The History of Credit & Debt

Table of Contents

  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

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