Getting the Federal Reserve right, Part One
By John Steele Gordon After J. P. Morgan had stopped the financial panic of 1907…
Browsing: History
Podcast: Thwarting would-be bank robbers, Hoosier-style
From Butch Cassidy to Bonnie and Clyde, bank robbers have always had a pop culture mystique. But bank robberies are no Hollywood storyline for bank employees and customers, whose safety and even lives are put at risk when a robber holds up a bank branch. In Indiana in the 1920s, bankers took the protection of their banks into their own hands.
How Wall Street Became ‘Wall Street’
By John Steele Gordon As a thoroughfare, Wall Street is unimpressive. Narrow and just six…
The Ghost of Thomas Jefferson
How Jefferson’s skepticism about central banking was woven into the fabric of the U.S. financial regulatory system.
Podcast: Two Vibrant Traditions in U.S. Bank Architecture
On the latest episode of the ABA Banking Journal Podcast, architecture critics Catesby Leigh and Anthony Paletta debate and illuminate two great traditions in U.S. bank design: classicism and modernism.
Three Early U.S. Bank Buildings
By John Steele Gordon Before there could be bank buildings, there had to be banks,…
The Architecture of Accessibility
In the 20th century, banks used sophisticated modern design to signal transparency and openness.
The Architecture of Aspiration
Beyond symbolizing security, classical bank design illustrated the connection of prudent finance and civic virtue.
The Morgan Lineage in U.S. Financial History
Now and at the turn of the 20th century, the Morgan name and brand were preeminent in American finance.
Podcast: Maggie L. Walker’s Historic Mission of Financial Empowerment
Historian Shennette Garrett-Scott tells the story of Maggie Lena Walker and her mission to help Black women find financial empowerment and professional career opportunities.