Commercial Bank records

  • Creator Names Commercial Bank (West Branch, Mich.)
  • Title Commercial Bank records [manuscript], 1890-1927.
  • Physical description 68 items.
  • Collection summary Incoming correspondence from Chicago banks and businesses, mostly concerning the collection of debts from and payment of funds to residents in the West Branch area of northeastern Michigan. Also included are letters requesting information about the financial strength of the area businesses as well as one from the Chicago Journal newspaper soliciting assistance in finding a "young man to act as agent for the Chicago Journal in your town" (1897) and a letter from the Kilmer Wire Manufacturing Company of Chicago complaining about the quality of steel (1898).
  • Biographical or Historical Note "The Commercial Bank began operation in 1890. The son of Mr. Tolfree was at the helm when the bank failed in 1950, to the chagrin of many depositors. During the late 1800s, West Branch was mainly a lumbering town, but farming and grazing were taking hold, and today the area is farming, forest products, small manufacturing, an recreation oriented...." (Richard Buck to Corey Seeman, August 9, 1991).
  • Acquisition information Found by Richard E. Buck when the bank building was being renovated.
  • Subjects
    • Banks and banking Illinois Chicago.
    • Banks and banking Michigan.
    • Newspaper publishing Illinois Chicago.
    • Steel industry and trade Illinois Chicago.
  • Geographic coverage
    • Michigan Commerce.
    • West Branch (Mich.) Economic conditions.
  • Geographic name United States Illinois Cook County Chicago.