Page Three

Do you like history, old documents or fancy certificates? And what abstractor isn't somewhat drawn in by history and old documents? If that fits you, then perhaps you are a schripophilogist. If not yet bitten, then perhaps scripophily is for you. Even our industry is evident in the historical financial records found in the study of scripophily. Here is a certificate for the Union Abstract Company of Eufaula, issued in 1907. This historic document has an ornate border around it with a vignette of an allegorical woman. This item is handsigned by the company's president and secretary and is over 93 years old.

Eufaula, Oklahoma, the county seat of McIntosh County and former Record Town for Recording District No. 12 in Indian Territory, is located 12 miles south of Interstate 40 at the junction of US Highway 69 and Oklahoma State Highway 9. It is named after one of the historic Creek Indian villages in the Creek Nations old homeland, Alabama. There are only two cities named Eufaula in the United States- Eufaula, Oklahoma and Eufaula, Alabama.

Just one half mile east of Eufaula was the site of North Fork Town, settled by the Creek Indians shortly after their arrival in this area in 1836. The Texas Road and a branch of the California Road crossed at North Fork Town, making it a center of traffic. This important tribal community played host to the treaty made between the Confederates and the Creek, Choctaw, and Chickasaw Nations in 1861. North Fork Town is now covered by Lake Eufaula. In 1907, when Oklahoma was officially recognized as a state, Eufaula, Checotah, Stidham and other small surrounding communities were formed into McIntosh County. McIntosh County got its name from the ancestors of W.E. "Dode" McIntosh, a past Chief of the Creek Nation.

Thanks to scripophily.com and Bob Kerstein for the above image and information. You can find out more at their website (www.scripophily.com), but here is a little information on this "new" hobby for those interested.

Scripophily is the collecting of canceled old stocks and bonds. It gained recognition as a hobby around the mid 1970's. The word resulted from the combining words from English and Greek. The word "scrip" represents an ownership right and the word "philos" means to love. Many collectors are drawn by the historical significance of the certificates, others prefer the beauty of older stocks and bonds that were printed in various colors with fancy artwork with ornate engraving. Also many autograph collectors are found searching for many of the rich and famous on various company records. The method of issuing securities in the form of stocks and bonds was used as a way to raise money for business. Stocks were issued as an equity security and bonds were issued as a debt security. There are various variations of each. The certificates are seen as a piece of each company's history. Some of the companies became major success stories. Some of the companies were acquired and merged into other companies. Many companies never made it and the certificates became worthless pieces of paper ... until the hobby of scripophily came along. You can track the booms and busts of an industry, of an era, of a particular company by researching for these old stocks and bonds. Seeing the history of this financial record of our world makes you appreciate that stocks and bonds were the monetary fabric that built the world as we know it today. Due to the computer age, more and more stock and bonds are issued electronically which means fewer paper certificates are issued, so its nice to enjoy some of our industry's history while we can.

Remember the Oklahoma Land Title Association is collecting information for its history and you should send contributions to Donna Schmulbach at Warranty Title in El Reno, Oklahoma (See related article on page 1).