The Federal Reserve System consists of a Board of Governors with headquarters in Washington, D.C. and twelve regional Reserve Banks located in major cities throughout the United States. This collection highlights materials on the individual histories of the 12 Federal Reserve Banks.

To celebrate FRASER's 20th birthday, we've created a printable, downloadable coloring book featuring historical and educational images from across FRASER's collections. 

The Society of American Archivists (SAA) awarded the FRASER team the 2024 Distinguished Service Award. The selection committee was impressed with the team’s commitment to the profession and to “discoverability through the development of excellent tools and processes that serve their audiences at no cost.”

Regional and national banking trade publications cover developments in banks and banking and report on important local industries. These historical publications also include news and reports of banking conferences and bank personnel, notices of legislation affecting banking, and updates on developments in banking technology.

The first Federal Reserve Board was sworn in in August 1914. Explore the origins of the Federal Reserve Bank System through FRASER's archival collections on the early Fed, digitized in partnership with the National Archives and Records Administration.

Browse documents from the July 1944 United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference held in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, where delegates from 44 nations created a new international monetary system.

Celebrate 20 years of economic history with this blog post highlighting some of the treasures added to the collection since FRASER's founding on July 1, 2004

The Works Progress Administration was a New Deal agency employing millions of job-seekers to carry out public works projects, including the construction of public buildings and roads. From its creation in May 1935 until June 1943, the WPA's programs strove to lessen the widespread unemployment of the Great Depression. 

From Rolla Wells in 1914 to Alberto G. Musalem in 2024, view the history and primary source documents of Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis presidents in this detailed timeline.

Take a look at Inside FRASER posts featuring history on women leaders, the evolution of women's economic rights, and the contributions of women to the American economy.

Discover historical and contemporary data resources from 1789-2024: From Alexander Hamilton's Treasury reports on foreign and domestic debt to the latest numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The Federal Reserve System employs many research economists who publish on a wide variety of topics. Although the earliest research materials date back to 1914, the bulk of economic research produced by the Federal Reserve began in the early 1970s.

The Federal Reserve Act, signed into law on December 23, 1913, created the Federal Reserve System. This collection highlights FRASER's holdings of documents relating to the Act as originally passed and the discussions leading to its enactment.

The Federal Reserve Statistical Releases provide data that reflect an assessment of the economy at that point in time, covering topics such as the U.S. economy, the banking industry, and Federal Reserve operations. FRASER’s growing collection spans 1914-present and currently holds more than 50,000 items.

October is National Economic Education Month. Delve into FRASER's collection of classroom materials, including the award-winning "Barbie® in the Labor Force" high school lesson that uses FRASER primary sources to teach historical trends in women's labor force participation.

Regional banking trade publications cover developments in banks and banking and report on important local industries. These historical publications also include news and reports of banking conferences and bank personnel, notices of legislation affecting banking, and updates on developments in banking technology.

A new theme brings together materials on the Federal Reserve's role in cash, check, and electronic payments in the U.S. economy.

Hosted by the St. Louis Fed's Research Division, Beyond the Numbers is a free conference intended to address the challenges of economic information and bring together experts to share their experiences at the frontier of economic data. Registration for this year's conference, November 6-8, is now open.

The first Federal Reserve Board was sworn in in August 1914. Explore the origins of the Federal Reserve Bank System through FRASER's archival collections on the early Fed, digitized in partnership with the National Archives and Records Administration.

The award-winning high school classroom lesson "Barbie^® in the Labor Force" uses FRASER to teach historical trends in women's labor force participation. Browse this and dozens more resources for teachers and learners in our Education collection.

The FDIC was established in June 1933 with the aim to restore public confidence and maintain stability in the nation's financial system. Browse FRASER's expanding collection of FDIC publications, speeches, and historical documents.

The Women's Bureau was established in 1918 as a temporary wartime division to support the working women of World War I. The value of this program was realized and the Women's Bureau was permanently established on June 5, 1920.

FRASER's Banking and Financial Legislation theme provides a comprehensive look at the U.S. federal laws affecting the banking and financial industries. Ranging from 1781-modern, topics include the initial attempts at establishing a National Bank as well as legislation that formed the Federal Reserve System.

"The Fed Explained," the latest edition of the Federal Reserve's series explaining the System's purposes and functions, is now on FRASER. Browse editions dating back to 1936 in the related series.

Fed community development efforts have flourished since the passage of the 1977 Community Reinvestment Act. Browse decades of Fed community development publications in our newest theme.

Issues of the San Francisco Fed publication Community Investments for the years 1989-2015 are now on FRASER, part of our expanding collection of community development materials from across the Federal Reserve System.

Hosted by the St. Louis Fed's Research Division, Beyond the Numbers is a free conference intended to address the challenges of economic information and bring together experts to share their experiences at the frontier of economic data. Presentation submissions for this year's event are open through June 9, 2023.

This lesson from our Teaching and Learning with FRASER collection first teaches students how incidences of racial discrimination were met with methods of protests, and then engages students with an activity that matches programs for low-income people with the type of economic inequity the program addresses.

In 1919, the Department of Labor created a division to study the labor experiences and economic contributions of Black Americans within the social framework of the period before and during World War I. Browse the groundbreaking research publications, 1919-1922.

This collection provides access to source materials cited by Dr. Allan H. Meltzer in A History of the Federal Reserve, Volumes 1 and 2. Contents include previously unpublished materials in the form of memoranda and meeting transcripts, as well as journal articles, congressional hearings, working papers, and books.

Browse a century of banking developments, state-level reports on banks and banking, and much more in this fascinating trade publication.

The Marriner S. Eccles Papers highlight Eccles' role in forming national and international monetary and fiscal systems during the 1930s and 1940s, including many programs of the New Deal and the Banking Act of 1935.

Enhance your knowledge of the economic problems of the Great Depression with FRASER’s classroom lesson Measuring the Great Depression.

The Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis is seeking a manager for our Historical Digital Projects. The responsibilities are to oversee FRASER, the Federal Reserve History website, and internal digital preservation.

FRASER’s collection of Rand McNally Bankers’ Directories spans nearly eight decades and features lists of banks and bankers, compilations of banking laws, maps of states and territories, and historical advertisements. 

The Federal Reserve Statistical Releases provide data that reflect an assessment of the economy at that point in time, covering topics such as the U.S. economy, the banking industry, and Federal Reserve operations. FRASER’s growing collection spans 1914-present and currently holds more than 50,000 items.

Hosted by the Research Division of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, Beyond the Numbers is a free biennial conference intended to address the challenges of economic information and bring together experts to share their experiences at the frontier of economic data. Register today for Beyond the Numbers 2022!

FRASER currently holds 50 Archival Collections. Topics cover the history of the Federal Reserve, economic policy, and economic data. Many of these collections are possible through partnerships with institutions such as the Library of Congress, NARA, Brookings Institution, and Federal Reserve Banks.

Explore the public statements of Ben S. Bernanke, who served as a member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System from 2002 to 2005, and as chairman from 2006 to 2014.

The first woman to become a member of the Board of Governors, Teeters served from September 18, 1978 until June 27, 1984. Topics covered include amendments to the Equal Credit Opportunity Act and the role of banks in the international financial system.

This Series, first published in 1874 using data from the 1870 census, presents statistics using lithographed maps and charts. Published by the United States Census Bureau, these resources provide visual representation of data such as finance, commerce, occupations, and education.

School will be in session soon! Delve into FRASER's collection of classroom lessons and learn more about topics such as Abraham Lincoln and the $5 Note, Hamilton's National Bank, and The Free Silver Movement and Inflation.

Explore the diaries, scrapbooks, speeches, and correspondence of Charles S. Hamlin, the first chair of the Federal Reserve Board, a position he held from August 10, 1914 until August 9, 1916.

The Women's Bureau of the Department of Labor turns 102 this month. Delve into detailed research and insight into the accomplishments, struggles, and experiences of working women from 1919-1983 with this series.

A Century of Progress Exposition, also know as the Chicago World’s Fair, launched May 27, 1933. In honor of this event, the Department of Labor exhibited “Labor Through the Century, 1833-1933.” The exhibit featured 40 images designed to portray the history of American labor, its progress and its problems, since 1833.

At the time of its inception in 1839, the Merchants' Magazine and Commercial Review provided readers with easily accessible economic news. Explore FRASER's collection for a valuable look into the commercial history of the United States from 1839-1870.

Save your favorite FRASER content with the new bookmark feature. From a record page or search results, click the bookmark icon to store information about a record to the bookmark manager. In the manager, you can export your bookmarks for future reference.

FRASER's Banking and Financial Legislation theme provides a comprehensive look at the U.S. federal laws affecting the banking and financial industries. Ranging from 1781-modern, topics include the initial attempts at establishing a National Bank as well as legislation that formed the Federal Reserve System.

FRASER’s REST API allows users to access full text and PDF files, run powerful searches across records, retrieve batches of records related to a particular author or subject, and much more.

Celebrate National Preservation Week with FRASER's vast collection of Statistical Releases. Years of ongoing coordination efforts have made over 50,000 records available. Published by the Board of Governors from 1914 to present, topics include the U.S. economy, retail spending, and lending trends.

Do you ever feel overwhelmed with numerous search results? Try FRASER's new faceting feature that enables users to highlight desired content by excluding specific collections, authors, subjects, types of records, and file formats.

For decades the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis has been a pioneer in the distribution of economic information. Celebrate FRED's birthday this year with a journey through this historical timeline, beginning with the 1991 launch of FRED as a Dial-Up Bulletin Board.

Celebrate Financial Capability Month with FRASER by exploring The Ledger, an economic education newsletter emphasizing the importance of financial literacy in the classroom by providing educator resources, revealing new technologies, and celebrating classroom achievements.

Take a look at Inside FRASER posts featuring history on women leaders, the evolution of women's economic rights, and the contributions of women to the American economy.

The Research Department of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis is seeking a professional Historian who will initiate and collaborate on Bank and System initiatives in Federal Reserve history, archives, education, and research. Click to view the job posting.

This bimonthly magazine, published by the Women's Bureau, features the experiences of working women between 1938-1942. Topics explored include working conditions, wages, state and federal labor legislation, and the evolving roles women embraced at the beginning of World War II.

Celebrate Women's History Month with FRASER's selection of historical resources that document the impact and changing roles of women in the American economy and workforce.

This lesson from our Teaching and Learning with FRASER collection first teaches students how incidences of racial discrimination were met with methods of protests, and then engages students with an activity that matches programs for low-income people with the type of economic inequity the program addresses.

In 1919, the Department of Labor created a division to study the labor experiences and economic contributions of Black Americans within the social framework of the period before and during World War I. Browse the groundbreaking research publications, 1919-1922.

From Depression-era reports on unemployment relief to the Full Employment and Balanced Growth Act of 1978, FRASER provides access to key documents, hearings, data publications, and speeches on employment and the workforce in America.

A new year offers a chance to reflect on the past year's business. Delve into FRASER's collection of hundreds of annual reports of the Federal Reserve System and follow the history of Bank business back to 1914.

Prior to 1913, discussions involving monetary reform failed to create significate legislation. Finally, two days before Christmas, President Wilson signed the Federal Reserve Act on December 23, 1913 and the Federal Reserve System was born. 

The Federal Advisory Council was formed with the creation of the Federal Reserve Act of 1913. 12 representatives, one person from each Reserve Bank District, meet at least four times a year to advise the Board of Governors. Browse FRASER's collection of meeting minutes from Dec 1914 - Nov 1968.

The 12 Federal Reserve Banks opened for business in November 1914. Browse timelines, archival collections, and documents revealing their independent histories and discover how each bank operated and changed over time.

The National Monetary Commission was created by the Aldrich-Vreeland Act of 1908 in response to the Panic of 1907. The commission released documents in November 1909 that provided national and international analysis of the banking systems.

Formed in 1902, the United States Census Bureau oversees the collection and distribution of data related to the American people and the economy. Delve into FRASER's Census Bureau collection and discover statistics covering topics such as economic conditions, income, and labor productivity.

In 1897, the first Library of Congress building opened to the public. The Jefferson Building has a long history of preserving national documents. Explore FRASER's Library of Congress Manuscripts to learn about these early influencers of the Federal Reserve: Charles Hamlin, Eugene Meyer, and Nelson W. Aldrich.

FRASER currently holds 50 Archival Collections. Topics cover the history of the Federal Reserve, economic policy, and economic data. Many of these collections are possible through partnerships with institutions such as the Library of Congress, NARA, Brookings Institution, and Federal Reserve Banks.

It's National Economic Education Month. This Learning Toolkit, designed for teachers and students, uses charts in textbooks and historical documents to help students hone their analytical skills to read, think critically, and interpret data related to Colonial America and the Early Republic.

October is American Archives Month! The Robert Hetzel Oral History Collection contains digitized audio interviews from 120 audio tapes. Hetzel, an economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, interviewed over 80 economists from 1994 to 2003. Topics include economic policy, inflation, and interest rates.

The first woman to become a member of the Board of Governors, Teeters served from September 18, 1978 until June 27, 1984. Topics covered include amendments to the Equal Credit Opportunity Act and the role of banks in the international financial system.

Explore the hearings that set the foundation for the Federal Reserve Act. In September 1913 the Committee on Banking and Currency began testimonies for H.R. 7837, a bill aimed at establishing a central banking system for the U. S. The subsequent law was passed December 23, 1913.

This Series, first published in 1874 using data from the 1870 census, presents statistics using lithographed maps and charts. Published by the U. S. Census Bureau, these resources provide visual representation of data such as finance, commerce, occupations, and education.

Follow over a century of history of the executive officer of the Board of Governors and learn more about each chair: From Charles S. Hamlin, the first in 1914, to the current chair, Jerome Powell.

Celebrate 100 years of documenting the economy with the Survey of Current Business (SCB), a publication of the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Browse historical data, beginning July 1921, and discover statistical series such as personal income, national income, international transactions, and GDP.

Explore FRASER's War and the Economy theme: Learn how women supported war efforts, how victory bonds financed wars, and how Donald Duck and the Department of the Treasury worked together to raise awareness about income taxes.

FRASER announces its new API, allowing you to search, retrieve, and perform new modes of research on large amounts of our collections. Accessing and using historical economic data has never been easier!

The National Housing Act become law June 27, 1934 as a part of the New Deal program. The Act, originated during the Great Depression, made housing and mortgages more affordable, reduced the foreclosure rates, and created lending policies with disparate impacts on Americans along segregated lines.

The Women's Bureau was established in 1918 as a temporary wartime division to support the working women of World War I. The value of this program was realized and the Women's Bureau was permanently established on June 5, 1920.

First published in May 1915, the Federal Reserve Bulletin was intended to be a "means of communication between the Federal Reserve Board, the public, and the member banks." Over a century later, the Bulletin continues to serve this mission.

Celebrate National Preservation Month with FRASER's largest collection, created from 739 reels of microfilm: Our archive of call reports contains balance sheet and income statement information for thousands of commercial banks, 1916-1959.

In April 1917, the Emergency Loan Act allowed the United States government to sell liberty bonds to financially support the war efforts of World War I. Find out more about liberty bonds with FRASER's collection on the subject.

For decades the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis has been a pioneer in the distribution of economic information. This year FRED, our partner in economic data and research, turns 30. Follow the journey thus far through this historical timeline, beginning with the 1991 launch of FRED as a Dial-Up Bulletin Board.

April is Financial Literacy Month! FRASER's Financial literacy subject provides insight into personal finance topics such as income taxes, renting basics, and credit bureaus.

See FRASER's Timeline to learn more about the post-World War II events that led to an agreement between the U.S. Treasury and the Federal Reserve System and set the foundation for the modern Fed.

The inaugural meeting of the modern FOMC (established by the Banking Act of 1935) was headed by Chair Eccles on March 18, 1936. Browse FRASER's collection of meeting minutes, official statements, and memos pertaining to economic and financial conditions and national monetary policy.

FRASER's classroom lesson Sojourner Truth: Ain't I a Woman?, intended for grades 6-8 , provides a discussion of the life of Sojourner Truth, the abolition of slavery, and the benefits, costs, and unintended consequences of policies pertaining to abolition.

In 1919, the Department of Labor created a division to study the labor experiences and economic contributions of Black Americans within the social framework of the period before and during World War I. Browse the groundbreaking research publications, 1919-1922.

Written by the Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisors, the Economic Report of the President overviews the nation's economic progress, specifically relating to employment, of the previous year. Mandated by the Employment Act of 1946, the first report was submitted by President Truman in 1947.

FRASER celebrates Love Data Week with the Theme: Economic Data. Discover historical and contemporary data resources from 1789-2021: From Alexander Hamilton's Treasury reports on foreign and domestic debt to the January 2021 jobs report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Janet Yellen served as chair of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve 2014-2018. Browse speeches and statements delivered during her tenure as a member of the Board of Governors (1994-2018) and explore themes of monetary policy, consumer lending, inflation, and more.

The Marriner S. Eccles Papers highlight Eccles' role in forming national and international monetary and fiscal systems during the 1930s and 1940s, including many programs of the New Deal and the Banking Act of 1935.

Explore the origins of the Federal Reserve Bank System through FRASER's Reserve Bank Organization Committee (RBOC) documents. Established December 23, 1913 by the Federal Reserve Act, the RBOC began work January 1914 and determined district locations and boundaries still used today.

Enhance your knowledge of the economic problems of the Great Depression with FRASER’s classroom lesson Measuring the Great Depression.

The Federal Reserve Statistical Releases provide data that reflect an assessment of the economy at that point in time, covering topics such as the U.S. economy, the banking industry, and Federal Reserve operations. FRASER’s growing collection spans 1914-present and currently holds more than 50,000 items.

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) measures the average change over time in the prices paid by urban consumers for a market basket of consumer goods and services. Research changes in gasoline prices, utilities, and food items across decades with FRASER’s collection of CPI Detailed Reports, 1953-2017.

Enhance your students’ data literacy skills with FRASER: The Teaching and Learning With FRASER collection includes resources such as Classroom Lessons, Learning Toolkits, and Quick Look one-page documents written by talented Federal Reserve Bank educators.

FRASER’s collection of Rand McNally Bankers’ Directories spans nearly eight decades and features lists of banks and bankers, compilations of banking laws, maps of states and territories, and historical advertisements. Directories from 1922-1940 have recently been added to the collection.

The Women's Bureau celebrates its 100th anniversary this year. FRASER hosts numerous reports from the bureau, including 19 issues of the Special Bulletin of the Women's Bureau, which focused on issues pertaining to women working in industry during World War II.

Updated 10/30/2020: An entry on the Federal Reserve's modifications to the Main Street Lending Program has been added to the COVID-19 timeline. The timeline, which focuses on economic and financial impact and policy responses, is updated regularly with supporting documents and links.

A timeline providing details for key events in the COVID-19 pandemic, and its impact in the United States. The timeline, which focuses on economic and financial impact and policy responses, is updated regularly with supporting documents and links.