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Helena National Bank records, 1890-1896

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Helena National Bank (Helena, Mont.)
Title
Helena National Bank records
Dates
1890-1896 (inclusive)
Quantity
22 linear feet of shelf space.
Collection Number
MC 114 (collection)
Summary
The Helena National Bank was organized in Helena, Montana, in September 1890 by John T. Murphy, S.C. Ashby, A.B. Clements, and Frank Baird. In October 1893 the bank merged with the Second National Bank, and E.D. Edgerton became president. This combined bank in turn merged with the First National Bank in January 1895. Records (1890-1895) include correspondence; financial records; legal documents; organizational records; and miscellany.
Repository
Montana Historical Society, Library & Archives
Montana Historical Society Research Center Archives
225 North Roberts
PO Box 201201
Helena MT
59620-1201
Telephone: 4064442681
Fax: 4064445297
mhslibrary@mt.gov
Access Restrictions

Collection open for research.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
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Historical Note

The Helena National Bank was opened for general banking business on September 1, 1890, in the Power Block at 58 N. Main Street, Helena, Montana. At the time of the opening, the new bank possessed capital of $500,000, "equal to that of any other Helena bank." Officers in the early years of Helena National Bank included John T. Murphy, president, (of the Murphy, Neel and Company mercantile firm); Shirley C. Ashby, vice president and later president (the head of one of Montana's leading agriculture houses); and Frank Baird, cashier from 1890 to 1894.

During the panic of 1893, Helena National Bank negotiated a consolidation with the city's Second National Bank whose president was Erastus D. Edgerton. The merger was completed on October 1st, the two banking houses joining under the name of Helena National Bank with Edgerton assuming the office of president for the consolidated banks. At the time of the merger, there were suggestions of improprieties in the handling of a loan to D.A.G. Floweree by Helena National's president, Shirley C. Ashby.

Helena National Bank continued to operate through 1894. However, at the end of that year, the stockholders were asked to consider a merger of the bank with the reorganized First National Bank of Helena. The merger was approved and became effective on January 1, 1895. All Helena National assets were transferred to First National and the liquidation completed. Helena National stockholders were offered the exchange of their stock for that of the First National Bank at eighty per cent of the value of the Helena National certificates (Helena National stock having been reduced by the Comptroller), or they could retain their stock and receive payment following the collection of Helena National Bank assets. Most stockholders agreed to the stock exchange. E.D. Edgerton remained an officer following the merger, becoming a vice president and manager of First National Bank.

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Content Description

This collection includes incoming and outgoing correspondence, court papers, legal documents, organizational materials, and numerous volumes of financial records documenting the daily operations of the bank. The materials also supply information concerning the economy of Helena.

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

Researchers must use collection in accordance with the policies of the Montana Historical Society. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all materials in the collection. In some cases permission for use may require additional authorization from the copyright owners. For more information contact an archivist.

Preferred Citation

Item description and date. Collection Title. Collection Number. Box and Folder numbers. Montana Historical Society Research Center, Archives, Helena, Montana.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

Arranged by series.

Location of Collection

5:8-6

Acquisition Information

Acquisition information available upon request

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Detailed Description of the Collection

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection

  • Incoming Correspondence

    • Description: American National Bank
      Dates: 1890
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 1
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: A (correspondents include Charles Abell; The Alden Vinegar Company; The American Banker; American Exchange National Bank; The American Wringer Company; Anderson Brothers; William J. Anderson; A.H. Andrews and Company; Armstrong)
      Dates: 1890
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 2
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: B (correspondents include Bank of the Republic, New York; The Bankers' Directory and The Bankers Monthly; Charles G. Baird; J.P. Bartlett; Bee Hive and News Depot; Robert Bement and Company; Ezra G. Benedick; F.W. Biebinger; W.G. Bixby; Bozeman National Bank; Mary E. Bradford; Brown and Maybury; Charles F. Brown; Fred A. Brown; J.E. Bush)
      Dates: 1890-1895
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 3
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: C (correspondents include L.W. Campbell; Carter and Bowman; Central National Bank; Charles J. Chapman, Norron-Chapman Company; B.M. Chattell; W.P. Cherry; City National Bank; Cheyenne National Bank; Citizens Bank of Ogden; Albert H. Clark; Frank W. Clay; Cheshire Mills; Coeur D' Alene Bank; D. W. Conard; Continental Oil Company; W.G. Corthell; W.H. Crossman and Brother; W.S. Culbertson; Cumberland Mining and Smelting Company; George M. Curtis; Marcus M. Cutler)
      Dates: 1890
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 4
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: D-F (correspondents include George P. Davenport; Henry H. Davis; Double Eagle Mining Company; Drumm Flato Commission Company; Z.H. Ellis; Exchange Printing Company; Farmers National Bank; George H. Fister; First National Bank; W.D. Flowers; E.T. Foote; Fort Dearborn National Bank; Fourth National Bank of St. Louis)
      Dates: 1890-1895
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 5
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: Great Falls National Bank (Robert S. Ford)
      Dates: 1893-1895
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 6
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: G-L (correspondents include Gast-Paul Bankers Reporter; Germania Bank of St. Paul; Peter Gilles; W.G. Gooding; Luther R.. Graves; Great Northern Railway; Halls Safe and Lock Company; G.H. Hammond Company; Hanover National Bank; Louis Hax Furniture Company; Helena Capital Fund; Helena National Bank; E.F. Heneage; Charles E. Hibbard; Hoiles and Sons, Bankers; E.P. Inglee; Inter State National Bank; Investors Directory Company; Milton C. Johnson and Company; Kansas Loan and Trust Company; John P. Keiser; R. Kempf and Brothers; Kenyon-Connell Commercial Company; U. King; C.J. Kinna; D.W. Kinsey; Kopperl and Company; Kountze Brothers; Krull and Volger Company; J.L. Kuing; Larabie Brothers and Company; V.D. Latimer; B.H. Lawson; W.C. Leistikow; T.J. Lonergan and Company; A.H. Loomis; Lowell and Parker; George H. Lyon; M.M. Lyter)
      Dates: 1890-1895
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 7
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: M (correspondents include Bernard MacDonald; Manhattan Malting Company; McGraw and Sons; Guy W. McGriff; John F. McKeown; D.A. McKibben; Mercantile National Bank; Merchants and Manufacturers Bank; Merchants Loan and Trust Company; Metropolitan Bank; Missouri, Kansas and Texas Trust Company; Missouri State Bank; Moscow Savings Bank; Joab Mulvane; Musselshell State Company)
      Dates: 1890-1895
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 8
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: N-Q (correspondents include Lucila Nance; Nashua Savings Bank; National Park Bank; National Tobacco Works; A.H. Nelson; John H. Neville; Norther Pacific Rail Road Company; Northern National Bank; Omaha and Grant Smelting Company; Central National Bank; Park Coal and Coke Company; T.C. Power and Brothers; Riley Pebbles and Company; Bank of the Republic New York; John M. Peets; Peoples Bank; Peoples Trust Company; F.W. Pierce; Pitkin and Brooks; Pomeroy Duplicator Company; C.D. Porter; Porter Brothers; Portland National Bank; A. Potter; John Potter; W.J. Powell; F.A. Pratt)
      Dates: 1890-1895
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 9
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: C.F. Rieger and Company
      Dates: 1890
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 10
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: R-T (correspondents include George Reuter Jr.; Rice and Deremer; Rich and Stone; Thomas Ross; A.D. Ryder; St. Paul National Bank; Emery A. Sanborn; A.W. Schreiber; L.K. Scotford; Second National Bank; Charles E. Severance; Janney Semple and Company; Court Sheriff; David Sloan; C.H. Smith; J.F. Sprain; James D. Standish; Steele and Clements; Stephens Lithographing and Engraving Company; Stock Growers National Bank; G.W. Sugden; Charles Swift; Third National Bank; Thompson Brothers General Merchandise; Traders National Bank)
      Dates: 1890
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 11
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: U-V (correspondents include Union Bank of Denver; Union Trust Company; United States National Bank; United States Treasury Dept.; Utah National Bank; Paul L. VanCleve; Vandercook and Company)
      Dates: 1890-1895
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 12
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: Washington National Bank
      Dates: 1891-1892
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 13
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: Ralph Wells
      Dates: 1893-1894
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 14
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: W-Y (correspondents include T.J. Walsh; William E. Walton; I.B. Welter; T. Warren Welter; Western Sugar Refining Company; M.B. Whitney; E.S. Wilkinson; Williams, Russell and Company; Isaac Willis; Peter Winne; William A. Wilson and Company; Wolf and Gross; C.H. Woolley; B.R. Wright; Yellowstone National Bank)
      Dates: 1890-1895
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 15
      Location: Incoming Correspondence

  • Outgoing Correspondence

  • Interoffice Correspondence

  • Court Papers

    • Description: U.S. v. S.C. Ashby
      Dates: 1893-1895
      Container: Box/Folder 7 / 1
      Location: Court Papers
    • Description: Eugene T. Wilson v. Indian River State Bank
      Dates: 1900, undated
      Container: Box/Folder 7 / 2
      Location: Court Papers

  • Financial Records

    • Description: Cash book #1
      Dates: 1890-1891
      Container: Volume 1
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Cash book #2
      Dates: 1891-1892
      Container: Volume 2
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Cash book #3
      Dates: 1892-1893
      Container: Volume 3
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Cash book #4
      Dates: 1893-1894
      Container: Volume 4
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Cash book #5
      Dates: 1894-1896
      Container: Volume 5
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Cash record
      Dates: 1891-1894
      Container: Volume 6
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Cash record
      Dates: 1894
      Container: Box/Folder 7 / 3
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Cashiers' checks
      Dates: 1890-1894
      Container: Volume 7
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Cashiers' checks
      Dates: 1894-1895
      Container: Volume 8
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Certificates of deposit (stubs)
      Dates: 1892-1894
      Container: Volume 9
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Certificates of deposit register
      Dates: 1890-1893
      Container: Volume 10
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Certificates of indebtedness: State of Montana
      Dates: 1894
      Container: Box/Folder 7 / 4
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Clearings book
      Dates: 1890-1892
      Container: Box/Folder 7 / 5
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Collateral register
      Dates: 1891-1894
      Container: Box/Folder 7 / 6
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Collection register #1
      Dates: 1890-1894
      Container: Volume 11
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Collection register #2
      Dates: 1894
      Container: Volume 12
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Discount register #1
      Dates: 1890-1895
      Container: Volume 13
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Drafts: National Bank of the Republic, New York
      Dates: 1892-1893
      Container: Volume 14
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Drafts: Fort Dearborn National Bank, Chicago
      Dates: 1892-1893
      Container: Volume 15
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Drafts: Mercantile National Bank, New York
      Dates: 1893-1894
      Container: Volume 16
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Drafts: Commercial National Bank, Chicago
      Dates: 1893-1894
      Container: Volume 17
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Drafts: St. Paul National Bank
      Dates: 1893-1895
      Container: Volume 18
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Draft register
      Dates: 1890-1893
      Container: Volume 19
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: General balances A: daily
      Dates: 1893
      Container: Volume 20
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: General balances: daily and irregularly
      Dates: 1894-1895 1895-1896
      Container: Volume 21
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: General balances (by bank)
      Dates: 1890-1894
      Container: Volume 22
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: General balances (by bank)
      Dates: 1894-1895
      Container: Volume 23
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Individual account books (6 books)
      Dates: 1890-1892
      Container: Box/Folder 7 / 7
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Individual account books (8 books)
      Dates: 1893-1894
      Container: Box/Folder 8 / 1
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Individual liability book
      Dates: 1893-1895
      Container: Volume 24
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Individual daily balances: A-Z and A-L
      Dates: 1890-1892 1893-1894
      Container: Volume 25
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Individual daily balances: A-Z
      Dates: 1892-1893
      Container: Volume 26
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Individual daily balances: M-Z (A-1)
      Dates: 1894
      Container: Volume 27
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Individual daily balances: A-L (B-1)
      Dates: 1894
      Container: Volume 28
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Individual daily balances: A-Z
      Dates: 1894
      Container: Volume 29
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Insurance policies
      Dates: 1894-1895
      Container: Box/Folder 8 / 2
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Insurance policies: Frank Baird
      Dates: 1895-1896
      Container: Box/Folder 8 / 3
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Journal A
      Dates: 1890-1891
      Container: Volume 30
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Journal B: A-Z
      Dates: 1891-1892
      Container: Volume 31
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Journal C: A-Z
      Dates: 1892-1893
      Container: Volume 32
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Journal D: A-Z and A-L
      Dates: 1893 1893-1894
      Container: Volume 33
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Journal: M-Z
      Dates: 1893-1894
      Container: Volume 34
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Journal E: A-L
      Dates: 1894
      Container: Volume 35
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Journal: A-Z
      Dates: 1894
      Container: Volume 36
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Ledger: general #1
      Dates: 1890-1893
      Container: Volume 37
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Ledger: general #2
      Dates: 1893-1895
      Container: Volume 38
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Ledger: individual #1
      Dates: 1890-1892
      Container: Volume 39
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Ledger: individual #2
      Dates: 1892-1893
      Container: Volume 40
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Ledger: individual #3
      Dates: 1893-1894
      Container: Volume 41
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Ledger: individual #4
      Dates: 1894
      Container: Volume 42
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Remittance register #1
      Dates: 1890-1893
      Container: Volume 43
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Remittance register #2
      Dates: 1893
      Container: Volume 44
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Remittance register #3
      Dates: 1893-1894
      Container: Volume 45
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Remittance register #4
      Dates: 1894-1895
      Container: Volume 46
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Reports of condition
      Dates: 1890-1894
      Container: Box/Folder 8 / 4-5
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Savings journal
      Dates: 1894-1896
      Container: Volume 47
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Statements: Shirley C. Ashby
      Dates: 1890-1891
      Container: Box/Folder 8 / 6
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Statements: Frank Baird
      Dates: 1890-1891
      Container: Box/Folder 9 / 1
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Statements: E.D. Edgerton
      Dates: 1893-1895
      Container: Box/Folder 9 / 2-3
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Stock subscriptions: Great Falls National Bank
      Dates: 1890-1891
      Container: Box/Folder 10 / 1
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Teller's cash book
      Dates: 1890-1894
      Container: Box/Folder 10 / 2
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Teller's (paying) cash book
      Dates: 1894
      Container: Box/Folder 10 / 3
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Trial balances
      Dates: 1893-1894
      Container: Volume 48
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: United States Treasury
      Dates: 1889-1894
      Container: Box/Folder 10 / 4
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Miscellaneous
      Dates: 1878-1894
      Container: Box/Folder 10 / 5
      Location: Financial Records

  • Legal Documents

    • Description: Contracts; abstract; etc.
      Dates: 1892-1895
      Container: Box/Folder 10 / 6
      Location: Legal Documents
    • Description: Merger with Second National Bank of Helena
      Dates: circa 1893
      Container: Box/Folder 10 / 7
      Location: Legal Documents
    • Description: Charles Seavey escrow
      Dates: 1869-1872
      Container: Box/Folder 10 / 8
      Location: Legal Documents

  • Organizational Records

    • Description: List of directors; organization certificate; articles of association
      Dates: 1890
      Container: Box/Folder 10 / 9
      Location: Organizational Records
    • Description: List of stockholders; etc.
      Dates: 1890, undated
      Container: Box/Folder 10 / 10
      Location: Organizational Records
    • Description: Stock certificates (includes transfer proxies)
      Dates: 1893-1895
      Container: Box/Folder 10 / 11
      Location: Organizational Records
    • Description: Stock ledger
      Dates: 1890
      Container: Box/Folder 10 / 12
      Location: Organizational Records
    • Description: Stock ledger
      Dates: 1890-1895
      Container: Box/Folder 11 / 1
      Location: Organizational Records

  • Miscellany

    • Description: Burglar-proof safe information
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 11 / 2
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Cipher code book
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 11 / 3
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Drawings of unidentified dikes
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 11 / 4
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Signature book
      Dates: undated
      Container: Volume 49
      Location: Miscellany

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Bank mergers--Montana--Helena
  • Banks and banking--Montana--Helena

Corporate Names

  • Helena National Bank (Helena, Mont.) (creator)

Geographical Names

  • Helena (Mont.)--Commerce

Finding aid prepared by Sue Jackson, 1980
2005

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