Object ID
1996.104.1
Object Name
Certificate, Stock
Date Created
February 11, 1924
Material
Paper
Object Entities
Becharas, George (owned by)
Object Description
Beige rectangular stock certificate with a dark orange printed border around all four sides.  Border pattern looks like lace trim.  Running around the inside perimeter of the dark orange border is  decorative light orange trim with a tight fishnet pattern. All of the printing and writing on the document is in black ink.  The top of the document is crowned with the black and white printed image of an Eagle standing on a large tree branch with it's head down and wings spread, ready to take flight.  To the left of the eagle, is a small decorative gray banner with the certificate number stamped on it in red ink.  To the right of the eagle is an identical banner with the number of shares printed on it in black.  Immediately under the eagle is a large decorated banner with the name of the company boldly presented in black Old-English font.  The number of shares in that company, and the value of each share are printed much smaller beneath the company name in capital letters with a plain block font.
Beneath the title banner, the following information is written in smaller black font and signatures:
liStock certificate for 100 shares of John Raklios & Co. Inc. owned by George Beharas. Signed A. G. Chronis, Secretary and John Raklios, President. Shares at $100.00 each. John Raklios & Company, Incorporated Stock Certificate Date: February 11, 1924 Donor: George Becharas
There is a round, light orange decorative medallion, pattern similar to a chrysanthemum, placed at the bottom of the certificate superimposed on the certificate's decorative border.
Origin
This stock certificate is an original. Donated by George Bechars in 1996. John Raklios & Co. was a pioneer Chicago restaurant chain. Closed down during the Great Depression.

"From the 1900s through the 1930s, John Raklios had over 20 restaurants in Chicago. Four of the chain’s restaurants were on the original alignment of Route 66 and all were within two miles of the route. The Raklios chain was unable to survive the Great Depression." -http://windycityroadwarrior.com

"In 1918 Raklios lived at 1702 N. LaSalle Street according to his World War 1 Draft Registration Card. He was listed as a Naturalized Citizen at the time. It also indicated that he was of average height and stout build. He had brown eyes and black hair.
At the height of his career, John Raklios was highly successful and had a huge mansion at 6326 North Sheraton Road overlooking Lake Michigan. Raklios had huge parties is his ballroom. One that was quite famous was when his son, Hercules was christened. Raklios had Holy water flown in from the Jordan River to baptize his son. There were dignitaries that came from as far a way as Greece to attend. The Prince of Greece as well as Bishops and Archbishops came to Raklios' mansion for events. " - http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com
Rights and Reproduction
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Citation
Certificate, Stock, February 11, 1924, National Hellenic Museum, https://collections.nationalhellenicmuseum.org/Detail/objects/7929. Accessed 04/27/24.