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ICF Financial History Tour

A Tour Through Financial History

Electra Ferriello | July 7, 2017

Several ICF Advisory Board members participated in a tour through financial history on May 11, 2017 led by Professors William Goetzmann and Geert Rouwenhorst.

The ICF Advisory Board members traveled to the Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library to view pieces of the ICF Financial History Collection and later visited the Babylonian Collection at Sterling Memorial Library.

Some of the highlights of the day included:

  • A keynote speech by Geert Rouwenhorst, Robert B. and Candice J. Haas Professor of Corporate Finance & Deputy Director of the International Center for Finance on the topic of long term returns and financial contracts
  • A signed letter by Alexander Hamilton consolidating the debt of the United States
  • A perpetual bond issued by the Dutch East India Company
  • A collection of company charters, prospectuses, pamphlets and regulations relating to the Dutch speculative mania of 1720
  • An accounting book related to the collapse of the South Sea Company
  • An early Ming Dynasty Bank Note
  • A Roman loan of 440 drachmas from 69CE
  • Ancient cuneiform

See photos below from the trip!

Professor Geert Rouwenhorst explaining the importance of several pieces of the ICF financial history collection, including the perpetual Dutch water bond, to ICF Advisory Board Members.
Professor William Goetzmann providing an overview of the letter written by Alexander Hamilton.
Alexander Hamilton, Secretary of the Treasury, signed letter consolidating the debt of the United States.
Professor William Goetzmann holding a photo from the day that the ancient cuneiform (seen on table) was donated to the Yale Babylonian Collection.
A reception at Mory’s that included ICF leadership, advisory board members, and Yale SOM MBA students.