Orra
Eugene Monnette
(04-12-1873 –
02-24-1936)
Orra Eugene Monnette was an attorney, author and banker. Monnette was also the
Founder of the Bank of America, Los Angeles, but his contribution to the
organization is often overlooked in its corporate history. He was
Organizer and the first President, Bank of America, NT & SA, 1928.
Orra E. Monnette was born in southern Crawford County, Ohio to Mervin Jeremiah
Monnette and Olive Hull Monnette. His family were staunch members of the
Methodist Episcopal Church (aka "M.E. Church") which is now part of the
modern United Methodist Church. Monnette attended Ohio Wesleyan University
in Delaware, Ohio. A first cousin of his grandfather – Mary Monnett Bain –
had donated a sizable sum to the college in the 1850’s which resulted in the
building of Monnett Hall. Graduating from Ohio Wesleyan University in 1895, Monnette
was admitted to the Ohio bar in 1896.
Monnette married Carrie Lucile Janeway in 1895. After practicing law in Ohio for several years, he moved to Los
Angeles in 1907 where he set up his own law practice after being admitted to
the California Bar in 1909.
While Monnette was trained as an attorney, his father’s foray into mining in
1904-1906 changed his career path. In 1906, the elder Monnette struck a
significant gold vein in the previously thought tapped out Mohawk Mine,
Tonapah, Nevada (near Goldfield, Nevada). The strike, known as the Monnette-Hayes
Lease set records for the value of the ore shipped in 1906. Eventually,
Mervin Monnette realized a $5,000,000 profit on the Mohawk, which he
assigned to his son for investment.
With his father’s mining proceeds, Orra Monnette purchased the controlling
interest in the American National Bank of Los Angeles (ANB). In 1909, ANB
was merged into Citizens Trust and Savings Bank of Los Angeles. In 1911,
Monnette purchased the Broadway Bank and Trust Company, which when merged
with the family’s other holdings formed the Citizens Bank and Trust Company,
of which Orra E. Monnette was Chairman of the Board.
In 1923, Citizens Bank and Trust Company was renamed Bank of America, Los
Angeles (B of A). Monnette’s intention was to build capital for national
expansion; however in 1928 Monnette was approached by Amadeo Giannini,
founder of the Bank of Italy, (San Francisco, California) who was interested
in pursuing a merger with B of A. Monnette, who was growing concerned about
the stock and financial markets, accepted Giannini’s offer of a merger. The
resulting Bank of America National Trust and Savings Association emerged prior to
the stock market crash of 1929. Initially, Monnette was named President and
Co-chairman of the new Bank of America, and was a Director of the Bank. During the
early 1930’s, with his interests elsewhere, Monnette turned over his
daily operating duties and was made a Vice
President of the bank, while retaining his Board seat.
Orra Monnette also founded Lincoln Mortgage Company of California. Lincoln
was not part of the Bank of America merger and he retained a controlling
interest in the company and continued to serve as its President until his
death.
Orra Monette was member of the Sons of the Revolution in the State of California, Member #110, elected Sep 11,
1907. His father, Mervin Jeremiah Monnette, became a member the following
year. A fine genealogist, Orra researched and documented his direct descent
from seventeen men who fought in the American Revolution. He served as
President of the Sons of the Revolution in the State of California, 1917-1918. He was elected General
Historian, General Society Sons of the Revolution in 1918.
He served as Governor, California Society of Colonial Wars, 1915-1916
and Deputy Governor-General,
Society of Colonial Wars, 1916-1920. Member, Mayflower Descendants; Huguenot
Society; S.A.R.; Order of Washington; Society War of 1812; Phi Beta Kappa.
General Historian, General Society, Sons of the Revolution. Masonic
fraternity; 32° Scottish Rite; Shriners. National President, Phi Kappa Psi,
1911-1912. Member, Jonathan, Union League, Los Angeles Athletic, City,
Scribes, Uplifters, Los Angeles Country, Southern California Athletic and
Country clubs.
Throughout his life in Los Angeles, California, Orra Monnette served on
numerous commissions and boards charged with public projects and the
operation of various public organizations. Monnette was appointed in 1913 to
the Los Angeles Municipal Annexation Commission; Los Angeles City Planning
Commission in 1920 and was made a member of the Board of Freeholders which
framed Los Angeles’ City Charter between 1923-1924.
In 1914, Monnette was appointed to the Los Angeles Public Library Board, and
reappointed every five years until his death in 1936. He was elected
President of the Library Board in 1916, and retained that office until
his death. During the twenty-three years of his tenure, Monnette
championed three major library bond packages which were supported by the
citizens of Los Angeles, California. The bond packages allowed the city to
build forty-eight (48) branches throughout the Los Angeles area as well as
its landmark art deco Main Library in Downtown Los Angeles.
Orra E. Monnette died in Los Angeles California in 1936. His death was noted
in the Los Angeles City Council minutes following a passage of resolution in
his honor. In addition to a placement of a bronze bust of Monnette in the
lobby of the Main Library, his complete private papers were given to the Los
Angeles Public Library System and are accessible in the manuscript division.
A Street in Koreatown "Monnette Place" is named in his honor.