THE TICKER
MUSEUM NEWS
2021 Brings New Financial Education Initiatives
Mark Twain said that “ education consists mainly of what we have unlearned .” Unfortunately , with respect to financial literacy , that education was in many cases not learned in the first place . Our Museum is a beacon of light in the sea of financial illiteracy that plagues our nation . From exhibits and public programs to using our collection for teaching moments , education is at the core of everything we do .
Message to Members
David J . Cowen | President and CEO
Recently we have been involved in two new financial education initiatives . First , our beloved fellow trustee and former board chair , Professor Richard Sylla , has remained very active in his retirement from the NYU Stern School of Business . This year , he began teaching an undergraduate course at Fordham University under the auspices of our good friend , Jim Kelly , the director of the Gabelli Center for Global Security Analysis . The course , titled “ The Development of Financial Institutions and Markets ,” is being conducted weekly over Zoom . I am involved as Dick ’ s teaching assistant , and he is graciously donating his teaching stipend to the Museum . On a personal note , some 25 years ago I was a student of Dick ’ s in graduate school , and it is terrific to be back once again learning from our nation ’ s preeminent financial historian , who is also a member of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences .
A second educational initiative we are currently offering is a class titled “ Origins of the Capital Markets .” Using original documents from our vast collection , we showcase the plan that Alexander Hamilton created to build our financial system . Those who work in finance today often take for granted that our robust markets exist — but how did they actually commence ? Given the immense popularity of Hamilton : An American Musical , this lecture highlights the story of Hamilton ’ s
role in creating the capital markets . We offer this class to financial institutions and related non-profit organizations for their management , board , staff and occasionally groups of interns or trainees , as it provides crucial background information to anyone pursuing a career in finance . I personally teach this course , and in normal ( pre-Covid ) times I am accompanied by our collections manager , Sarah Poole , who brings artifacts from the collection to enhance the “ wow ” factor . Since the pandemic , we have shifted the class to an online format , still showcasing the collection but in a digital manner .
One of the advantages of being virtual is that program attendance numbers are way up . That was the case with our most recent class for the Women ’ s Bond Club , when we had 150 attendees .
Finance impacts everyone . As a socially relevant organization , we seek to improve understanding of the influence of financial institutions and capital markets on the US and global economies , and on individuals ’ lives . As the nation ’ s only independent museum dedicated to finance and financial history , we educate the public through exhibits , financial literacy programs and public events . We seek to empower individuals of all backgrounds to strive toward financial independence , while encouraging curiosity and discovery . And these latest initiatives help us do just that .
David Cowen teaches the “ Origins of the Capital Markets ” class to the Women ’ s Bond Club , April 2021 .
4 FINANCIAL HISTORY | Spring 2021 | www . MoAF . org