Registers of signatures of depositors in branches of the Freedman's Savings and Trust Company, 1865-1874

Notes

This microfilm publication reproduces "55 volumes containing signatures of and personal identification data about depositors in 29 branch offices of the Freedman's Savings and Trust Company, 1865-1874.".

"The Company was incorporated by an act of Congress approved March 3, 1865, as a banking institution established in the city of Washington, District of Columbia, for the benefit of freed slaves. The military savings banks at Norfolk, Va., and Beaufort, S.C., were transferred to the Company soon after it was founded. From 1865 through 1870 a total of 33 branches were established, including an office that was opened in New York, N.Y. in 1866.

"In 1874 the Company failed... The information contained in many of the registers is as follows: account number, name of depositor, date of entry, place born, place brought up, residence, age, complexion, name of employer or occupation, wife or husband, children, father, mother, brothers and sisters, remarks, and signature. The early books sometimes also contain the name of the former master or mistress and the name of the plantation. In many entries not all the requested data are given. Copies of death certificates have been pinned to some of the entries. In each case the certificate has been filmed immediately after the page that shows the registration of the person's signature.".

"The registers are arranged alphabetically by name of state. The entries are arranged alphabetically by name of city where the bank was located, thereunder chronologically by date when the account was established, and thereunder numerically by account number. Many numbers are missing, a few are out of numerical order, and in some cases blocks of numbers were not used. Many registers seem to be missing. The volume for Philadelphia, Pa., dated January 7, 1870, to June 26, 1874, contains signatures of officers of societies"--Introd.

Microfilm of original records in the possession of the National Archives and Records Service, Washington, D. C.

View a digital version of United States, Freedmans Bank Records.

Subjects

Locality Subjects

Library of Congress Subjects

Film/Digital Notes