Metadata: Bank Degroof archives
Collection
- Country:
- Belgium
- Holding institution:
- National Archives of Belgium 2 – Joseph Cuvelier Repository
- Holding institution (official language):
- Archives Générales du Royaume 2 – Dépôt Joseph Cuvelier
- Postal address:
- Hopstraat 26-28 / Rue du Houblon 26-28, 1000 Bruxelles
- Phone number:
- +32 (0)2 274 15 00
- Web address:
- http://www.arch.be/
- Email:
- agr_ar_2@arch.be
- Reference number:
- NAB2-Brussels-545 Bank Degroof
- Title:
- Bank Degroof archives
- Title (official language):
- Archief van Bank Degroof
- Creator/accumulator:
- Bank Degroof
- Date(s):
- 1875/1940
- Date note:
- ca. 1877-1940
- Extent:
- ca. 63 linear metres
- Scope and content:
- This fonds was produced by Franz Philippson, founder of the Bank Degroof. We note material concerning Philippson’s private life as well as his activities and functions within the Jewish community, at the local (Brussels), national and international level. The documents relate to i.a. the status of the Jewish cemetery in Brussels, liturgical music for Jewish religious services, Jewish religious education for children, various charities established in Brussels, the Dreyfus affair, the pogroms in czarist Russia, the creation of Jewish colonies in South America, etc. No finding aid currently exists, but we suspect it likely also contains archival material concerning the Second World War, the persecution of the Jews, spoliation, etc.
- Archival history:
- The fonds was acquired by the Belgian National Archives in 2015.
- Administrative/biographical history:
- Bank Degroof has its roots in the bank founded by Franz Philippson (1851-1929) and Salomon Leubsdorff in 1871. The initial capital was loaned from Jacques Errera. The bank was called Bank F.M. Philippson between 1895 and 1961. It specialised, among others, in lottery loans to cities, national public loans, private asset management (from 1895-1900), securities arbitration and the like. The bank also invested in industry – railroads, non-ferrous sector, electricity (see the creation of Intercom, forerunner of Electrabel, in 1901), etc. Its interest in financing the colonisation of Central Africa (including loans for the Congo Free State) should also be mentioned. In 1906 Jules Philippson, son of Franz Philippson, entered the management of the bank. He was, among others, the founder and president of the private banks section of the Belgian Bankers’ Association. The Philippson family went into exile in 1940; leadership of the bank during the Second World War was entrusted to Richard Weitzel and Jean Degroof. After his return in 1945, Jules Philippson once again became an associate. The bank changed its name to Jean Degroof & Cie. in 1961. Since the death of Jean Degroof in 1969 the bank is called Bank Degroof. Today, it is one of the leading private banks in Belgium, the only one that still exists in this capacity and that has remained independent. Apart from regional offices in Belgium, Bank Degroof also has subsidiaries in France, Luxembourg, Spain, Switzerland and Hong Kong. The bank is active in financial analysis, institutional asset management, mergers and acquisitions, real estate etc. (https://www.degroof.be/sites/degroof/en-us/portrait/depuis-1871/Pages/default.aspx)
- Access points: locations:
- Brussels
- Access points: persons/families:
- Philippson, Franz
- Subject terms:
- Aid and relief
- Aid and relief--Philanthropy and charity
- Cemeteries
- Children
- Dreyfus affair
- Education
- Education--Schools and universities
- Financial matters
- Financial matters--Banks, banking, and bankers
- Jewish colonies
- Jewish community
- Jewish daily life and religious practices
- Music
- Personal records
- Pogroms
- Access, restrictions:
- The fonds is not open for consultation for the time being.
- Yerusha Network member:
- State Archives of Belgium
