Recent financial crises have led many economists and policy makers to ask if it is possible to design a financial system that is both efficient and safe. Examining the history of credit and payments in America, this collection looks at the development of a number of institutions that form the basis of today's financial systems. With modern methods of banking under scrutiny, and calls to reduce the role of government and the central bank, the American historical experience can inform decisions about restructuring the financial system for the future. The volumes in this collection are organized thematically and examine the history of key financial institutions before and after the establishment of the Federal Reserve. These cover building and loan associations, provident loan societies, Morris Plan banks, domestic exchanges, non par banking and central banking. Documents come from a variety of archive and periodical sources. Scholarly apparatus includes a general introduction, volume introductions; headnotes, endnotes and a consolidated index. The collection will be of value to economic historians and policy makers.