Morris Plan Company

1931 drawing ¹

The Morris Plan Company was a financial company beginning in the 1910s. It was a national system with local franchises, based on the Morris Plan to make it easier for middle class people to get loans. ²

The Morris Plan Company of Oakland (also known as the Morris Plan Company of Alameda County) was formed in 1926, ⁴ and opened in 1927 at 473 - 12th Street. ^5,6 It was active in Oakland through at least 1971. ¹²

A new building was constructed for them in 1931 at 1763 Broadway by Jacks E. Irvine, Inc. ^1,7 The building was designed by William Knowles; Willis Lowe, on the board of directors, designed the interior. ⁷

In 1941, the Oakland and Berkeley branches merged with the San Francisco office and became the Morris Plan Company of California. F. A. Collman became president of the combined organization. ^9,10 In 1945, they merged with First Industrial Loan Company of California; the merged companies had combined resources of $13,000,000. ¹¹

Also in 1941, they took over the building next door, and Edward Foulkes did renovations to visually tie the two buildings together and redesign the new space for banking activities. ¹³

1941 ¹³

1967 phone book listing

In 1933, Dr. John Slavich was elected to the board of directors. He would later be mayor of Oakland. ⁸ Other people associated with the plan over the years include: Ira Abraham (1926-1931+), F. A. Collman (1927-1945+), Frank W. Frost (1927-1931+), Frank A. Fletcher (1926-1931+), John F. Hassler (1926-1931+), O. D. Jacoby (1926-1931+), Frank D. Moyer (1931), F. M. Ray (1926-1931+), Fred B. Richardson (1926-1931+), F. M. Tilden (1926-1931+), Charles H. J. Truman (1927-1931+), Henry Zentner (1931), Eugene B. Brower (1938-1946), Andrew Christ (1941-), Will Evans (1941-), Charles H. Sweet, D.D.S. (1941-), Russell L. Hovde (1936), Owen C. Carr (1935), William Cavalier (1927+), P. B. Williamson (1927), James Schlesinger (1926+),

Board of Directors (1931)

1927 ad ⁶

Links and References

1935 ad

• Morris Plan Banks on Economic History Association
• Morris Plan Makes Report Oakland Tribune January 28, 1929
• Morris Plan Co. Organized With Collman As Head Oakland Tribune August 20, 1926
• Finance Firm Enters Field Oakland Tribune February 11, 1927
• Morris Plan Reports Peak Volume in '33 Oakland Tribune January 7, 1934
• Banking Chief Paid Honor Oakland Tribune May 5, 1935
• Loan Officer Is Appointed Oakland Tribune July 26, 1936
• Morris Plan Names Brower Executive Oakland Tribune August 14, 1938
• Morris Plan Takes Long Term Lease Oakland Tribune October 20, 1940

1. New Morris Plan Home Oakland Tribune April 26, 1931
2. Morris Plan Banks on Wikipedia
3. Morris Plan Co. ad Oakland Tribune October 7, 1931
4. Morris Plan Company Formed in Oakland Oakland Tribune September 4, 1926
5. Morris Plan Bank Will Open Saturday Oakland Tribune April 27, 1927
6. Morris Plan Opens Tomorrow Oakland Tribune April 29, 1927
7. Loan Firm Moves Into New Offices Oakland Tribune August 3, 1931
8. Morris Plan Officers Are Re-Elected Oakland Tribune January 19, 1933
9. Morris Plan Firms Merge Oakland Tribune December 15, 1941
10. New Morris Plan Issues Statement Oakland Tribune January 6, 1942
11. Merger of Loan Companies Approved Oakland Tribune September 9, 1945
12. want ad Oakland Tribune September 4, 1971
13. Morris Plan Company New Home Architect and Engineer September 1941

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