%xmlchars; ]> MS2221 Guide to the Corcoran & Riggs partnership documents, 1840-1848 Special Collections Research Center, The George Washington University Special Collections Research Center, The Gelman Library, The George Washington University 2007

2130 H. St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20052 Phone: 202-994-7549 Email: speccoll@gwu.edu

Machine-readable finding aid derived from Re:discovery database program and converted into xml; Code template by Archives and Information Associates (http://archivesandinformation.com), Alexandria, Virginia'. 2007 Finding aid written in English Guide to the Corcoran & Riggs partnership documents, 1840-1848 Collection number: MS2221 Special Collections Research Center, The Gelman Library, The George Washington University

Washington, D.C.

Processed by Jennifer King, 2007 Encoded by Jennifer King, 2007

Descriptive Summary Bradley, Page Riggs Corcoran & Riggs partnership documents, 1840-1848 MS2221 0.25 Linear feet The collection consists of two documents related to the history of Corcoran & Riggs a predecessor of Riggs Bank. These documents are dated from 1840-48. The George Washington University, The Gelman Library, Special Collections Research Center English Information for Users Preferred citation

Corcoran & Riggs partnership documents, Special Collections Research Center, The George Washington University.

Restrictions on Access

Some records may be restricted.

Acquisition Information

These items were donated by Page Riggs Bradley and Murray Lee Bradley in 2007.

Restrictions on Use

Some material may be copyrighted or restricted. It is the patron's obligation to determine and satisfy copyright or other case restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in the collections.

Historical or Biographical Note

The earliest incarnation of Riggs Bank was formed in 1836 when William Wilson Corcoran opened a small brokerage house. In 1840, Corcoran and George Washington Riggs, the son of a neighbor, formed "Corcoran & Riggs", which offered checking and depositing services. The bank got a major boost in 1844, when The U.S. government assigned Corcoran & Riggs to be the only federal depository in Washington. In 1854 Corcoran retired, and the bank changed its name to "Riggs & Co." After accepting a government charter, "Riggs National Bank" was born in 1896. By 1900, Riggs was twice as large as any other bank in D.C. It embarked on a successful project to become known as the bank of embassies and diplomats, and by 1950 most embassies in Washington were customers. Many branches thereafter opened within embassies in Washington D.C. and London. In the early 2000s, Riggs Bank was bought by PNC for $779 million on July 16, 2004.

Collection Scope and Content

The collection consists of two documents related to the history of Corcoran & Riggs a predecessor of Riggs Bank. These documents include an April 14, 1840 memorandum of co-partnership between William Corcoran and George W. Riggs. The letter, which does not have a recipient, is dated June 16, 1848 is dissolution of the firm of Corcoran & Riggs as run by William Corcoran and George W. Riggs and the creation of firm Corcoran & Riggs run by William W. Corcoran and Elisha Riggs Jr.

Page Riggs Bradley and Murray Lee Bradley donated these items in 2007.

Indexing Terms Individuals Riggs, George Washington Riggs, Elisha Corcoran, W. W. (William Wilson) Corporate Entities Corcoran & Riggs Riggs and Co. Topics Banks and banking Geographic Locations Washington (D.C.) Detailed Description of the Records 1 1 Memorandum of co-partnership, 04/14/1840 1 2 Letter, 04/14/1840

This document informs that the firm of Corcoran and Riggs as led by Wm. Corcoran and George W. Riggs has been dissolved and that a new firm of Corcoran and Riggs led by William W. Corcoran and Elisha Riggs Jr. has been created.