Established: As an independent agency by the Federal Reserve Act (38 Stat. 251), December 23, 1913.
Functions: Serves as the national central bank. Executes federal monetary policy. Transfers funds, handles government deposits and debt issues, supervises and regulates banks, and acts as a lender of last resort.
Finding Aids: James A. Primas, comp., "Preliminary Inventory of the Records of the Federal Reserve System," NC-104 (1965); supplement in National Archives microfiche edition of preliminary inventories.
Related Records: Record copies of publications of the Federal Reserve System in RG 287, Publications of the U.S. Government.
82.2 Records of the Reserve Bank Organization Committee
1913-14
History: Established by the Federal Reserve Act (38 Stat. 251), December 23, 1913. Composed of the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the Comptroller of the Currency. Designated the federal reserve cities, divided the United States into federal reserve districts, and supervised the organization of federal reserve banks. Prescribed regulations for the acceptance of the Federal Reserve Act by all national banking associations and participating banks. Discontinued after May 1914.
Textual Records: Correspondence, petitions, briefs, and maps submitted to the committee, 1913-14. Records relating to the organization of the Federal Reserve banks and election of reserve bank directors, 1913-14. Appeals, submitted in the form of petitions or briefs, 1913-14. Member bank capital stock applications, 1913-14.
Related Records: Record copies of publications of the Reserve Bank Organization Committee in RG 287, Publications of the U.S. Government.
82.3 Records of the Board of Governors
1878-1980 (bulk 1913-66)
History: Established as the Federal Reserve Board by Federal Reserve Act (38 Stat. 251), December 23, 1913. Renamed by the Banking Act of 1935 (49 Stat. 704), August 23, 1935. Composed of seven members appointed by the President to determine general monetary, credit, and operating policies for the system, and to formulate rules and regulations necessary to carry out the purposes of the Federal Reserve Act.
Textual Records: Minutes of board meetings, 1914-66; with index 1934-51, 1962-65. Central subject file, 1913-54. International subject files of the Division of International Finance, 1878-1980 (bulk 1922-66).
Specific Restrictions: As specified by the Board of Governors, records containing information regarding the removal of individual bank directors from office; violations, such as shortages, missing securities, etc., with names of individual banks and employees; the security of the Board building; internal management; conditions at Reserve banks; individual salaries; the security of Reserve bank branch buildings; and a report of examination of the Pennsylvania Department of Banking (found in file 412.101), are accessible only upon authorization of the Board or the Secretary of the Board.
As specified by the Board of Governors, records containing information relating to individuals, including salaries, grades, and personnel problems, are accessible only after the record has been in existence 50 years or upon earlier authorization of the Board or the Secretary of the Board.
Related Records: Record copies of publications of the Federal Reserve System Board of Governors in RG 287, Publications of the U.S. Government.
82.4 Records of the Federal Open Market Committee
1933-96
History: Established by the Banking Act of 1933 (48 Stat. 168), June 16, 1933, and reorganized under the Banking Act of 1935 (49 Stat. 705), August 23, 1935. Adopts regulations for open market operations of federal reserve banks, including the purchase and sale of securities, federal agency obligations, and bankers' acceptances. Directs foreign currency transactions of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
Textual Records: Subject file, 1933-54. Minutes of the committee, 1936-96.
Specific Restrictions: As specified by the Federal Open Market Committee, no one may have access to, or information from, any subject file of the Federal Open Market Committee, 1933-54, containing restricted information on government security dealers, except with authority of the Secretary of the Federal Open Market Committee.
Microfilm Publications: M591.
82.5 Records of the Federal Advisory Council
1914-68
History: Established under provisions of the Federal Reserve Act (38 Stat. 251), December 23, 1913, to provide advice to the Board of Governors. Consists of one representative for each Federal Reserve Bank, elected annually by the bank's board of directors. Held first meeting December 1914.
Textual Records: Minutes of meetings and copies of recommendations of the council, 1914-68, with index, 1914-45.
82.6 Motion Pictures (General)
1937
Newsreel of the dedication ceremonies for the Federal Reserve Building in Washington, DC, October 20, 1937 (1 reel).
82.7 Sound Recordings (General)
1937
President Roosevelt's speech at the dedication ceremonies for the Federal Reserve Building, Washington, DC, October 20, 1937 (1 item).
Bibliographic note: Web version based on Guide to Federal Records in the National Archives of the United States. Compiled by Robert B. Matchette et al. Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Administration, 1995.
3 volumes, 2428 pages.
This Web version is updated from time to time to include records processed since 1995.