100 Years of Central Banking
The Federal Reserve System was created on December 23, 1913, when President Woodrow Wilson signed the Federal Reserve Act into law. Before the new central bank could begin operations, the Reserve Bank Operating Committee, consisting of Treasury Secretary William McAdoo, Secretary of Agriculture David Houston and Comptroller of the Currency John Skelton Williams, had the task of building a working institution from the basic framework of the new law. By November 16, 1914, the 12 cities chosen as sites for regional Reserve Banks were open for business.
Today, the Federal Reserve sets the nation’s monetary policy, supervises and regulates banking institutions, maintains the stability of the financial system, and provides financial services to depository institutions, the U.S. government and foreign official institutions. Read more about the Centennial.
Get Involved
The Federal Reserve is compiling an inventory of historical Federal Reserve documents and items. Do you have information about collections, or do you have documents or items that should be added to the inventory? Please let us know by submitting details here.
Federal Reserve System Centennial Advisory Council
Former Federal Reserve Chairmen Paul A. Volcker and Alan Greenspan are serving as honorary advisors, along with representatives from a range of private and public sector organizations. A list of members is available on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors' website.
Frequently Asked Questions
Some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) related to the Centennial commemoration and the inventory of historical collections are available here
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