Research Guides: Economics Collections at the Mudd Manuscript Library: Public and International Finance

Public and International Finance

These collections document government fiscal policies, banking systems, especially in the United States, and studies in the field of finance. Government fiscal policy is documented by the papers of government officials and advisors, including James A. Baker III, Ferdinand Eberstadt, and Edwin W. Kemmerer. The collections also include the papers of several bankers and their writings on the subject of finance, as well as their correspondence pertaining to their profession, and the records of Women’s World Banking, one of the world’s leaders in microenterprise financing, a not-for-profit international financial institution that facilitates the participation of poor women entrepreneurs in the modern economy.

Relevant Collections

James A. Baker III Papers, 1957-2011 (mostly 1972-1992)
James A. Baker III served in senior government positions under three United States Presidents and was a central figure in the administrations of Ronald Reagan and George Bush in the 1980s and early 1990s. Baker also led presidential campaigns for Presidents Gerald Ford, Reagan and Bush over the course of five consecutive presidential elections from 1976 to 1992. The papers document nearly every stage of Baker's career, including his work on presidential campaigns, his time as White House Chief of Staff for both Reagan and Bush, and his terms as Secretary of the Treasury under Reagan and Secretary of State under Bush.
Eugene M. Becker Papers, 1944-2013 (mostly 1965-1972)
The Eugene M. Becker Papers consist primarily of planning documents, position papers, articles, addresses, correspondence, and scrapbooks which document Becker's career in public service as Budget Director of New York City under Mayor John Lindsay; Assistant Secretary of the United States Army during the Johnson and Nixon administrations; and Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Mentor Group, a research institute focusing on constitutional, legal-economic comparative studies and sponsor of the Forum for US-EU Legal-Economic Affairs, the Forum for Russian Legal-Economic Affairs, and the Central European Forum for Legal-Economic Affairs.
J. Douglas Brown Papers, 1910-1978 (mostly 1930-1970)
J. Douglas Brown (1898-1986) was an economist and Princeton University administrator who was an expert in the field of industrial relations, especially on the subjects of Social Security and personnel and manpower issues. He was one of the leaders in the development of the Social Security program and also served in the War Department during World War II on manpower issues. Brown's papers document his career as a government consultant, as a scholar, and as a university administrator and include his correspondence and writings, reports, meeting minutes, notes, and publications.
Chandler & Company Records, 1916-1921
Chandler & Company was a New York investment banking house with offices in New York and Philadelphia. The Company issued bonds for many companies and countries, including Bolivia, China, Costa Rica, and Germany. Chandler & Company's records document the company's investment decisions in Germany, as well as Bolivia and Costa Rica, during the early 1920s and include correspondence and meeting minutes.
Ferdinand Eberstadt Papers, 1868-1970 (MC021)
The papers of Ferdinand Eberstadt (1890-1969; Class of 1913) document Eberstadt's long career in public service. World War II-related materials include the report Eberstadt wrote for James V. Forrestal, Secretary of the Navy, "Unification of War and Navy Departments and Post-War Organization for National Security" (1945).
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Other materials document Eberstadt's work as assistant to Bernard M. Baruch on the United Nations Atomic Energy Commission (1946), as Chair of the Army & Navy Munitions Board (1942), on the War Production Board (1942-1943), the National Securities Resources Board (1948), and his role in the Marshall Plan. Also present are extensive correspondence files with many prominent individuals, subject files, diaries (1926-1948), speeches, statements, documents, printed material, photographs, scrapbooks, and family papers.
Economists' National Committee on Monetary Policy Records, 1925-1971 (mostly 1940-1970)
The Economists' National Committee on Monetary Policy, active from November 1933 to 1970, was composed of economists and other financial experts who sought to educate the public and United States government on sound monetary policy. The Committee advocated for a return to the gold standard and sought to combat what they saw as dangerous inflationist sentiment and aggressive monetary policies of the time through public addresses, publishing articles and pamphlets, and testifying before Congress. The records document the Committee's work, as well as its organization and administration, and include correspondence, meeting minutes, and publications.
Harvey E. Fisk Papers, 1889-1944 (mostly 1910-1930)
Harvey E. Fisk (1856-1944) was a New York City banker who also wrote numerous pamphlets and books on public finance for Bankers Trust Company of New York. He specialized in railroad securities and public finance. Fisk's papers document his work as an author and include his research files, notes, and drafts of articles and books.
Edward S. Greenbaum Papers, 1888-1969 (mostly 1930-1960)
Edward S. Greenbaum (1890-1970) was a lawyer in New York City in the legal firm of Greenbaum, Wolff & Ernst who was involved in court reform efforts throughout his career. He also served in the War Department during World War II as executive officer to Under Secretary of War Robert P. Patterson, negotiating contracts with the private sector for munitions and supplies. Greenbaum's papers document his career as a lawyer, as well as his government service, and include correspondence, legal documents, reports, and publications.
Melvin A. Hall Papers, 1895-1972
Melvin A. Hall's renaissance career as adventurer, aviator, soldier, agent, financial administrator and author spanned four and a half decades, and is well represented in this collection.
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The materials include: diaries; personal and business correspondence; official documents, reports and correspondence from his tenure with the American Financial Mission in Persia; copies of his published writings, including drafts of his books Journey to the End of an Era and Bird of Time; articles, reviews, speeches and military intelligence reports; copies of unpublished writings; subject files containing background and research notes; information on his medals, awards and commendations; diaries and correspondence from Hall's father, William Augustus Hall, Hall's wife Josephine Johnson Hall, a World War I field nurse; and photographs and scrapbooks.
Edwin W. Kemmerer Papers, 1875-1945 (mostly 1920-1945)
Edwin W. Kemmerer (1875-1945), internationally known as "The Money Doctor," was an economist and government advisor with expertise in finance and currency. Kemmerer served as a financial advisor to many governments, mostly in Latin America, and spent the majority of his academic career at Princeton University. Kemmerer's papers document his advisory and scholarly career and include his professional correspondence, writings, and files from his financial advisory work.
Fred I. Kent Papers, 1901-1954 (mostly 1920-1950)
Fred I. Kent (1869-1954) was a banker who spent the majority of his career at Bankers Trust Company in New York. He was an expert on foreign exchange, and during World War I and its aftermath was involved with establishing foreign exchange policies, reparations, and war debt. Kent was also active in numerous organizations, including the American Bankers Association and the International Chamber of Commerce. Kent's papers include his correspondence with businessmen and politicians about financial and economic issues, articles and speeches written by Kent, and papers documenting his involvement with several banking and economic organizations.
Liberty Loan Committee Records, 1912-1919
The Liberty Loan Committee coordinated campaigns to sell U.S. Treasury bonds to the American public from 1917 to 1919 in order to fund United States involvement in World War I. The Committee was managed by the Federal Reserve. The Liberty Loan Committee Records document the four Liberty Loan and the Victory Loan campaigns and include advertisements, committee memoranda, forms and descriptions of the loans, and subscription information.
Howard A. Loeb Papers, 1928-1951
Howard A. Loeb served as chairman of the board of the Tradesmens Bank and Trust Company of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and as representative of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia on the Federal Advisory Council. This collection consists of Loeb's correspondence and printed matter related to these positions.
Eugene W. Sloan papers, 1941-1945
Eugene W. Sloan served as Assistant Secretary to the Treasury (beginning in 1935) and was the creator and first administrator of the United States Savings Bond program. Consists of fourteen scrapbooks compiled by Sloan. Two scrapbooks, which Sloan compiled while Executive Director of the War Savings Staff.
Benjamin Strong Collection, 1917-1950 (mostly 1925-1940)
Benjamin Strong was a prominent New York banker who was instrumental in the foundation and success of the Federal Reserve Bank. This collection contains records pertaining to the former Benjamin Strong Collection of Foreign Public Finance in Princeton University Library, which was funded by Strong with the objective of acquiring books and original source material chronicling the development of foreign public finance, central banking, and international trade.
Jacob Viner Papers, 1909-1979 (mostly 1930-1960)
Jacob Viner (1892-1970) is considered one of the greatest economists of the twentieth century. His career was spent at the University of Chicago and Princeton University, and he also frequently served as an advisor to the United States government. His primary academic interests included international economics, international economic relations, and the history of economic thought, but his investigations ranged across many disciplines. Viner's papers document his scholarship, as well as his government service, and include correspondence, manuscripts, reports, and research materials.
Harry Dexter White Papers, 1895-2000 (mostly 1935-1948)
Harry Dexter White (1892-1948) was an economist with expertise in international finance and monetary issues. White served in the United States Department of the Treasury from 1934 to 1946, rising to the position of Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, and was one of the principal architects of the Bretton Woods agreements in 1944 that established the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. White's papers document his service in the Department of the Treasury and include correspondence and memoranda, notes, and writings.
Hans A. Widenmann Papers, 1915-1977 (mostly 1950-1977)
Hans A. Widenmann (1897-1976) was a stockbroker and economist with expertise in national and international monetary affairs. His successful business career was largely spent at Loeb, Rhoades & Company, and he was also frequently called upon to speak about international finance subjects. Widenmann's papers document his career at Loeb, Rhoades & Company and include his correspondence and writings, topical files, and biographical files.
Women's World Banking Records, 1964-2017 (mostly 1980-1996)
Women's World Banking (WWB), one of the world's leaders in microenterprise financing, is a not-for-profit international financial institution founded by a global group of independent women working together with the support of the United Nations in 1979. The records document the administration of the organization, mainly during the tenure of its first president, Michaela Walsh, and include founding documents, financial records, correspondence, records related to affiliates and other organizations, audiovisual materials, and the files of Michaela Walsh.