We promised to reduce Loss and Damage. Therefore, we must handle shipments "The Fargo Way."

Issues of the Wells Fargo Messenger in 1913 and 1916 focused on the matter of "Loss and Damage."  And the little things meant a lot — attention to details was the answer.

On March 25, 1915, a traveling inspector in Albuquerque, New Mexico wrote to Elmer R. Jones, General Superintendent of Wells Fargo & Co.'s Express. "Looking over overland waybills carried by messenger D.A. Wetherbee for shipments of perishables," the inspector wrote, "I notice that he writes on the face of the waybill, 'ICED' with date and name."

Rushing refrigerated carloads of fresh produce was a huge Wells Fargo business, and the inspector saw how precious time could be saved during stops. Wells Fargo messengers along the route, he recommended to Jones, "should be furnished with a regulation re-ice stamp." This would save them the time of writing the icing schedule on waybills, or having to decide whether a shipment needed ice when the train stopped.

Jones got the letter in two days (by Wells Fargo Express, of course), and very quickly the re-ice stamps were disbursed!

Posted by Bob at 01:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Found in Agriculture, At Work, First-hand Accounts, Misc, Perspective, Prepare, Railroads, Remember, Transportation, Wells Fargo Bank

This is Asian Pacific Heritage Month , and the idea is to celebrate the many contributions of Asians and Asian-Americans to life here in the US.

That is the easy part — just one meal of any Asian cuisine reminds us that, without it, North American culture as we know it today simply wouldn't be the same. And if something so fundamental like food has changed our way of life, imagine the impact of scientists, business people, languages, fashion...

Heritage Months are very important for considering who we all are.

Chinese people in North America suffered a profound discrimination that should be remembered. By 1850, California imposed a Foreign Miners Tax  to pressure non-White miners away from the gold fields, aimed especially at Hispanics and Asians.

The US economy depressed in the 1870s  and the strains brought prejudices to the surface. There was a movement to blame the Chinese for the problem. In 1882, the Burlingame Treaty, as the Chinese Exclusion Act  was formally known, suspended immigration and denied citizenship to Chinese immigrants. For those stuck here due to economic hardship, or for those who chose to stay here because it was their home, the Exclusion Act kept them in a limbo of nebulous civil rights — legalized discrimination, that is.

If Chinese people left the country, they needed certification for reentry. This basically meant sponsorship by white men. Charles Crocker , a historical giant and one of the builders of the transcontinental railroad, vouched for Chinese workers because their labor was instrumental in his personal fortune. Local merchants, business people and officials also vouched for Chinese Californians with whom they had relationships. But the burden of the process — and of individual identity itself — lay with the Chinese people who were trying to make their way trough the harsh realities of China, America, the sea, and the toil of everyday life.

In 1893, Wells Fargo's Agent in Los Angeles, William Pridham, certfied his working relationship with Wong Yuen Ark, who sought to return to Los Angeles to resume his business.

We like to assume that the two men were on good terms, but a situation where one could not act without the consent of the other reduces the respectability of both. Whatever the circumstances behind Wong Yuen Ark's and William Pridham's dealings, and however they felt about the right or wrong of the procedure, the document is a stark reminder that one of them was lesser in the eyes of the law at that time.

If you celebrate only one thing during Heritage Months, let it be that so many people had to migrate across intolerance as much as across geography. The journey from past to present is mucky and smelly, and those who made the passage deserve the moment.

Posted by Charles at 02:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Found in Artifacts, Misc, Perspective, Remember, Wells Fargo Bank

Our team of dedicated Archivists handed me a clipping a while ago. It's one of those things you find as you do Archival work. They thought, and I agree, that it belongs on Guided By History.

All of us have minor phobias that we don't necessarily share with everyone. Some avoid under-cooked food , some people are bowled over by odors  that no one else is even aware of. Some are acutely aware of germs  and general uncleanliness.

Well, this AP  image proves that where there's a clientele, there's a way. An ATM manufacturer found a way to sanitize Japanese bills as the machine dispensed them. It's from a 1996 item in the San Francisco Chronicle , whose caption read, "the money-laundering device will ensure nothing more than clean cash gets transferred to supersensitive bank customers."

I haven't found if the machines are in operation.

Anybody know if these are out there anywhere?

Posted by Charles at 07:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Found in Artifacts, Environment, Misc, Prepare, Psychology, Wells Fargo Bank

Wells Fargo has a bustling tradition of both "communities of practice"  and resource groups for Team Members. People of diverse ethnicities and lines of business gather to share experiences and network, though sometimes they just socialize and build relationships. One of these Team Member groups is for Military Veterans and their families.

Through the years, Wells Fargo has employed veterans of the armed forces, and has long recognized military service by its Team Members and their families as well.  Christopher William Hugo Solinsky served in the Mexican-American War  in the 1840s before becoming Wells Fargo’s agent in Chinese Camp, California in 1857.  He remained at his post for forty years.

Navy veteran Louis McLane was President of Wells Fargo when the Company consolidated a vast stagecoaching network across Western states. Trustim Connell was Agent in Kansas City, Los Angeles and Phoenix after he won the Congressional Medal of Honor  for his courage at the Battle of Sailor's Creek .

When American troops entered World War I, people went out of their way to "do their bit."  Wells Fargo committed scores of pages in the Messenger, the internal newsletter for employees, to Company participation in the war effort. When soldiers marched off to do battle in the Second World War, Wells Fargo made sure they had jobs waiting when they returned.

Wells Fargo has appreciated the service and sacrifice by armed forces employees and their families since the very beginning!

Posted by Charles at 12:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Found in Misc, Perspective, Remember, Wells Fargo Bank

It seems to me that we have reached the point where we can no longer try to ignore our global environment problem. For me, it has really sunk in the past year. (I can thank NPR  for that!)

"Should I be driving a hybrid?  Am I recycling  enough? How can we avoid paper waste at the office? Am I doing everything I can to help?"

Well, I know I'm not. But with today being Earth Day , I feel inspired to find ways in which I can help.

One thing I'm happy to be doing already is working for a company that has been doing much to try to tackle this environment issue. Even from the early years of the company, and especially in the last 40 years, Wells Fargo has been dedicated to conservation and environmental efforts.

In the 1910s, reminder tags were hung in express offices asking staff to turn off lights when not in use to save electricity. In 1917, Wells Fargo General Supply Agent A.G. Brandenburg told fellow employees that "every Wells Fargo man can help check the American habit of wastefulness…by practicing economy in the use of supplies himself and by urging others to do so."

In more recent years, the company has taken many different actions: from converting hundreds of ATMs to paper-saving Envelope-Free^SM ATMs, to starting a "worm ranch" where worms not only help dispose of garbage, but also provide fertilizer through their waste.

This year marks the 38th anniversary of Earth Day, and I encourage you to make this the year you will start making a difference . It can be as simple as making sure those bottles and cans are getting recycled; or searching the web for local environmental activities in your community.

Whatever it is you do, keep in mind that every little bit helps.

Posted by Ileana at 10:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Found in Environment, Misc, Wells Fargo Bank

The short bio on Felix Tracy that I began the other day told of his background and how he became Agent for Wells Fargo in Sacramento. Of the Wells Fargo Agents who served in the Sacramento express office, Tracy had the longest career of them all — 32 years.

When Tracy came to Sacramento in 1868, he was already one of the most experienced express men in California and proceeded to take over operations at one of the most prestigious positions in the Company—the Sacramento office opened only three weeks after the first office in San Francisco when Wells Fargo began in 1852.

Tracy ran the Sacramento office from 1868 until his retirement in 1900. By 1883, Tracy had added another title, becoming the Assistant Superintendent of Sacramento County for Wells Fargo.

But Tracy's story is one of service, not only to Wells Fargo but also to the community as well. During his 32 years of service to Sacramento, Tracy was involved in a number of public activities: He was a member of the Sacramento school board in the 1870s and 1880s, fighting against separate facilities for African Americans students, and he was also active in the Sacramento Pioneer Foundation , the Westminster Presbyterian Church  of Sacramento, and the Fourteenth Street Presbyterian Church.

Felix Tracy died in 1902 at the age of 73. In 2007, Wells Fargo celebrated his memory by opening The Felix Tracy Learning Center. The Tracy Center works to support business customer service operations and educates Wells Fargo team members in the Company's 155-year history. The Center helps recognize Felix Tracy's long career with Wells Fargo, but it also recognizes his work toward growth and positive change in Sacramento.

Posted by Greg at 03:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Found in At Work, Misc, Perspective, Remember, Sacramento, Wells Fargo Bank

In Wells Fargo's Sacramento history, the one name that stands out is Felix Tracy. Tracy was widely known for his reliability as an express agent, but that position was only one he held during a life full of accomplishments. He served in public office, was appointed to expand education, worked for civil rights, and was active in community groups. Tracy's life was productive — for himself, his Company and his community.

Tracy was born in Moscow, New York and emigrated to California when he was 20 years old. Working first as a merchandiser in San Francisco, he then moved to the gold fields to take his chances . Soon after, he gave up prospecting and began his career as express agent.

Tracy began with Adams and Company Express  in 1855, opening an office in Salt Lake City. But later that year, Adams and Company went out of business; Felix Tracy was unemployed. Two years later, Tracy started as Wells Fargo's agent in Shasta, California . He was elected Shasta County Treasurer in 1861 and held that position for four years.

One year after his tenure as Treasurer, Tracy was selected to serve on the board that established a location for the University of California. After looking at several places, the board decided on Alameda County. By 1873, classes were being held at the University of California, Berkeley , because of Tracy's efforts.

But his brightest years were yet to come…in Part II, that is! Stay tuned!

Posted by Greg at 03:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Found in At Work, Experts, Misc, Museums, Perspective, Remember, Sacramento, Wells Fargo Bank

In my Monday post about Kate Buick, I related a story from her niece, Veva Buick Poorman regarding Kate's use of Morse code.

Here's another one about Kate from Ms. Poorman that describes how her aunt safeguarded Wells Fargo gold.

In Roseburg, Oregon , gold sometimes arrived on the evening train after the local bank was closed. Armed with a small pistol in her handbag, Kate Buick carried Wells Fargo gold home in a satchel. If it was too heavy for the satchel, Kate lugged the gold in Veva's lunchbox. The next morning, Buick would deposit the gold in the bank.

In December 1912, George Sewell replaced Kate Buick as Agent. Roseburg's newspaper, the Daily Review, declared:

In relieving Miss Buick as its local agent, the company was merely following out its newly adopted policy of placing all of its branch agencies in the hands of men. Many of its offices besides the one in this city are affected. Miss Buick, on account of her long experience and thorough efficiency, will be retained by the company as an assistant to Mr. Sewell.

Kate Buick had the last word when she married George Sewell seven months later.

In 1918, the federal government consolidated all express businesses, including Wells Fargo's, under a government-run corporation called American Railway Express . Mrs. Sewell continued work as an agent for Railway Express until 1939, and sporadically thereafter into the 1950s.

Today, nearly two-thirds of Wells Fargo employees are women.

As a tribute to women in the workforce, the Wells Fargo History Museum is collaborating with the Portland Police Museum  and Portland State University's Friends of History  to showcase a free presentation entitled Lola Baldwin, America's First Policewoman.

Posted by Steve at 02:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Found in At Work, Experts, First-hand Accounts, Gold, Misc, Remember, Wells Fargo Bank, Women's History

Wells Fargo has a good history of employing women. Between 1873 and 1918, Wells Fargo hired over 350 women as agents, whose duties included handling shipments of money, delivering mail, loading gold aboard trains and stagecoaches, selling money orders, and transferring funds by telegraph. Hundreds more women worked at Wells Fargo as auditors, clerks, copywriters, stenographers, and telephone operators.

One agent of note was Oregonian Kate Buick, employed by Wells Fargo & Co.'s Express in the Roseburg office from 1898 to 1912. Ms. Buick learned Morse code from her father, who was one of the first telegraph operators on the Southern Pacific Railroad line  between Roseburg and San Francisco.

In 1880, President Rutherford B. Hayes  made a trip across the West  and visited Oregon. A newspaper reporter covering the President’s visit came to the telegraph office to wire his report back East. Her father was overwhelmed with work at that moment, so Kate volunteered to send the telegram.

As Kate started to tap the message, the reporter said that he preferred an adult send the message—Kate was only thirteen years old at the time!

Immediately, the reporter penciled an addition to the story and announced to the nation that a young girl from Oregon sent the telegram. Kate's niece, Veva Buick Poorman, further recalled in a later interview that Kate Buick contributed to the war effort by using her knowledge of Morse code  to instruct over fifty people during World War I.

Posted by Steve at 10:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Found in Artifacts, At Work, Experts, Misc, Museums, Perspective, Railroads, Remember, Transportation, Wells Fargo Bank, Women's History

The funny thing about my April 1st post is that much of it is based in fact.

It is true that the grave marker of Silas St. John, which was cast by the famous San Diego artist Donal Hord, is in the Wells Fargo History Museum in Old Town. It's true that this part of the world is famous for ghosts. It's true that the Whaley House  down the street is considered by those who believe as one of the most "haunted" places in the United States. And it's true that I've heard some weird things upstairs in the old Milton Sessions house  back when the museum was housed there.

Moreover, one morning ten years ago I did have an experience similar to the ghostly one we conjured up. However, instead of looking up and seeing my co-worker Casey Gill in the monitor, dressed in his 19th century finery, I saw what I thought was…well, I don't know what it was, but it did send a jolt up my spine like nothing else I have ever felt.

I did think I saw a ghost. For about ten seconds.

Like the physicist father whose roof I grew up under, I knew that the apparition that I'd seen in the security monitor had to have a logical explanation. I walked out and stared at the camera, then went back and forth from monitor to camera trying to figure out what had caused the diaphanous  vision in my cathode ray tube.

Finally, as I was peering up at the pinhole camera for like the third time, a swirl of air caused the spider web to catch the early morning sun as it floated across the front of the camera.

Ha. Ha ha ha.

I hope that our little April Fools'  prank didn't bug anyone — or thing — out there. There was an article in the New York Times' Tuesday Science section  that said practical jokes  are good for us. When I unlock the door each morning it takes my eyes a few seconds to adjust to the dim light in the museum. It looks almost smoky in the museum, and I always catch myself a little, searching around for some sort of movement that I know isn't going to be there.

It's good to have an open mind. Even if it scares you a little.

Posted by Allan at 11:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Found in Misc, Museums, San Diego, Wells Fargo Bank

I've been working here in Old Town San Diego  for the last 15 years, and consider myself a fairly rational person. So when people tell me that Old Town is haunted, as the child of a physicist, I never put too much credence in such talk.

That being said, it's true that the Whaley House  down the street is ranked as one of the "most haunted" places in America. And I do remember one morning about fifteen years ago when I thought I heard a baby crying upstairs in the old Milton Sessions building, where the Wells Fargo Museum was once housed. I was curious enough to go upstairs and look around, but didn't see anything. Other staff members here at the current Wells Fargo History Museum have commented that they too have "heard things," like strange shuffling sounds and hollow footsteps, from time to time.

Like I said, I think I'm a pretty rational person. But I'm afraid I don't have any logical way of explaining what happened Monday morning.

I'll try to be brief. When I arrived, I unlocked the front door as I always do and proceeded back to the alarm panel to shut off the alarm. I didn't notice anything as I came in, although it seemed a little cold, and for some reason, the light always seems a little hazy when you walk into the empty museum in the morning. After turning off the alarm, I started up my computer and got to checking emails. From where I sit I can see feed from the security camera.

Now before we open the doors at 10 there really should be no movement in that monitor — not unless I let in the cleaning folks or the occasional vendor. But that morning I noticed something out of the corner of my eye coming from the monitor, and let me tell you, the hackles on my back rose automatically. I've never been spooked like that.

I grabbed my digital camera and managed to get a quick shot off before it vanished. You be the judge. The thing I saw had no left arm, which is important. Let me explain why.

We've been displaying the bronze grave marker of Silas St. John in our museum. It was stolen off his grave and then kept at the local historical society until recently. According to history, he lost that arm in a battle with some bad guys. So I don't think…

I had been meaning to call the director of the Mt. Hope cemetery to start the process of getting Silas his fancy grave marker back. It was crafted by Donal Hord , a famous sculptor and it really should be going back soon. To be honest, I've been procrastinating a little — it's been pretty busy around here with school tours and all. After seeing what I saw, though, I'm going to move this project to the head of my queue.

I don't look forward to coming into work by myself, I'll tell you that.

Posted by Allan at 10:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Found in Misc, Museums, San Diego, Wells Fargo Bank

When Henry Wells established Wells College for women in 1869, his purpose was clear: "Give her the opportunity!" he thundered.

Wells Fargo has a long history of hiring women, echoing founder Henry Wells' words. The Company's first female agent was Mary Taggart, who ran the Wells Fargo office in Palmyra, Nebraska, in 1873.

Many of Wells Fargo's 350 female agents across the nation held other jobs as well. In Roseville, California, Cassie Hill had three: Wells Fargo agent, railroad agent and telegrapher at the busy rail junction. All the while, she raised five children on her own. Julia Jones, agent at Mariposa, California, was elected county superintendent of schools — although she herself was not allowed vote!

Hundreds more women worked at Wells Fargo's headquarters as auditors, clerks, advertising copywriters, stenographers and telephone operators. Anchoring its modern-day commitment to women and minority-owned businesses, Wells Fargo historically partnered with woman-owned businesses and counted many women among its valued customers as well.

Today, two-thirds of bank employees are women.

"Here's to the Wells Fargo woman on the job. May she sustain all the fine traditions of our honorable company!"

Wells Fargo agent in Roseville, California, from 1884 to 1908, Cassie Hill became agent after her husband’s sudden death. She invested in the Roseville businesses and real estate, and enjoyed driving one of Roseville’s first automobiles.

Marie F. Putnam was the only woman among 300 employees of the Abbot-Downing Co., makers of the famous Concord Stagecoaches. From 1865 to 1895, Putnam stitched leather for every stagecoach that rolled out of the Concord, New Hampshire factory—including those bought by Wells Fargo & Company.

At the age of 14, Delia Haskett Rawson was the first girl stage driver—and maybe the youngest—ever to carry the U.S. mail in California. She was the only woman to ever belong to the Pioneer Stage Drivers of California and served as its vice president.

Tilla Patterson was Wells Fargo Agent at Winchester, California from 1892 to 1910. From the depot, Patterson also served as Santa Fe Railroad agent and the Western Union telegraph operator. Agent Patterson used her business connections to help build the collection of the county library where she volunteered.

Florence Scott earned her medical degree from the University of California, and in 1922 was asked to provide medical exams and emergency care for the Wells Fargo Nevada National Bank in downtown San Francisco. This began the Bank's program of company-paid health care.

Julia Lois Jones succeeded her sister, Lucy Jones Miller, as agent at Mariposa, California. The two sisters ran that Wells Fargo office for over 25 years. Lucy was also postmaster while Julia served three terms as Superintendent of Schools.

When Uncle Sam called Wells Fargo's Winona, Minnesota Agent to serve in World War I, Mrs. Evangeline Sawyer patriotically filled in until he returned. Sawyer's efforts earned high praise from the regional superintendent.

A preacher’s daughter whose family settled in southern Minnesota, Lillie Predmore served as Wells Fargo’s express agent in the town that bore her family’s name. Her younger sister, Mrs. Freda Kester, succeeded her in 1914.

In the mid-1970s, Audrey Strand became Wells Fargo's first woman "special agent" — a designation bestowed on the likes of James B. Hume, the one who brought Black Bart to justice. Her responsibility was to report "embezzlement, irregularities and mysterious disappearances" to the FBI, Controller of Currency and the U.S. Attorney.

In 1960, Wells Fargo expanded from to a network of bank branches throughout Northern California. New computer technologies were introduced to handle the booming business: Janet Wright managed the engineers and technicians. For her effective work, Wright ecame the first woman Assistant Vice President at Wells Fargo in 1964.

A rancher in Livermore, California, Virginia Fellingham drove stagecoaches for Wells Fargo Bank for over thirty years in the 20th Century. She and her family have appeared in hundreds of parades and civic events.

Posted by Charles at 01:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Found in Misc, Perspective, Railroads, Remember, Stagecoach, Wells Fargo Bank, Women's History

In September of 1858, stagecoaches left St. Louis and San Francisco on their way to San Francisco and St. Louis, respectively. The Overland Mail Company  was on the road.

Here's the story of the OMC in a nutshell.

John Butterfield wanted to land the government contract to carry the US Mail to the untamed West. The government was offering 600,000 bucks to whoever could get mail from the Missouri frontier to California, across all the deserts and mountains and lack of facilities, and guarantee its safety and efficiency. Butterfield figured the best method was to carry passengers as well, whose fares would help offset costs.

Anybody who was intelligent in those days knew that the undertaking was crazy. The route took a southerly arc to avoid mountains, but got deserts in exchange. The route had unpredictable weather and geographic hazards, was unpaved and even uncharted in some places. All this meant that the person who wanted to try to get that fat contract had to be a little crazy themselves. In other words, an entrepreneur.

And that was Butterfield , to be sure.

Entrepreneurs  with big vision and willing to risk everything need the sort of backers who are intelligent and willing to risk some. Butterfield was able to gather several Directors for his Company, including Henry Wells and William G. Fargo, whose Express Company in the West was growing fast. The two operations would complement each other, on paper at least, as long as things went smoothly.

Things did go smoothly, albeit at great expense, for about three years. But that's another story...

So the Stagecoaches rolled and regular overland business commenced. The three-week (or so) journey shortened the time it had formerly taken between Missouri and California terminals. By ship , or the lumbering routes by wagon train , it had taken as long as six months. Of course, it cost a lot to ride: $300 in those days is equivalent to thousands  now.

But what a view!

Posted by Charles at 04:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Found in Branding, Gold, Misc, Remember, Ride sharing, Stagecoach, Transportation, Travel, Wells Fargo Bank

The other day a family came in to visit the Old Sacramento Museum, led by the matriarch. I had a nice conversation with the woman, the subject of which prompted me to write this post. We were discussing Black Bart, and we got on the subject of James Hume, Wells Fargo's Special Detective who brought Black Bart to justice after years of investigation.

She told me that she and her husband were caretakers of Hume Castle in Berkeley, California  back in the 1970s. I had no idea there was such a thing as Hume Castle in Berkeley — I wondered if it had anything to do with Wells Fargo's legendary Detective. I know Hume died in Berkeley in 1908, at age 77, after his retirement from Wells Fargo. But again, I never knew of a Hume Castle.

I started researching the castle and discovered there was a relation between Wells Fargo's Hume, and this castle in Berkeley. I discovered the castle was built in 1927, long after Hume's death. The original owners of the castle were Samuel James Hume and his wife Portia Hume. Samuel was James Hume's only son, born in 1885.

Samuel Hume was educated at Harvard and earned a degree in theater. He created the first exhibition of stagecraft   in the United States. By 1918, Samuel had returned to Berkeley as an assistant professor at the University of California , eventually becoming the head of the Greek Theater Department there. His wife, Portia Bell Hume , was a pioneer in the field of Psychiatry and lent her name to the modern Portia Bell Hume Behavioral Health and Training Center .

In 1927 the Humes engaged architect John Hudson Thomas  to build a replica of a 13th-century French Monastery . This became their home, known alternately as Hume Cloister or Hume Castle. The building still stands at 2900 Buena Vista Way in Berkeley, and has been listed as a historic landmark of Berkeley  since 1985.

There it is! Wells Fargo had a role in the history of this landmark! James Hume was headquartered in San Francisco, grounded in the area. The Humes resided across San Francisco Bay in Berkeley, home to the great new University of the West.

You can imagine conversations at dinner, with the elder Hume encouraging his creative child to go to college and holding UC as the model. The younger Hume took the advice and brought his talents back to Berkeley and established a monument to the family name.

Cool!

Posted by Greg at 04:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Found in Artifacts, James Hume, Misc, Remember, San Francisco, Wells Fargo Bank

Our Museum was visited recently by 18 professors from Peking University  students, in Minneapolis as adult ESL  students. On the same day, a Minnesota man visited the Museum with his three cousins from Sweden. While these two groups may live half a world apart (literally!), their visits to the Museum coordinate the history and diversity that are such major features of Wells Fargo.

The professors from Beijing were touring downtown Minneapolis, looking to test and improve their English skills. In the museum, they were surprised that I had Chinese-language brochures for their convenience. Their second reaction was curiosity at the connections between Wells Fargo and the Chinese population of California in the mid-1800s.

When gold was discovered in California in 1848, the Chinese population was fewer than 100 people. But the Gold Rush radically increased all segments, and by 1860, the Chinese population  had jumped to 110,000. While many businesses in California excluded other nationality and language groups, Wells, Fargo & Co. opened their business to all customers.

To aid transactions with Chinese-speaking customers, Wells Fargo hired Chinese language interpreters and advertised in Chinese-language newspapers. By the 1870 s, Chinese patrons made up one-quarter of the customer base at some locations. Wells Fargo distributed a "Chinese Business Houses Directory" to promote bilingual locations. Indeed, a man named Wong Sam created a Chinese-American phrase book in 1875 that included a list of Wells Fargo offices.

In a similar history, the Swedish visitors to our museum were curious about their ancestors who founded a community in central Minnesota and, they believe, worked for Wells Fargo. Swedish , Norwegian , German , Polish  and other European populations came to the Midwest , hoping to prosper as farmers. Wells Fargo arrived in Minnesota in1885 but only stayed one year. So what were the odds that Swedish visitors had ancestors in Minnesota who worked for California-based Wells Fargo inside a single year? The odds were actually pretty good.

Consider: Wells Fargo returned to Minnesota in 1897. Offices cropped up in cities, towns and whistle stops, bringing express and banking services to the area's businesses and farm families . For our Swedish visitors' ancestors, it was only natural for them to conduct business in Swedish  -- just as other immigrant populations did business in their native languages. These communities were embraced by Wells Fargo, who advertised and did business in many languages.

Wells Fargo's history shows our 155-year success is, in part, tied to the open-minded business practices originating since the very beginning. Wells Fargo's commitment to serving every customer was as strong in Minnesota 100 years ago as it was in California in 1852. And it is as strong today as it was then.

Posted by Heidi Berg at 11:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Found in Farmers, Gold, Minneapolis, Misc, Museums, Perspective, Remember, Wells Fargo Bank

So Guided By History marks its second anniversary today. That's right, two years of bringing History to The People!

Frankly, I deserve all the credit, but I want to share it because that's just the kind of guy I am — a sharer.  I choose to share credit with:

• Valerie, our best buddy in Minneapolis.

• Joel and Ed, who do more things for the production of this blog than they're actually allowed to do.

• Henrik, who pushes 3 accurate buttons for every 12 wrong ones I push. (And who really oughta consider a safer sport...)

• Tim, who thought it was a pretty good idea and probably wonders if he made the right decision.

• All my colleagues in the History world of Wells Fargo who write so well.

And of course I share credit with all of you who drop by every day and check in with us. No YOU, no Guided By History. Period.

Thanks, Everyone!!

Posted by Charles at 11:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Found in Experts, Get Involved, Holidays, Misc, Participate, Remember, Wells Fargo Bank

In January, tornadoes bombarded the South , taking more than fifty lives — at least thirty of those in my native state of Tennessee. Stories of survival in this tragedy include a man who managed to protect himself by pulling a couch over his head, bank employees who sought protection in their bank vault, and a woman who huddled in her bathroom as the twister roared through her neighborhood.

The far-reaching path  of the tornado and its accompanying storms extended from Texas to Ohio and the damage was bluntly described by Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen when he said, "It looks like the Lord took a Brillo pad and scrubbed the ground." Tornado experts say this round of tornadoes is the worst they have witnessed  in about twenty-three years.

The swath of area  that tornadoes frequently go through every year is called Tornado Alley . But the untold story is that tornadoes don't just occur in Tornado Alley — they appear in some of the most unlikely places in the United States.

For instance, I had just gotten off the MAX  about a month ago, and as I headed to my son's school in Vancouver (across the Columbia River from Portland), I learned that a tornado  had come within a half mile of the school.

Here in the Pacific Northwest, earthquakes, flooding, and forest fires are the disasters we expect, not tornadoes. This small tornado had wind speeds of 90-110 mph, was 440 yards wide, and had a two mile path that touched down several times. Damage was not nearly as severe as in the South, because the Pacific Ocean and mountain terrain of the Pacific Northwest helped to limit the damage.

After hearing with relief that my kids were safe, I was interested in how often twisters went through Southwest Washington.

The last tornado that swept through Vancouver took place on April 5, 1972 , taking six lives and injuring 300. It ranks as the deadliest tornado in the state and was ranked the 7th worst weather-related event  of the 20th century in Washington State. It destroyed a grocery, a store, a bowling alley, and an elementary school, causing over five million dollars in damage. On the same day, tornadoes touched down near Spokane and in Stevens County, Washington.

All this stresses the fact that tornadoes can happen anytime, anywhere. As the year unfolds — and the traditional tornado season looms nearer — it's time to update your disaster plan, keeping in mind that tornadoes touch down  in unlikely places.

Posted by Steve at 10:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Found in At Home, At Work, Environment, Misc, Museums, Natural Disasters, Perspective, Prepare, Tornadoes, Wells Fargo Bank

Wells Fargo is proud of its history in many respects, not the least of which is diversity. Our Chairman of the Board, Dick Kovacevich, says that our commitment to diversity makes Wells Fargo a better, stronger company. Diversity is who we are and has become an everyday part of our culture.

Brenda Ross-Dulan blogs today about Wells Fargo's announcement last week that demonstrates how our tradition of diversity remains as strong as ever. (CR)

As national spokeswoman for Wells Fargo's African American Business Services, I am always proud to represent the great strides Wells Fargo has taken to support the African American business community. This month, my role as spokesperson holds a special significance for me. Just recently, I had the privilege to announce that Wells Fargo has reached its goal, set in 1998, to lend $1 billion to African American business owners nationwide by 2010. That's right — we accomplished this goal two years early!

Reaching this significant lending milestone is a testament to the entrepreneurial vision and success of African American business owners. The African American business community is showing significant growth. In fact, according to the most recent (2002) U.S. Census data , there are more than one million African American-owned businesses in the U.S., a 45 percent increase over the 1997 census figure — that's four times the national average!

Wells Fargo is committed to supporting this growth by sponsoring African American organizations and activities in the communities it serves. Over the past ten years, the Wells Fargo Foundation has given more than $38 million to community organizations throughout the nation that serve African Americans.

Black History Month   is an opportune time to recognize the achievements of African American business owners — but this success extends far beyond the month of February. As we continue into 2008, Wells Fargo will be setting a new goal for African American business lending and we are excited to continue our long-term support of this important segment.

African American Business Services provides outreach and education to African American business owners through resources including workshops, seminars, tradeshows, and regional and national alliances. We maintain close relationships with national organizations including the National Black Chamber of Commerce , 100 Black Men of America  and the National Black MBA Association  (NBMBAA). As America's #1 small business lender, Wells Fargo has loaned close to $35 billion to women, African American, Latino and Asian business owners since 1995.

Posted by Charles at 10:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Found in African American History, Misc, Perspective, Wells Fargo Bank

Here's a video piece about George Monroe, the celebrated stagecoach driver we wrote about the other day! It's from a video Wells Fargo made a few years ago on our history, "Since 1852: The Universal Friend and Agent."

The piece is short, but it's vid which is über  hip. Welcome to Guided By History, progressive in all ways...

Share your story with us!

Posted by Charles at 12:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Found in African American History, Misc, Remember, Stagecoach, Transportation, Travel, Wells Fargo Bank

The story of Colonel George S.Roberts is one of our faves here at Wells Fargo History. There's a great addition to the story his wife told at a recent event honoring the Tuskegee Airmen.

When Col. Roberts retired from duty with the U.S. Army, he was job hunting and dropped into a Wells Fargo office to discuss opportunities. Roberts got to talking with the Branch Manager who, like Roberts, had served in the Second World War.

When the Manager learned Roberts was part of the famed flying squadron that had protected so many lives, he hired him on the spot. The Branch Manager understood that anyone who had accomplished what Roberts had was capable of handling the pressures of banking. Without a doubt.

Check out the short video piece below. It's from our production, a few years back, on Wells Fargo's 150-year (plus) history.

Share your story with us!

Posted by Charles at 11:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Found in African American History, At Work, First-hand Accounts, Misc, Remember, Sacramento, Wells Fargo Bank

In Stagecoach days, drivers carried Wells Fargo treasure shipments and passengers across the frontier. It took skill to drive a coach and Wells Fargo added rigorous standards of its own: superior reinsmanship, self-reliance and upstanding character.

(FYI, it still takes driving talent and good character to drive Wells Fargo stagecoaches today.)

In 1855, 11-year old George Monroe came west from Georgia. When Monroe had grown, he came to exemplify the greatness of fact and legend of the best stagecoach drivers. He was described by his employers as "the best all-round reinsman in the West."

Early on, George Monroe exhibited a knack for training and driving horses. At age 22, he took a job driving for the A.H. Washburn and Company stage line into Yosemite