Wilmington Savings Fund Society (WSFS) records
Creation: 1831-1964Abstract
The Wilmington Savings Fund Society was established in 1831 as a "safe depository for the earnings of working people" which also promoted the opportunity for homebuilding and lending money for home mortgages. Their records consist primarily of minutes and account books.
Dates
- Creation: 1831-1964
Creator
- Wilmington Savings Fund Society (Organization)
Extent
70 Linear Feet
Historical Note
The Wilmington Savings Fund Society was established in 1831 as a "safe depository for the earnings of working people" which also promoted the opportunity for homebuilding and lending money for home mortgages. In 1832 the mutual savings bank was granted a state charter. It had no stockholders and its depositors received all profits earned. The bank grew steadily during the 19th century moving to a new headquarters building on Ninth and Market Streets in 1855. During the 1920s it began establishing branches in suburban areas, Dover, and Newark. In 1938 it became a state chartered savings bank with deposits insured by the FSLIC.
Arrangement
Series I. Administrative records; Series II. Accounting records; Series III. Miscellany.
Scope and Content
Administrative records include board of managers minutes (1831-1931); executive committee minutes (1901-1908); real estate committee minutes (1900-1927); investing committee minutes (1832-1952); and property committee minutes (1918-1927).
Account books include general ledgers (1856-1958); customers' ledgers (1832-1909); stock and bond ledgers (1892-1958); real estate ledgers (1900-1939); day books (1832-1892); cash books (1886-1958); deposit day books (1832-1917); withdrawal orders (1834-1929); loan books (1845-1900); withdrawal receipt books (1837-1879); the First Book of Investments (1832-1853); and treasurer's annual reports (1885-1961).
The miscellany includes a scrapbook of insurance company prospectuses (1900-1910); newsclippings; a photostat of an 1832 advertisement; a synopsis of charter and bylaws (1901-1940); and a brochure on the 1921 WSFS building in Wilmington.
Access Restrictions
Subject to a 75-year time seal. Data on living persons may not be used without consent of depositor.
Litigators may not view the collection without approval.
Use Restrictions
Literary rights retained by Wilmington Savings Fund Society.
Language of Materials
English
Finding Aid & Administrative Information
- Title:
- Wilmington Savings Fund Society records
- Description rules:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description:
- English
- Script of description:
- Latin
Repository Details
Repository Details
Part of the Manuscripts and Archives Repository
