My Name is Eugene Meyer: Banker, Publisher, and Chairman of the Reserve I spent my life in finance, public service, and journalism. I was born in Los Angeles, California, in 1875, the son of a successful businessman. From an early age, I was fascinated by business, markets, and the opportunities created by a growing American economy. After studying at Yale University, I entered the world of finance, where I built a reputation as an investor and businessman willing to take cal

How Banks Worked Before the Crisis Before Americans could understand why thousands of banks failed during the Great Depression, they first needed to understand how banks worked. During the 1920s, banks were at the center of everyday life. Families deposited their paychecks, businesses borrowed money to grow, farmers took out loans to buy equipment, and communities depended on banks to keep money moving through the economy. For millions of Americans, banks seemed as reliable a

My Name is Irving Fisher: Economist and Professor I am Irving Fisher, an economist, professor, inventor, and writer. During my lifetime, many people considered me one of the leading economic thinkers in America. I spent decades studying money, prices, interest rates, and how economies grow. I believed that careful research and mathematics could help people understand the complicated world of finance. Though many remember me for one famous mistake, my life was much larger than

The Stock Market Before the Crash The Stock Market Before the Crash was one of the most exciting and talked-about parts of American life during the Roaring Twenties. As the nation enjoyed economic growth, new inventions, and rising consumer spending, millions of Americans became fascinated by the possibility of making money through investing. For many people, the stock market seemed like a pathway to wealth, success, and a brighter future. Few realized that beneath the excite

My Name is Henry Ford: Automobile Manufacturer and Industrial Pioneer Many people know me as the man who helped put America on wheels. During the Roaring Twenties, millions of families drove automobiles built in my factories. I believed that ordinary working people should be able to afford products that were once available only to the wealthy. My ideas changed transportation, industry, and daily life across the world. Growing Up on a Michigan Farm I was born in 1863 on a fa

America After World War I While much of Europe struggled to rebuild cities, industries, and governments damaged by years of war, Americans looked toward a future filled with possibility. The end of the war marked the beginning of a new era that would become known as the Roaring Twenties, a decade remembered for economic growth, innovation, and optimism. A Nation Ready for Normalcy After years of wartime sacrifices, Americans longed for what many called a “return to normalcy

My Name is Alice Paul: Women's Rights Activist and Suffrage Leader I dedicated my life to securing equal rights for women and challenging laws and traditions that treated women as second-class citizens. Many people remember me for helping win women's suffrage, but my story did not end when women gained the right to vote. I spent decades fighting for what I believed was true equality, even when many people—including some women—disagreed with me. Growing Up with a Sense of Pu

Why the Roaring Twenties Still Matter The Legacy of the Roaring Twenties: Looking Back—Why the Roaring Twenties Still Matter. Nearly one hundred years after the 1920s came to an end, historians, teachers, and students still study this remarkable decade because it helped create the modern world. The Roaring Twenties was a time of excitement, innovation, prosperity, and cultural change unlike anything America had experienced before. New inventions, new forms of entertainment, a

My Name is Charles E. Mitchell: Banker and Wall Street Leader I became one of the most powerful bankers in the United States during the Roaring Twenties. I was born in Illinois in 1877 and grew up believing that hard work, business, and opportunity could lift a person to great success. As a young man, I was fascinated by finance and the growing power of American industry. I worked my way into banking and eventually joined National City Bank, one of the largest financial insti

Warning Signs Before the Crash During the late 1920s, America appeared to be enjoying one of the greatest periods of prosperity in its history. Factories produced record amounts of goods, new technologies filled homes and businesses, and millions of Americans believed the future would only get brighter. Yet beneath the excitement, some economists, bankers, and business leaders noticed troubling signs. While stock prices continued to climb higher and higher, the nation's econo