The History of Credit & Debt

1. Keeping Track
2. Interest
3. Very Early Debtors
4. Early Regulations of Interest and Credit
5. First Real Coins - Cattle Are Heavy
6. The Pilgrims
7. Money, Credit and Debt
8. When Did The Dollar Arrive?
9. How Did We Get The $ Symbol
10. Debtors' Prison
11. When Did Credit As We Know It Arrive In The U.S.
12. Early Sources of Credit - Pawnbrokers
13. Early Installment Sales
14. General Credit Terms in Early Consumer America
15. Saving Money
16. Credit Cards
17. The Finance Company
18. Bankruptcy

Special Exhibits

• Visit Betty and Dave

Additional Reading

1. Reference Texts
2. "The Way to Wealth" - 1757
3. Duty of Economy - Criticism of the American lack of thrift - 5/20/1905
4. National Thrift Week - 01/17/1920

Before You Leave

• The Credit Surprise