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Title
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Finding Aid for the Westport Bank Collection
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Collection Summary
Title
Westport Bank Collection
Date
1940s to 1970s
Extent
2 archival folder
Name and Location of Repository
Midwest Genealogy Center, Independence (Mo.)
Reference code: MCG 1162-WBC
Processed by: Jolene Clark, 2019; Finding aid created by Jolene Clark, 2019.
Name of Creator
William E. Severns
Biographical History
Westport Bank was established in 1906. The building at 331 Westport Road in Kansas City, Missouri,
dates back as far as 1876. The Westport Bank purchased the property and remodeled it in 1920. The
bank was in existence for 80 years when it merged into the Merchant’s Bank in 1986. William E. Severns
(1913-2005) worked for Westport Bank for 41 years serving as President and Chairman of the Board.
Scope and Content
This collection contains photographs and other items related to the Westport Bank in Kansas City,
Missouri. Black and white photographs from the Christmas parties in the 1940s and 1950s show bank
employees. Other photographs from that time show the exterior and interior of the bank building. Color
photographs include a ribbon cutting after the renovation of the bank in 1978 as well as well as another
social event.
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Collection Inventory
System of Arrangement
These records are arranged in 1 series.
Series 1, Westport Bank
Folder 1, photographs
Item 1, Christmas dinner party, Westport Bank, Hotel Ambassador, 1940
Item 2, Officers and Employees, Westport Avenue Bank, 1945
Item 3, Westport Bank Christmas party, Hotel Muehlebach, 1949
Item 4, Westport Bank Christmas party, Muehlebach Hotel, 1952
Item 5, Exterior of Westport Bank, after hours depository
Item 6, Exterior of Westport Bank undergoing renovation
Item 7, Interior of Westport Bank with two men and a woman
Item 8, Interior of Westport Bank with three men near teller window
Item 9, 12 photos at ribbon cutting, 1978
Item 10, Interior office with two men
Item 11, 8 photos at social event
Folder 2, Miscellaneous items
Item 1, Westport Bank billfold
Item 2, Westport Bank match book
Item 3, Fiftieth Anniversary open house announcement and envelope
Item 4, Westport Bank envelope
Item 5, Harris Home print signed “Best wishes to W.E. Severns” by artist Frank Steinman
Item 6, Westport Bank 75th Anniversary Booklet
Item 7, “Old is New for Westport Bank,” Kansas City Star, 1978 [copied]
Item 8, 2-postcards of Westport Bank
Rights and Access
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for research use by appointment.
Physical Access
Most records within this collection are housed in file folder.
Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use
Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from the Midwest Genealogy Center.
Languages and Scripts of the Material
Materials in the collection are entirely in English.
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Immediate Source of Acquisition
This collection was donated by Beverly Blair in honor of William Severns.
Accruals
No further accruals are expected for this collection.
Existence and Location of Originals
Originals owned by the Midwest Genealogy Center.
Notes
The following sources were consulted during the preparation of the biographical history:
“Help Save Westport.” Midtown KC Post, 16 Aug. 2017, midtownkcpost.com/help-savewestport/.
“Westport Bank.” US Bank Locations, www.usbanklocations.com/westport-bank-1615.shtml.
“William E ‘Bill’ Severns (1913-2005) - Find A...” Find A Grave,
www.findagrave.com/memorial/145923421/william-e-severns.
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