Dallas Historical Society Extends Texas Independence Exhibit at Oaks Bank & Trust Through June 3 Free, Award-Winning Project Offers Chance to See Rare Artifacts

Released on = May 18, 2005, 8:56 pm

Press Release Author = Craig McDaniel, APR / The Oaks Bank & Trust Company

Industry = Financial

Press Release Summary = Rare items belonging to historic figures on both sides of the fight for Texas independence from Mexico in 1836 will be on display at The Oaks Bank & Trust Company until June 3 after the Dallas Historical Society extended the exhibition another two weeks. The project between the community bank and history museum has won a Cornerstone Award from the Texas Bankers Association.

Press Release Body = DALLAS – The Dallas Historical Society has extended an exhibit of items in its collection dating from the Texas rebellion against Mexico, including some that haven’t been displayed since the 1936 Texas Centennial celebration. The
4th Annual San Jacinto Day Exhibit at The Oaks Bank & Trust Company opened April 21 and was scheduled to close this week, the bank’s 20th anniversary. Society officials, however, offered to extend the free exhibit through June 3 to allow more people the chance to see the unique artifacts.

Meanwhile, the ongoing historic preservation and education program between the bank and the nonprofit, which operates from the Hall of State in Fair Park, won praise from the Texas Bankers Association. The TBA presented its Cornerstone Award for community service to Oaks Bank Chairman Max Wells at the group’s convention in San Antonio last week in recognition of the bank’s commitment to preserving and promoting Texas history through this program, a project of its Lex Johnston Republic
of Texas Collection.

“We appreciate that our peers in the banking community have recognized our collaboration with the Dallas Historical Society and are also happy that the society will allow these unique artifacts from our state’s past to remain on display longer so more visitors can enjoy this rare chance to see them,” Wells said.

Items on display at the Oaks Bank office at 4849 Greenville Ave. (at University Boulevard) include an ornate silk vest that Mexican Gen. Antonio López de Santa Anna gave to one of his captors at the Battle of San Jacinto on April 21, 1836, which eventually became part of the Dallas Historical Society’s archives. Visitors to the temporary museum in the bank lobby can also view Santa Anna’s riding spurs, a brass paperweight from his field desk, various weapons and the “Santa Anna Cross,” a military decoration awarded to Mexican soldiers after the Alamo.

Unique among the artifacts is a one-of-a-kind, hand-engraved medal created from a Mexican 8 Real coin that was presented to “Our Brave Heroine Susannah Dickinson” by the Texas Republic. Dickinson escaped with her infant daughter from the Alamo where her husband, captain of the artillery Almeron Dickinson, fought and died.

Other art and artifacts from Oaks Bank’s permanent Lex Johnston Collection, named after the bank’s late co-founder, are also shown. These include original currency, flags of the republic, artwork, and a copy of Houston’s handwritten report on the battle at San Jacinto. The bank and Dallas Historical Society this year donated a copy of the battle report to the Dallas Public Library for its Texas history collection.

Exhibit hours are Monday – Thursday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Friday, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday, 9 a.m. to Noon. For information or directions call 214-361-7400 or visit www.oaksbank.com. The permanent collection is open to the public year-round, with items shared among the bank’s five Dallas, Duncanville and Richardson offices.

About Oaks Bank
With assets of $115 million, The Oaks Bank & Trust Company is a full service, independent community bank chartered May 17, 1985. In addition to loan and other banking services, Oaks Bank offers insurance and associated financial services through Texas BancPartners Insurance Agency LLC, and commercial and residential mortgage services through Parkvest BancGroup. All three companies are part of the
Prestonwood BancShares Inc. group.

Web Site = http://www.oaksbank.com

Contact Details = The Oaks Bank & Trust Company
4849 Greenville Ave.
Dallas, Texas 75206
214-361-7400
www.oaksbank.com

Media Contact:
Craig McDaniel, APR
McDaniel Marketing Communications LLC
214-914-4261
mcdanielpr@swbell.net