Title supplied by cataloger. Rolland Joseph 'Speedy' Curtis was born in Louisiana in 1922. After serving three years in the Marines during World War II, he and his wife, Gloria, relocated from New Orleans to Los Angeles in 1946. Curtis served four years with the Los Angeles Police Department, but resigned from the force in order to pursue both a Bachelor's and Master's degree from USC. He later became involved in city politics, as an associate of Sam Yorty, and later a field deputy to City Council members Billy Mills and Tom Bradley. He was briefly director of the Model Cities program in 1973. Rolland J. Curtis died in his home in 1979, the victim of a homicide. An affordable housing complex on Exposition Blvd. near Vermont Ave. was named in his honor in 1981, along with a nearby street and park.; The Bank of Finance was the first African American organized bank in California. Opened in 1964, it catered to small businesses in the community. During its time, it nursed local businesses to fruition and provided financial assistance for necessary community resources like medical centers, day care, and homes for the elderly. Members of the organizing committee included Dr. Edward H. Ballard, Dr. Perry W. Beal, Wilton A. Clarke, Onie B. Granville, Mrs. Bernice M. Malbrue, Tom Bradley and Lorenzo V. Spencer. The bank building at 2651 S. Western Avenue, and a branch opened at 8420 S. Vermont in 1968 have both since been demolished. Pictured from left to right are: Committee member and Bank of Finance Organizer Wilton A. Clarke, Charles Walker and committee members; Founder Onie B. Granville and Bank of Finance Organizer Dr. Perry Beal. Photograph was taken at the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Bank of Finance, located at 8420 S. Vermont Avenue in South Los Angeles. The men sit inside the bank, chatting on a sofa. Photograph is dated in 1968. See images 00120174; 00120175; 00120191; 00120177 through 00120181; 00120192 through 00120199; 00120210; 00138689 and 00138690 for additional photos in this series.
Type
image
Format
1 color negative : safety ; 10 x 13 cm. Photographic safety negatives
Bank of Finance (Los Angeles, Calif.) Bank of Finance (Los Angeles, Calif.)--Employees Lost architecture Savings and loan associations Banks and banking Bank buildings Bank employees Bankers Building dedications Dedications Celebrations Holiday decorations Paintings African American men Men Los Angeles (Calif.)
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