Genealogy of American Finance

An immersive history of fifty major American banks and their role in transforming the nation into a leading world power.

The Museum of American Finance, an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, is the nation's only independent museum dedicated to preserving, exhibiting, and teaching American finance and financial history. With its extensive collection of financial documents and objects, and its seminars, events, educational programming and publications, the museum portrays the breadth and richness of American financial history, achievement, and practices. The museum is located in a historic bank building at 48 Wall Street, on the corner of William Street, in New York City. For more information visit www.moaf.org.

Robert E. Wright became the inaugural Nef Family Chair of Political Economy at Augustana College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, after teaching at New York University, the University of Virginia, and elsewhere. He is the author, coauthor, editor, or coeditor of more than twenty major scholarly books and projects related to U.S. financial and policy history.

Richard Sylla is the Henry Kaufman Professor of the History of Financial Institutions and Markets and Professor of Economics at New York University. He is also Chairman of the Board of Trustees at the Museum of American Finance and a research associate of the National Bureau of Economic Research.

Charles M. Royce is known as one of the pioneers of small-cap investing. He has been CEO of The Royce Funds since 1972. He currently serves as trustee of the Frick Collection, the New-York Historical Society, and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Peter Eisenstadt:
A lavishly illustrated volume.... Genealogy of American Finance is a remarkable and durable achievement, definitive and magisterial.

Daniel Giedeman:
A fascinating compilation of the genealogical histories of the fifty largest financial institutions in the United States.... Clearly written and enjoyable to read. I expect that all readers will learn something new from the book and that the vast majority of readers will learn quite a bit. I recommend it with enthusiasm.

Michael A. Martorelli:
In addition to tracing the histories of America's 50 largest financial corporations, this richly illustrated coffee-table book spotlights many of the important economic events that influenced the evolutions of those institutions.

A treasure-trove history of America's top banks.

Charles R. Geisst, author of Wall Street: A History and Beggar Thy Neighbor:
Wright and Sylla have produced an extremely valuable edition on the history of the fifty institutions central to American economic life. I highly recommended it to anyone with an interest in business history.

John Steele Gordon, author of Empire of Wealth: The Epic History of American Economic Power:
Genealogy of American Finance is a treasure trove of information on American banking and its history, in an unusual—and unusually useful—format.

Matt Jaremski, Colgate University:
Genealogy of American Finance is sure to motivate interesting conversation, whether around a coffee table or in a classroom. Its strength comes from its breadth and level of detail—the scope of this genealogical approach has not been previously undertaken, and the fact that it manages to remain balanced and engaging is impressive.