Bank of Carthage
When the Bank of Carthage celebrated its centennial in 1968, it was the oldest business of any type in Carthage and the oldest bank in southwest Missouri. In addition, it was "believed to have operated longer under the same name than any other bank in the State of Missouri."1 However by 1980s, the Bank of Carthage started through a maze of bank sales and take-overs. During one transition in 1997, it was determined the historic documents and ledgers owned by the former Bank of Carthage still on site should be donated to the Powers Museum. Among this material were ledgers, correspondence, clipping files, scrapbooks, signs, photographs, artwork, framed portraits and advertising souvenirs. In addition to Bank of Carthage materials, there were business records of other banks plus other businesses in Carthage.
Historical Background: See "Bank of Carthage—100 Years of Banking and Community Service" published by the bank in 1968 for both bank history and a chronological review of Carthage, Missouri. The commemorative booklet, written in part by journalist and local historian Ward Schrantz, is found in the collection's sub-collection: Scrapbooks & Anniversary Memorabilia. A photocopy of the title for immediate on-site access is held in the Powers Museum Reference Library. (Footnote #1 cited above taken from this source.)
For the purposes of this finding aid, the overall collection is broken down into the following sub-collection summaries below.
Bank of Carthage:
Ledgers, Board of Directors Minute Books & Stockholder Certificates
Correspondence & Property Files (including photographs)
Clipping Files (including Ward Schrantz's local history newspaper columns)
Scrapbooks & Bank Anniversary Memorabilia
Bank of Carthage Artifacts (not processed as part of MHRAB grant)
Non-Bank of Carthage:
Carthage Horse Railway Company
Carthage Loan & Investment Company
Howard-Hulme-Dittrich Shoe Manufacturing
Jasper County Electric Railway Company
Leggett & Platt Bed Spring Manufacturing
Unknown Bank Papers & Miscellaneous
Prior appointment necessary for use of all archival collections. This material is not available for walk-in, on-demand use. Consultation by phone or email prior to your visit, will result in a more successful research visit and allow museum staff to prepare materials and also a work space for your use on site.