Oaks Bank & Trust Texas History Exhibit Ends May 17; Collaboration With Dallas Historical Society Wins Community Service Award

DALLAS ­– A free exhibit by the Dallas Historical Society of rare and rarely seen artifacts from the fight for Texas independence from Mexico is on display at The Oaks Bank & Trust Company at 4849 Greenville Ave. through May 17 and will be honored Thursday with an award from the Texas Bankers Association.

Some items on display – including an ornate silk vest Mexican Gen. Antonio López de Santa Anna gave to one of his captors at the Battle of San Jacinto, April 21, 1836 – haven’t been shown since the 1936 Texas Centennial.

At its San Antonio convention this week the TBA will recognize Oaks Bank & Trust’s efforts to promote and preserve Texas history by presenting bank Chairman Max Wells its Cornerstone Award, which is given every other year for outstanding community service projects.

The bank’s 4th Annual San Jacinto Day Exhibit includes Santa Anna’s riding spurs and bonds he sold to raise funds while in exile, plus military decorations, weapons and a diorama from the Texas Centennial showing the Mexican leader’s surrender to Gen. Sam Houston.

Unique among the artifacts is a one-of-a-kind, hand-engraved medal created from a Mexican 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 fought and died.

Other art and artifacts from Oaks Bank’s own collection are also shown, including 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.

The exhibit is in the Oaks Bank office on the corner of Greenville Avenue and University Boulevard through May 17, the bank’s 20th anniversary. 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 call 214-361-7400 or visit www.oaksbank.com.
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About Oaks Bank
With assets of $115 million, The Oaks Bank & Trust Company is a full service, independent community bank with five offices in Dallas, Duncanville and Richardson. 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.