First National Bank of Santa Barbara Records

Collection

Identifier: AR-2024-008

Staff Only

First National Bank c.1920, Photo File 100.341, First National Bank, Gledhill Library, Santa Barbara Historical Museum

Scope and Contents

The First National Bank of Santa Barbara Records contains forty-six volumes of handwritten ledgers from the earliest years of Santa Barbara's banking industry.

Dates

1873 - 1900

Biographical / Historical

During Santa Barbara’s early years little thought was given to the necessity of establishing a bank—in fact, it was not until the early 1870s that it was seriously considered. Within a span of fifteen years, men of vision such as Mortimer Cook, William Eddy, Eugene Sheffield, George S. Edwards and Charles A. Edwards successfully started and operated three banks, which prospered and helped build Santa Barbara into a world famous city.

Extent

46 Volumes

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Accession No. 2024-174. On page 5 of the Bankers Issue of Noticias published in Winter 1964, William K. Serumgard wrote, "Many of the records of the First National Gold Bank and First National and Savings Bank of Santa Barbara have been turned over to the Santa Barbara Historical Society where they can be seen."