Financial
history
The magazine of the Museum of American Finance
in association with the Smithsonian Institution
Issue 138 • Summer 2021 ( ISSN 1520-4723 )
Kristin Aguilera Editor
EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD
Howard A . Baker , Esq . Howard Baker Associates Lawrence A . Cunningham The George Washington University Brian Grinder Eastern Washington University Gregory DL Morris Freelance Journalist Susie Pak St . John ’ s University Arthur W . Samansky The Samansky Group Myles Thompson Columbia Business School Publishing Janice Traflet Bucknell University Robert E . Wright American Institute for Economic Research Jason Zweig The Wall Street Journal
ART DIRECTION Alan Barnett Design
MUSEUM STAFF David J . Cowen , President / CEO Kristin Aguilera , Deputy Director Robert Dinkelmann , IT / Technology Maura Ferguson , Director of Exhibits Sarah Poole , Collections Manager
Linda Rapacki , Managing Director of Visitor Services and Operations
Mindy Ross , Director , External Relations Ben Urizar , Assistant Director of Visitor Services
Copyright © 2021 by the Museum of American Finance , publisher . All rights reserved .
Financial History is the official membership magazine of the Museum of American Finance .
IN THIS ISSUE
10 The Feminization of Capital
The mid-century origins of the modern board diversity debate .
By Sarah C . Haan
14 Inside Money
Brown Brothers Harriman and the American way of power .
By Zachary Karabell
18 Populist Prophets , Public Profits
Pied pipers of lucre , from Thomas Lawson to Roaring Kitty .
By Peter C . Earle
24 A Cornerstone of Our Nation ’ s Economy
The financial history of infrastructure .
By Gregory DL Morris
28 President Nixon ’ s Wage and Price Controls
50 years ago , President Richard Nixon announced a 90-day freeze on all wages , salaries , prices and rents — the first order of its kind imposed during peacetime .
By Michael A . Martorelli
32 Wildcat Currencies
US monetary history and the future cryptocurrency system .
By Franklin Noll
36 Sesquicentennial of the Canadian Bank Act
Examining the similarities — and differences — between the American and Canadian banking systems on the 150th anniversary of Canadian banking .
By Joe Martin
FEATURES
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