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. Photograph depicts a street view of the exterior of the Bank of Finance, Western branch, located at 2651 S. Western Boulevard. The building is four stories tall and shows a mesh-like grid along the entire front portion, starting on the second floor. A drive-in teller sign for the bank can also be seen at extreme center right, and a few automobiles are also visible throughout. Photograph is circa 1964. See images 00120182 through 00120188 for additional photos in this series.
Type
image
Format
1 negative : safety ; 10 x 13 cm. Photographic safety negatives
Bank of Finance (Los Angeles, Calif.) Lost architecture Savings and loan associations Bank buildings Signs and signboards Street signs Streets Sidewalks Electric lines--Poles and towers Hydrants Parking lots Automobiles Los Angeles (Calif.)
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