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. This bank building has since been demolished. Photograph caption dated July 22, 1965 reads, "Tom Hawkins, station director of KGFJ, joins the many thousands who are opening their accounts with the Bank of Finance. Dolores Alfter records as Dr. E. H. Ballard, chairman of Board, Bank of Finance, looks on." See images 00119152 through 00119155 for additional photos in this series.
Type
image
Format
1 negative : safety ; 10 x 13 cm. Photographic safety negatives
Hawkins, Tom Bank of Finance (Los Angeles, Calif.) Bank of Finance (Los Angeles, Calif.)--Employees KGFJ (Radio station : Los Angeles, Calif.)--Employees Banks and banking Bank directors Bank employees Bank facilities Bank accounts Radio personalities--United States African American women African American men Women Men Telephones Ashtrays Nameplates (Plaques) Los Angeles (Calif.)
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