Historic Douglass State Bank Mural by Hank Smith to be Dedicated at Black Archives of Mid-America

Mural Dedication Honors Legacy of Douglass State Bank at Black Archives

Painted by Hank Smith in 1974, the Douglass State Bank Mural will be dedicated to the Black Archives of Mid-America on March 16.

The Black Archives of Mid-America will host a dedication ceremony for a piece of local Black history that has found a new home. The event will celebrate a mural painted by Hank Smith depicting the founding and legacy of Henry Warren Sewing and the founding of Douglass State Bank, the first Black-owned bank west of the Mississippi River.

Established in 1947 by Sewing, Douglass State Bank was a beacon of financial empowerment for the Black community in Kansas City, Kansas. Sewing’s vision marked a pivotal moment, making the bank one of only 14 Black-owned banks in the United States at the time of its inception.

The mural, commissioned in 1974 by the bank’s executives, was painted by local artist Hank Smith and captures pivotal moments in the bank’s history, including the bank’s inauguration parade, encounters with state dignitaries, and scenes of community engagement.

The mural remained at the bank’s 5th Street location in KCK, even when the bank was purchased by Liberty Bank & Trust, but when they moved locations, something had to be done with the mural. Liberty Bank & Trust, recognizing the mural’s historical significance, facilitated its transfer to the Sewing family, who donated it to the Black Archives of Mid-America.

The dedication ceremony, hosted by the Sewing Family and Liberty Bank & Trust, promises to honor the pioneering spirit of Douglass State Bank and its enduring impact on the Midwest’s Black community. The event is free to attend, but registration is encouraged at bit.ly/SewingMural.

Mural Dedication Ceremony

Black Archives of Mid-America
1722 E 17th Terrace, KCMO
Sat., March 16 at 5 p.m.

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Tagged: Black Archives of Mid-America, Douglass State Bank, Hank Smith, Henry Warren Sewing, Murals