Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Equitable Savings & Loan Association photographs collection, 1891-1980
Overview of the Collection
- Collector
- Equitable Savings & Loan Association
- Title
- Equitable Savings & Loan Association photographs collection
- Dates
- 1891-1980 (inclusive)18911980
1940-1980 (bulk)19401980 - Quantity
- 3.87 cubic feet, (1852 photographs, 170 film negatives, and 400 slides in 5 document boxes, 3 oversize boxes, 2 oversize folders, and 6 photograph albums)
- Collection Number
- Org. Lot 233 (collection)
- Summary
- The photographs document one of the most important and longest-lived financial institutions in Oregon and its expansion into branch banking throughout the state and into Idaho, Utah, and Washington. The collection covers personnel, activities, and buildings, most notably three buildings for the Portland home office, all designed by noted architect Pietro Belluschi.
- Repository
-
Oregon Historical Society Research Library
1200 SW Park Avenue
Portland, OR
97205
Telephone: 503-306-5240
Fax: 503-219-2040
libreference@ohs.org - Access Restrictions
-
The collection is open to the public.
- Additional Reference Guides
-
The photograph albums included in the Equitable Savings and Loan Collection have been cataloged and are findable through the keyword search in the Oregon Historical Society Research Library's on-line public catalog.
- Languages
- English
- Sponsor
- Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities. Funding for preparing this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.
Historical NoteReturn to Top
In 1890, prominent Portland businessmen incorporated the Oregon Building & Loan Association, which was renamed the Equitable Savings & Loan Association in 1899. The association occupied space in a number of downtown Portland buildings before constructing its first home at the corner of Southwest Sixth Avenue and Stark Street in 1932. Another new building replaced that one on the site in 1948. In 1965, the Association built the Equitable Center at 1300 Southwest Sixth Avenue. Pietro Belluschi, noted architect, designed all three of the buildings.
Equitable began its expansion into branch banking in 1941 at Seattle, Wash. Its branches eventually numbered more than 50 in Idaho, Oregon, Utah, and Washington. Equitable was associated with GAC Corp. from about 1969-1972. When it merged with Benjamin Franklin Savings & Loan Association in 1982, Equitable was the oldest savings and loan in the Northwest.
Ralph Cake (1891-1973) was the association’s most prominent and longest-serving president (1938-1962). A Portland native and lawyer, he gained prominence as a national leader in the Republican Party and adviser to President Dwight D. Eisenhower. In the early 1930s, he was part of the group of savings and loan leaders who helped to establish the Federal Home Loan Bank and Loan Insurance Corporation. He also served on the board of the Panama Canal Co., 1953-1960 and 1969-1972.
A history compiled by Les Woods for an employee orientation slide show is located in Box 4, Folder 8.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The collection includes photographs from nearly all the period that Equitable existed as an independent institution, 1891-1982, but the bulk of them date from 1940-1980. The collection documents the buildings that the home office occupied in Portland and that branch offices occupied in Idaho, Oregon, Utah, and Washington. The most notable buildings were for the home office in Portland, all three designed by noted architect Pietro Belluschi and completed in 1932, 1948 and 1965, respectively. The 1948 building was the first high-rise building constructed in the United States after World War II.
The collections includes several images of Belluschi. It also includes company personnel and activities, special events hosted or promoted by Equitable, and a small quantity of other images related to company operations and presidents. Included are a significant number of images showing women at work in the home office and in branches. Photo-Art Commercial Studios produced the bulk of the photographs, but the work of several other photographers also is represented, including Walter Boychuk, Ralph H. Cake, and Leonard Hatsill Delano and Delano Studios and Aerial Photography of Portland, Or. Many early images are later reproductions made by Photo-Art. Formats include black-and-white and color prints and snapshots, 35-mm color slides, and 35-mm black-and-white negatives. Some of the images are included in six photograph albums, mostly documenting headquarters and branch buildings.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
The Oregon Historical Society is the owner of the materials in the Research Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from the Research Library prior to any reproduction use. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all of the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from the copyright owners.
Preferred Citation
Equitable Savings & Loan Association photographs collection, Org. Lot 233, Oregon Historical Society Research Library
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
The Equitable Savings & Loan Photographs Collection is organized into the following series and subseries:
- Series A: Home Office (Portland, Or.), 1891-1980, undated
- Subseries 1: Buildings
- Subseries 2: Presidents
- Subseries 3: Employees
- Subseries 4: Employee Activities
- Subseries 5: Special Events
- Subseries 6: Slide Show for Employee Orientation
- Series B: Branch Offices (Idaho, Oregon, Utah, and Washington),
1949-1980, undated
- Subseries 1: Buildings
- Subseries 2: Employees and Activities
- Series C: Other Images, 1940-circa 1970, undated
Acquisition Information
Library accession no. 16076 (Photo accession no. 1982D182).
Processing Note
Photograph albums were initially processed individually before being re-united with the collection. They were originally given Album numbers 706-711. The numbers are now Album 233-1 through Album 233-6.
Separated Materials
The Equitable Savings & Loan photographs were separated from a manuscript collection (MSS 2353), which is described and cataloged separately.
Related Materials
Pietro Belluschi's architectural drawings for two of the association's buildings are located in Archival Collections at the Oregon Historical Society Research Library (Coll 2) and at Syracuse University in New York.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.
Series A: Home Office (Portland, Or.) , 1891-1980Return to Top
The Home Office series is organized into the following sub-series: Buildings, Presidents, Employees, Employee Activities, Special Events, and Slide Show for Employee Orientation. The slide show history of Equitable Savings and Loan Association includes a copy of the script (Box 4, Folder 8). Folders are organized chronologically within sub-series. Many individuals are identified on the verso of photographs in this series.
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Subseries 1: Buildings |
||
Box/Folder | ||
1/1 | Worchester Building (home
office, 1891-1893)
Includes photographic reproduction of a drawing
|
circa 1892 |
1/2 | Locations
|
1893-1932 |
1/3 | Equitable Savings &
Loan Building, Southwest Sixth and Stark (home office, 1933-1948)
Includes exterior and interior views
|
1932-1940s |
Equitable Savings &
Loan Building, Southwest Sixth and Stark (home office, 1948-1965) |
||
Box/Folder | ||
1/4, 6/1, 6/4, 8/1 | Construction
scenes
Includes photographic reproduction of Sixth Street
elevation drawing
|
1947-1948 |
1/5 | Dinner held in
building during construction |
undated |
1/6 | Grand
Opening
Includes many identified people, among them Pietro
Belluschi, architect, and Ralph Cake, Equitable president
|
1948 |
1/7, 6/1, 6/4, 8/1 | Exteriors
Includes black-and-white and color photographic
prints and postcard views and one 35-mm color slide.
|
1948, circa 1950, 1973, undated |
1/8, 6/4 | Interiors
|
circa 1950 |
1/9 | Christmas
decorations |
1959 |
Equitable Center, 1300
Southwest Sixth Avenue (home office, 1965-1982) |
||
Box/Folder | ||
1/10 | Ground breaking
ceremonies
Includes black-and-white prints and 35-mm color
slides. Identified people include Pietro Belluschi, architect.
|
1963 |
1/11 | Construction
scenes |
1963-1964 |
1/12-13 | Dedication ceremony,
open house, and dinner for employees and local businessmen
Includes black-and-white and color prints and 35-mm
color slides. Identified people include Pietro Belluschi, architect.
|
1965 |
1/14, 7/1, 7/4, 7/6 | Exteriors and
models
Includes black-and-white and color prints, some in
albums.
|
circa 1963, 1965, 1970, undated |
1/15, 7/5-6, 8/2-3 | Interiors
Includes black-and-white and color prints, some in
albums, and black-and-white snapshots of floor plans.
|
1965, undated |
1/16 | Christmas
decorations
Includes black-and-white and color prints and a
black-and-white contact sheet for negatives Lot 233-8 through Lot 233-10.
|
1965, 1967, 1969 |
Subseries 2: Presidents |
||
Box/Folder | ||
2/1 | Cake, Harold
H. |
undated |
2/2, 6/2, 7/4, 8/4 | Cake, Ralph
Portraits and activities in college and Republican
politics, including:
|
1908-circa 1970, undated |
2/3 | Cake, William |
1944, undated |
2/4 | McKercher,
Finley |
1906, undated |
2/5 | Other
presidents
Including J. Don Chapman, A.C. Commack, Edward
Cookingham, Harry M. Grant, Howard L. Hubbard, C.E. Lass, William E. Love, and
Theodore B. Wilcox.
|
undated |
Subseries 3: Employees |
||
Executive offices and
others (solo portraits) |
||
Box/Folder | ||
2/6 | A-K
|
1938-1971, undated |
2/7 | L-Z
|
1969-1970, undated |
2/8 | Unidentified |
|
Departments (including
office scenes) |
||
Box/Folder | ||
2/9 | EDP
Department |
1969 |
2/10 | Mail Department and
Addressograph Department |
1962, 1970, undated |
2/11 | Purchasing
Department |
1970 |
2/12 | Records
Department
Includes Dennis Kay.
|
1969 |
2/13 | Savings
Department
Includes D. Gernhardt, Jim Truax, Terry Wohlgemuth,
and Les Woods.
|
1969-1970, undated |
2/14 | Other
Departments
|
1962, 1969-1970, undated |
Box/Folder | ||
2/15 | Committees
|
1971, undated |
2/16 | Other home office group
photos
Includes:
|
1944-1980, undated |
2/17 | Other groups
Groups include:
|
1960-1969, undated |
Subseries 4: Employee
Activities
Includes many group portraits that are fully identified on
verso
|
||
Annual
picnics |
||
Box/Folder | ||
2/18, C/1-2 |
Includes two group cirkut prints (8x10 reproductions
in 2/18)
|
1933, 1939, 1940 |
2/19 | 1942 | |
2/20 | Undated (circa 1940s-1950s) | |
2/21 | 1948, 1951 | |
2/22 | 1952 | |
2/23 | 1953 | |
2/24 | 1956 | |
2/25 | 1957 | |
2/26 | 1958 | |
2/27 |
Includes color slides
|
1959 |
Box/Folder | ||
2/28 | Award dinners |
1949, undated |
2/29 | Bowling
tournament |
1957 |
Christmas
parties |
||
Box/Folder | ||
2/30 | circa 1890s, 1934-1936, 1938-1939, undated | |
2/31 | 1941,1943,1945 | |
2/32 | 1949 | |
2/33 | 1956 | |
2/34 | 1958 | |
2/35 | 1960s | |
3/1 | 1960-1961 | |
3/2 | 1963 | |
3/3 | 1967 | |
3/4 | 1969 | |
3/5 |
Includes 35-mm color slides
|
1970 |
Easter breakfasts
|
||
Box/Folder | ||
3/6 | 1968 | |
3/7 | 1970s | |
3/8 | 1970 | |
3/9 |
Includes 35-mm color slides
|
1971 |
3/10 | 1976 | |
3/11 | 1980 | |
Box/Folder | ||
3/12 | Retirement
dinners
|
1963, 1970, undated |
3/13 | Other
activities
|
1940s, 1959, 1961, undated |
Subseries 5: Special Events |
||
Anniversary
celebrations |
||
Box/Folder | ||
3/14 | 50th
Anniversary |
1941 |
3/15 | 60th
Anniversary |
1951 |
3/16 | 75th
Anniversary |
1966 |
Box/Folder | ||
3/17 | Home Planners'
Institute |
1944 |
3/18 | Pacific Northwest
Conference of Savings and Loan Associations |
circa 1955 |
3/19 | Reception for Japanese
Consul, Equitable Center |
circa 1970 |
3/20 | Receptions for Junior
Achievement Participants, Equitable Center |
1966-1967 |
3/21 | Reception for Swedish
Ambassador, Equitable Center |
1968 |
Rose Festival activities
at Equitable Center
Including entertainment and luncheons for Rose Festival
Princesses
|
||
Box/Folder | ||
3/22 | 1966 | |
3/23 | 1967 | |
3/24 | 1968 | |
3/25 | 1969 | |
3/26 | 1970 | |
1980 | ||
Box/Folder | ||
3/27 | Clackamas
Community College Jazz Band |
1980 |
3/28 | Columbia High
School (Vancouver, Washington) band and chorus |
1980 |
4/1 | Enid High School
(Oklahoma) band |
1980 |
4/2 | Grant High School
(Portland) girls' vocal ensemble |
1980 |
4/3 | Portland Timbers
Soccer Team appearance |
1980 |
4/4 | Luncheon for Rose
Princesses |
1980 |
4/5 | Other
images |
1980 |
Box/Folder | ||
4/6 | Undated |
|
Box/Folder | ||
4/7 | Signing of agreement with
GAC Corporation |
1969 |
Subseries 6: Slide Show for Employee
Orientation |
||
Box/Folder | ||
4/8 | History of Equitable
Savings & Loan Association
Includes script written by Les Woods
|
circa 1980 |
Series B: Branch Offices (Idaho, Oregon, Utah, Washington) , 1949-1980Return to Top
The Branch Offices series is organized into two subseries: Buildings and Employees and Activities. Each subseries is organized by state, alphabetically, and then by cities within each state, also alphabetically. Much of the Building subseries is comprised of images of grand openings. Images in the subseries include many people, but most are unidentified. The Employees and Activities subseries includes many photographs of building exteriors and interiors, as well as people. Formats include black-and-white and color prints and 35-mm color slides. A number of the prints that were used for exhibits are mounted.
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Subseries 1: Buildings |
||
Box/Folder | ||
4/9 | Idaho
|
1967-1979, undated |
Oregon |
||
Box/Folder | ||
4/10 | A-C (includes mounted
color prints and color slides)
|
circa 1968-1978, undated |
4/11 | D-M (includes mounted
color prints and color slides)
|
1949-1980, undated |
4/12 | N-R (except
Portland—includes mounted prints and color slides)
|
1965-1978, undated |
4/13 | Portland (includes
mounted color prints and color slides)
|
circa 1960-1978, undated |
5/1 | S-Z (includes mounted
color prints and color slides)
|
1965-1980, undated |
Box/Folder | ||
5/2 | Utah and unidentified
(color slides only)
Kearny, undated
|
undated |
5/3 | Washington (except
Seattle—includes mounted color prints and color slides)
|
circa 1960-1971, undated |
Box/Folder | ||
6/5 | Yakima
Album of construction and other images assembled by
radio station KUTI for the grand opening
|
1964, circa 1965 |
5/4 | Seattle (includes
mounted color print and color slides)
Grand opening, 1967
|
1967, 1978 |
Subseries 2: Employees and
Activities |
||
Idaho |
||
Box/Folder | ||
5/5 | Boise
Includes:
|
circa 1970 |
5/6 | Idaho
Falls
Includes:
|
1970-1971, undated |
5/7 | Pocatello
Includes:
|
1970, undated |
5/8 | Twin
Falls
Includes:
|
circa 1970 |
5/9 | Other Idaho
offices
|
1970, undated |
Oregon |
||
Box/Folder | ||
5/10 | Corvallis
|
1970 |
5/11 | Klamath Falls
Includes:
|
circa 1970, undated |
5/12 | Newport
Includes: Todd, J.
|
circa 1970 |
5/13 | Pendleton |
1970, undated |
5/14 | Salem
Includes:
|
1971 |
5/15 | Other Oregon
offices
|
1969, undated |
Washington |
||
Box/Folder | ||
5/16 | Seattle
|
1970-1971, undated |
5/17 | Spokane |
1970 |
5/18 | Tacoma
|
1970 |
5/19 | Yakima |
circa 1970 |
Box/Folder | ||
7/2 | Group
photograph—employees from all branch offices |
1966 |
Series C: Other Images, 1940-circa 1970Return to Top
Includes trips made by Ralph Cake, images used for advertising, and views of communities where Equitable did business.
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
5/20 | Other related images
(includes color slides)
|
1956-1958, circa 1970 |
6/2 | Charles McNary's acceptance
speech for Republican vice-presidential nomination, Salem, Or. |
1940 |
7/3 | Klamath Falls, Oregon—Medical
and Dental building |
circa 1950 |
8/5 | Aerial views
|
circa 1960, undated |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Banks and banking--Northwest, Pacific--Photographs.
- Branch banks--Idaho--Photographs.
- Branch banks--Oregon--Photographs.
- Branch banks--Utah--Photographs.
- Branch banks--Washington (state)--Photographs.
Personal Names
- Belluschi, Pietro, 1899-.
Corporate Names
- Equitable Savings & Loan Association (Portland, Or.)--Photographs.
- Portland Rose Festival--Photographs.
Form or Genre Terms
- Film negatives.
- Photographic prints.
- Slides.
Other Creators
-
Personal Names
- Boychuk, Walter, 1886-1967. (photographer)
- Cake, Ralph H. (Ralph Harlan), 1891-. (photographer)
- Delano, Leonard Hatsill, 1908-1989. (photographer)
Corporate Names
- Delano Aerial Surveys (Portland, Or.). (photographers)
- Photo Art Studios (photographers)