Financial
history
The magazine of the
Museum of American Finance
in association with
the Smithsonian Institution
Issue 115 • Fall 2015
(ISSN 1520-4723)
IN THIS ISSUE
FEATURES
13 Missed It by That Much
The California Gold Rush and a pivot of history.
By Gregory DL Morris
Kristin Aguilera
Editor
EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD
Howard A. Baker, Esq.
Howard Baker Associates
Brian Grinder
Eastern Washington University
Gregory DL Morris
Freelance Journalist
16 Warren Buffett and Wall Street: The Best of Frenemies
Examining Buffett’s relationship with Wall Street on the
50th anniversary of his leadership of Berkshire Hathaway.
By Lawrence A. Cunningham
Arthur W. Samansky
The Samansky Group
Bob Shabazian
American Stock Exchange (ret.)
Myles Thompson
Columbia Business School Publishing
Robert E. Wright
Augustana University
Jason Zweig
20 William Jennings Bryan and the “Cross of Gold” Speech
Presidential candidate and noted orator makes history
with his speech at the 1896 Democratic Convention.
By Ron Hunka
The Wall Street Journal
EDITOR EMERITAE
Diana E. Herzog
ART DIRECTION
Alan Barnett Design
MUSEUM STAFF
David J. Cowen, President/CEO
Kristin Aguilera, Deputy Director
Sarah Buonacore, Collections Manager
Tony Critelli, Accountant
Jeanne Driscoll, Director of Development
Maura Ferguson, Director of Exhibits
Arturo Gomez, Business Manager
Chris Meyers, Director of Education
Linda Rapacki, Managing Director
of Visitor Services and Operations
Mindy Ross, Director, External Relations
Copyright 2015 by the
Museum of American Finance, publisher,
48 Wall Street, New York, NY 10005. Telephone:
212-908-4110; fax: 212-908-4601. All rights reserved.
Financial History is the official membership
magazine of the Museum of American Finance.
Annual individual membership is $55. Payment must
be made in dollars, by credit card or check payable
to the Museum of American Finance.
24 Digital Gold
Reinventing money in the 21st century.
By Nathaniel Popper
27 The Fed’s Paternity
Paul Warburg and Carter Glass may be considered
reluctant co-fathers of the Federal Reserve.
By Edward L. Morris
30 Showing True Mettle
Starting as a scrap operator in 1915, Commercial Metals
celebrates a century.
By Gregory DL Morris
34 A Deluxe Centennial
The Deluxe Corporation survives 100 years
through strong leadership and innovation.
By Bart Ward
2 FINANCIAL HISTORY | Fall 2015 | www.MoAF.org