Vincent, W. D. (William D.)

Amateur historian with a particular interest in Pacific Northwest history; collector of books and bookplates. Spokane, Washington banker; president, Old National Bank of Spokane (1920-1933).

From the description of William David Vincent papers and bookplate collection, 1863-1933. (Washington State University). WorldCat record id: 29852792

W.D. (William) Vincent (1866-1935) was a collector of books and bookplates, and also an amateur historian with a particular interest in Pacific Northwest history. Professionally, Vincent was a Spokane, Washington banker and a prominent member of the community. His long career with the Old National Bank of Spokane culminated in service as its president (1920-1933).

Enoch A. Bryan, faculty member and former president of Washington State University, wrote of Vincent: "The successful business man who is endowed with historical sense and a passion for research has a unique opportunity, not possessed by the recluse, of contributing to regional history. The wide range of the business man's contacts, possessed as he is of the means for collecting and preserving rare books, manuscripts and illustrative material, and even of travel throughout the region for the verification and classification of historical data, enables him to give a broad, accurate, and common sense interpretation to the history of the men and things of an earlier day."Mr. Vincent has for many years been a student of Northwest history and an intelligent expositor of its earlier phases... " From Bryan's "Prefatory Statement" in W.D. Vincent, The Northwest Company (Pullman: State College of Washington, 1927).

From the guide to the William D. Vincent Papers and Bookplate Collection, 1863-1933 (papers), Undated (bookplatess), (Washington State University Libraries Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections (MASC))