One of the most interesting postcards in my collection is this card, postally used by the Royal Insurance Company on a date which is impossible to read in 1911.
The image is of the Royal Insurance Building in San Francisco. As can be seen, the companies in the group at the time in addition to Royal Insurance Company Ltd were The Queen Insurance Company of America and The Royal Indemnity Company. Rolla V. Wyatt was the General Manager.
I was intrigued by reference to “World Insurance Congress 1915” and decided to do a bit of research into the Congress.
The rear of the card reveals that it is a Christmas card for 1911/1912 and wishes “A Joyous Christmas be Yours.”
It is also an early prompt for the 1915 Congress – nearly 4 years in advance.
“Seasons Greetings Hoping we may all meet at San Francisco in 1915” appear to be strung between two statues on pillars above the words “The Golden Gate.” That might be in hope that a bridge would be built as it was 26 years before the famous Bridge was opened on 27th May 1937.
I have a number of postcards in my collection indicating that a large number of British insurance companies were trading in the USA at the time of the Congress either through direct branches or appointed agents. So, I wondered how many actually attended the Congress bearing in mind that by the time the Congress opened on 4th October 1915, the first World War was well under way. I doubt that many, if any, British employees travelled to the Congress, but I do know that their companies were well represented.
My research led me to learn that the entire proceedings of the Congress were the subject of a book “History and Proceedings of the World’s Insurance Congress” published two years after the event. I now own a copy of the book and will quote various parts of it in forthcoming Newsletters.
For the time being I will satisfy myself by quoting the following passage from page 2 of the book describing the origins of my postcard:
“In Dember, 1911, a souvenir holiday greeting card was sent out from individuals connected with the insurance fraternity in San Francisco to their friends, correspondents and the press throughout the world, the preparation and mailing of which cost approximately $7,500, and which resulted in extensive publicity favorable to the movement and elicited further correspondence from those in whom it had awakened an interest.”
Whilst an attendance list does not appear to exist so I cannot say if any UK delegates travelled to it, I can confirm that some British companies were represented. In a list of companies attending, presumably as part of an exhibition, are the following:
“Atlas Assurance Company, Limited, of London, New York, Chicago and San Francisco departments.
North British and Mercantile Insurance Company of England, United States Branch, New York – Framed wall display, consisting of seal of company in colors.
Phoenix Assurance Company of London, United States Branch, New York.
Royal Insurance Company, Limited, of Liverpool, England, United States Branch Offices, New York, Atlanta, Chicago and San Francisco – Framed wall exhibit, trade- mark of company.
Sun Insurance Office of London, Pacific Coast Branch, San Francisco – Willard O. Wyman and Carl A. Henry, Joint General Agents. House plate in use in London, Eng., about 1780, mounted as wall exhibit with appropriate description.”
On the 11th of October 1915 (7th day of the Congress) Mr Rola V. Watt, Manager of the Royal and Queen Insurance Companies presented a paper in his capacity as Ex-President, Board of Fire Underwriters of the Pacific. More perhaps, on that another time.
Reg Brown
Chairman, Insurance Museum
20th July 2025.
