[FREEMAN] [FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD] EXTRACT FROM PROCEEDINGS AT A DINNER GIVEN BY THE CLEARING HOUSE ASSOCIATION OF RICHMOND IN HONOR OF GEORGE J. SEAY, GOVERNOR OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF RICHMOND, 1914-1836, MARCH 24, 1936, AT THE COMMONWEALTH CLUB

[Douglas Southall Freeman]

[Richmond]: [Priv. Printed by Whittet and Shepperson], 1936.

Small quarto; in the printer’s faux leatherette binding; 53 pages; with one of the original engraved invitations to the dinner pasted in.~~A bound record of a dinner for a retiring Governor of the Federal Reserve in Richmond, Goerge J. Seay, who had been elected the Richmond Fed’s first Governor in 1914. Governor Seay experienced a personal triumph when “forty-nine years to the day that Southern soldiers fled the Confederate capital in the closing day s of the Civil War ... Richmond [became] the headquarters for the Fifth Federal Reserve District” [see federalreservehistory.org]. Twenty-two years later he retired. The dinner in his honor at The Commonwealth Club in Richmond must have been a grand affair. The guest list is printed in the book, and most of the cognoscenti of the Commonwealth were present.~~The toastmaster was G. Jeter Jones, President of the Richmond Chamber of Commerce, and his introduction of the principal speaker was masterful: “Two months ago I was called to Washington to testify as a character witness for our next speaker. It took me three days to finish the job. And what a joy and privilege it was to be of service to this man, whom I believe to be one of Richmond’s choicest assets. I present Dr. Douglas S. Freeman, Editor of the News Leader.”~~Dr. Freeman’s substantial 15 page address follows. It too is masterful. Among other things, he expresses the “cautions” of fiscally conservative Southerners.~~An uncommon item, to say the least. Desirable for the collector of artifacts related to the early days of the Federal Reserve, who may be few. Also desirable for the collector of Douglas Freeman’s writings, who may a bit thicker on the ground.

Item #294904

Price: $750.00