Bray Hammond facts for kids

Bray Hammond (born November 20, 1886 – died July 20, 1968) was an American historian who studied the history of money and banks. He also worked as an assistant secretary for the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System from 1944 to 1950. He won the 1958 Pulitzer Prize for History for his famous book, Banks and Politics in America from the Revolution to the Civil War. He went to Stanford University for his education.

Who Was Bray Hammond?

Bray Hammond was a very smart historian who focused on how money and banks shaped the United States. He was especially interested in how banks and government leaders worked together, or sometimes disagreed, throughout American history. His research helped people understand the important role that financial systems play in a country's development.

A Prize-Winning Historian

Hammond's most famous work was his book, Banks and Politics in America from the Revolution to the Civil War. This book looked at how banks and political decisions were connected from the time America became independent until the American Civil War. It was a very important book because it showed how money and power influenced each other during these early years. For this amazing book, he received the Pulitzer Prize for History in 1958. The Pulitzer Prize is one of the highest awards for writers and journalists in the United States.

Working at the Federal Reserve

Besides being a historian, Bray Hammond also worked for the Federal Reserve System. The Federal Reserve is like the central bank of the United States. It helps manage the country's money supply and keeps the banking system stable. From 1944 to 1950, Hammond was an assistant secretary to the Board of Governors. This means he helped the leaders of the Federal Reserve with important tasks and decisions. His knowledge of financial history was very useful in this role.

Books

• Banks and Politics in America from the Revolution to the Civil War (Princeton University Press, 1957)
• Sovereignty and an Empty Purse: Banks and Politics in the Civil War (Princeton, 1970)