SIM-09: A Guide to the Dornfest Collection on Staten Island Banking

Walter T. Dornfest is a historian and librarian, and was a faculty member of the College of Staten Island. He has a strong research interest in the banking history of Staten Island.

Dornfest was particularly interested in the period when national banks were authorized to issue US currency (1863-1935). Dornfest researched all six national banks that operated during this period and wrote articles on three of the banks - First National Bank of Staten Island at New Brighton 1886-1905, Port Richmond National Bank 1902-1926, and Staten Island National Bank and Trust Company 1926-1957. The research files and articles date from the early 1980's. The collection includes Dornfest's articles, notes and research materials, including photocopies of bank records. Dornfest also collected original bank notes from Staten Island national banks, which he auctioned off in 1990. The collection includes photocopies of all of Dornfest's bank notes and a copy of the auction catalog.