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Finding Aid to the Allan Sproul Papers, 1907-1978, bulk 1945-1978
BANC MSS 79/26 c
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Table of contents
Collection Title: Allan Sproul papers
Date (inclusive): 1907-1978,
Date (bulk): bulk 1945-1978
Collection Number: BANC MSS 79/26 c
Creators :
Sproul, Allan, 1896-
Extent:
Number of containers: 10 boxes, 7 cartons
Linear feet: 12.55
Repository: The Bancroft Library
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, California, 94720-6000
Phone: (510) 642-6481
Fax: (510) 642-7589
Email: bancref@library.berkeley.edu
URL: http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/
Abstract:
Allan Sproul's papers primarily concern his financial and banking activities and interests. Much of the collection consists
of correspondence, both to and from other bankers and economists, largely discussing financial trends and policies. The collection
also contains extensive files relating to his work with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and with the Wells Fargo Bank
of San Francisco. The collection holds a set of subject files primarily reflecting banking interests along with manuscripts
of writings and talks by him and other bankers and economists. There are a few folders of personal information, clippings,
awards, and a scrapbook kept by his wife, circa 1920-1938, containing clippings, photographs, programs, and telegrams.
Languages Represented: Collection materials are in English
Physical Location: Many of the Bancroft Library collections are stored offsite and advance notice may be required for use. For current information
on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.
Collection is open for research.
All requests to reproduce, publish, quote from or otherwise use collection materials must be submitted in writing to the Head
of Public Services, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley, 94720-6000. Consent is given on behalf of The
Bancroft Library as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission from the copyright
owner. Such permission must be obtained from the copyright owner. See:
http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/reference/permissions.html .
Restrictions also apply to digital representations of the original materials. Use of digital files is restricted to research
and educational purposes.
[Identification of item], Allan Sproul Papers, BANC MSS 79/26 c, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.
There are no alternate forms of this collection.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Sproul, Allan, 1896-
Banks and banking--United States--History--Sources
Wells, Fargo & Company
Kaiser Aluminum and Chemical Corporation
Federal Reserve Bank of New York. President
The Allan Sproul Papers were given to the Bancroft Library by Allan Sproul, Jr. in October 1978.
No additions are expected.
Portions of this collection are arranged to the folder level, while others are arranged to the container level.
Processed by Bancroft Library staff in 2008.
Banker Allan Sproul, born in San Francisco on March 9, 1896, was educated in public schools and attended the University of
California, Berkeley. He graduated in 1919, after serving in World War I as an army pilot for a year in 1918.
Sproul joined the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco on September 1, 1920, where he served as head of the bank's Division
of Analysis and Research. Ten years later, in March 1930, he transferred to the New York branch as Assistant Deputy Governor
and Secretary, dealing primarily with the bank's foreign operations. He was appointed First Vice President in March 1936
and continued to a large extent to supervise the bank's foreign transactions. He was in charge of the bank's open market
activities and involved in formulating bank policy and overseeing the general administration of the bank. He was also manager
of the System Open Market Account under the Federal Open Market Committee. On January 1, 1941, Mr. Sproul became president
of the Federal Reserve Bank, a position he held until June 30, 1956 (shortly after his sixtieth birthday). During this time
he was vice-chairman of the Federal Open Market Committee, directing the open market operations of all the Federal Reserve
Banks.
After his retirement, Sproul returned to California, where he served on the Boards of Directors of Wells Fargo Bank in San
Francisco and the Kaiser Aluminum and Chemical Corporation of Oakland, positions he held until shortly before his death in
1978.
Sproul also participated in several congressional committees, testifying on behalf of the Federal Reserve Banks. In early
1960, he visited India and Pakistan with a commission named by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development to
examine the two countries' economic conditions and plans. In 1961, as chairman of a committee named by President Kennedy,
he reported on the balance of payments position of the United States and on the domestic economy. He was also appointed by
Governor Edmund G. Brown in 1963-64 to chair a committee for the study of the future of banking in California, and published
a report in 1965.
Sproul was a trustee and member of the Research and Policy Committee of the Committee for Economic Development. He also lectured
to professional and university groups, and wrote articles for various journals and banking periodicals.
Scope and Content of Collection
Allan Sproul's papers primarily concern his financial and banking activities and interests. Much of the collection consists
of correspondence, both to and from other bankers and economists, largely discussing financial trends and policies. The collection
also contains extensive files relating to his work with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and with the Wells Fargo Bank
of San Francisco. The collection holds a set of subject files primarily reflecting banking interests along with manuscripts
of writings and talks by him and other bankers and economists. There are a few folders of personal information, clippings,
awards, and a scrapbook kept by his wife, circa 1920-1938, containing clippings, photographs, programs, and telegrams.