in the public domain.
History
Banking in what is today North Dakota was said to have begun in July of 1873 in Bismarck. Run by one S. W. Raymond, the Bank of Bismarck carried on business as the only bank in a two hundred mile radius until 1878 when the Merchant's Bank opened. One year later the First National Bank opened its doors in Bismarck as well. The vicissitudes of the banking industry, particularly in the shaky financial climate of the last quarter of the 19th century, proved a problem not only in large banks to the east, but in Dakota Territory, and later, North Dakota.
The decade of the 1870s and 1880s were marked by periods of upheavals in industry, agriculture, transportation, and banking. Schemes to corner the gold market, the "crime of '73", the Greenback Party, and the growing discontent of farmers put considerable pressure on financial institutions to reform their practices of virtual unrestricted setting of interest rates, and occasional bankruptcies which occurred. Those banks which had sought to perform its business dealings with some semblance of fairness and responsibility, found themselves lumped in with banks which made questionable loans at exorbitant interest rates. Indeed, by the 1890s, the Granger movement had declined and given place to the new Populists, a party whose aim and platform included modification of monetary policy (silver coinage on par with gold), control of interest rates, and limiting freight charges. Recognizing these financial problems, North Dakota bankers gathered after the turn of the century to address them.
On August 27 and 28, 1903, the first annual convention of the North Dakota Bankers' association met in Grand Forks, North Dakota. In the address of welcome by Tracey Bangs, the concept of "safe" banking was pushed. After listing a number of banks which had collapsed in which he had money or interest, Bangs pleaded for guidelines and to a limited degree, self-regulation of the industry by the bankers themselves. Stressing that the banks were to serve the community in which the individual bankers lived, a sort of "extended localism" was called for. In such a situation an atmosphere of trust would be created which would foster the trust of the people in the soundness of their local bank.
Membership in this group, entitled "North Dakota Bankers' Association" by Article 1, section 1 of the Constitution of the organization, was open to "any national bank, state bank, savings bank, or trust company...upon payment of such annual dues as shall be provided by the by-laws..." The response for membership was encouraging to the organizers, and by the 1930s the Association grew to represent most of the financial institutions in the state.
Since the dark days of the Great Depression of the 1930s, the Association has involved itself with an increasing number of issues, many of them political. Like any other business organization, the NBA has had to change with the times. Thus, when government began taking a more active role in the economy and financial concerns of the state and nation, the Association was forced to address itself accordingly.
The North Dakota Bankers' Association continues to address problems and policies of state and federal government on behalf of its members. As it has grown and developed over the years, the Association has grown in sophistication as well. Now in the latter part of the 20th century, the North Dakota Bankers' Association looks back to the past at its accomplishments, as well as to the future with its plans.
Sources: Information taken from Samuel Torgerson, "Early Banking in North Dakota" North Dakota Historical Quarterly, vol. 13, no. 3, April 1923 First Annual Convention, North Dakota Bankers' Association, 1903 Eighth Annual Convention, North Dakota Bankers' Association, 1910 North Dakota Bankers' Association Records
History copied from the North Dakota Bankers' Association Records finding aid at the State Historical Society of North Dakota.
The decade of the 1870s and 1880s were marked by periods of upheavals in industry, agriculture, transportation, and banking. Schemes to corner the gold market, the "crime of '73", the Greenback Party, and the growing discontent of farmers put considerable pressure on financial institutions to reform their practices of virtual unrestricted setting of interest rates, and occasional bankruptcies which occurred. Those banks which had sought to perform its business dealings with some semblance of fairness and responsibility, found themselves lumped in with banks which made questionable loans at exorbitant interest rates. Indeed, by the 1890s, the Granger movement had declined and given place to the new Populists, a party whose aim and platform included modification of monetary policy (silver coinage on par with gold), control of interest rates, and limiting freight charges. Recognizing these financial problems, North Dakota bankers gathered after the turn of the century to address them.
On August 27 and 28, 1903, the first annual convention of the North Dakota Bankers' association met in Grand Forks, North Dakota. In the address of welcome by Tracey Bangs, the concept of "safe" banking was pushed. After listing a number of banks which had collapsed in which he had money or interest, Bangs pleaded for guidelines and to a limited degree, self-regulation of the industry by the bankers themselves. Stressing that the banks were to serve the community in which the individual bankers lived, a sort of "extended localism" was called for. In such a situation an atmosphere of trust would be created which would foster the trust of the people in the soundness of their local bank.
Membership in this group, entitled "North Dakota Bankers' Association" by Article 1, section 1 of the Constitution of the organization, was open to "any national bank, state bank, savings bank, or trust company...upon payment of such annual dues as shall be provided by the by-laws..." The response for membership was encouraging to the organizers, and by the 1930s the Association grew to represent most of the financial institutions in the state.
Since the dark days of the Great Depression of the 1930s, the Association has involved itself with an increasing number of issues, many of them political. Like any other business organization, the NBA has had to change with the times. Thus, when government began taking a more active role in the economy and financial concerns of the state and nation, the Association was forced to address itself accordingly.
The North Dakota Bankers' Association continues to address problems and policies of state and federal government on behalf of its members. As it has grown and developed over the years, the Association has grown in sophistication as well. Now in the latter part of the 20th century, the North Dakota Bankers' Association looks back to the past at its accomplishments, as well as to the future with its plans.
Sources: Information taken from Samuel Torgerson, "Early Banking in North Dakota" North Dakota Historical Quarterly, vol. 13, no. 3, April 1923 First Annual Convention, North Dakota Bankers' Association, 1903 Eighth Annual Convention, North Dakota Bankers' Association, 1910 North Dakota Bankers' Association Records
History copied from the North Dakota Bankers' Association Records finding aid at the State Historical Society of North Dakota.
Extent
23 Photographic Prints (23 photographic prints.)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
First organized in 1889, abandoned after several years. An attempt at reorganization in 1894 failed. Association was organized in 1903 at Grand Forks, S.S. Lyon, Fargo, N.D. elected president. Incorporated under North Dakota law in 1906. In 1914, W.C. Macfadden was elected state secretary of the Association, he held this position until 1932. He was succeeded by C.C. (Charles C.) Wattam.
Provenance
Donated by Charles C. Wattam, 1954 (Acc. 215).
Separation record - Institute Small Collection 403
The History of Banking in North Dakota, by W.C. Macfadden, 1934
Property rights
The NDSU Archives owns the property rights to this collection.
- Title
- Finding Aid to the North Dakota Bankers' Association Photograph Collection
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Institute for Regional Studies Repository
Contact:
West Building N
3551 7th Avenue North
Fargo North Dakota 58102 United States
ndsu.archives@ndsu.edu
West Building N
3551 7th Avenue North
Fargo North Dakota 58102 United States
ndsu.archives@ndsu.edu